Why?

first things first...i would send in a free form message stating that you need a different trailer...i take it u need a duraplate, as soon as you realize that you can not possible make your pick up on time...and not until then. Send in a macro 22 and it will ask u the reason why you are running late...ur butt is now covered. Don't even think about how much money u are making or losing at bthis point...just try to get some loads under ur belt and it will get easier....maybe u can get down here to laredeo soon and sit with me for days on end...lol...i feel like i need to change my cdl to a texas address.

 

There's a ton of MS trailers here at the terminal but they won't let us have them. Talked to another driver (you know how that goes...) said, all the MS were sold. Sold for what, scrap? lol. Yes so there's something up with the MS trailers now.

 

Not a good place to be IMHO if they can't help you with something that you weren't trained for because they have way to many numbers (trucks). Some however is a learning experiance. Now of course the only dumb question you can ask is the one you don't ask. But why not being a dumb question. However this is a business of trouble shooting and problem solving and have to be quik, on the fly decisions and using leverage to your advantage. Without a DM that will answer his phone for any reason, just sound's like you started in the wrong place. If you can find another driver to help if if they aren't to stuck up as well.

 

Definitely sorry to hear about the experience, but I'll be sure to make sure I get some clarification on trailers when I go to training. I've never driven before, but I'd like to think that out of all the B.S I know I'm going to encounter, availability of the the correct trailer should be the least of it.

 

A great deal of what you mentioned should have been taught by your mentor.

As for the trailer: have you called in and talked to the weekend crew?
If you know your dm is off for the weekend, call the main number and ask for a weekend dm. Then don't take no for an answer about the trailer. That's what I'd do Robert. Good luck.


Do they not have the developemental fleets anymore?

 

as far as the baditude thats the reason i am not there anymore.... my last dm had the worst baditude ne 1 could have i asked for a new one and no answer for over a month finally i parked the truck in houston and had the wife drive down and come get me... i wasnt having the shenanigans no more ran flatbed for them for quiet some time 0 accidents 0 incidents 0 tickets and always a good chicken house insp report.....

im with a great company now... and they do my wife and i well..

 

I have never heard of the 'developmental fleet' aside from your postings on here. If new drivers have experiences like mine when they first were cut loose, Swift proverbially throws them in the deep end and tells them 'sink or swim'.

My first load was a short run to a Los Angeles rail yard. But I had never used that rail yard macro before, so there was a learning curve there. The security guard told me to put the paperwork in the box. I had no idea what he was talking about. The little box on the front of the trailer lol. Learned something new there... I couldn't figure out why the delay in dispatching me for the next load, kept messaging that I had accepted the preplan, where was the fuel route etc? Finally called in and they said I needed an empty trailer. How come I didn't know that????

You see there's a lot of minutiae that doesn't get taught necessarily, but is expected to be absorbed by the student. I never got the connection while on the mentor's truck that it was only after the empty call that we'd be dispatched on the next load. PTA's were always a problem, constantly kicking back 'invalid PTA must be between x time and y time, contact DM'. How 'bout forgetting to Arrive at Shipper or driving off loaded and forgetting Loaded Call, lol those activities really throw a monkey wrench in things. Gotta say though once all those things are ironed out, this is really an easy money job.

 

Call your mentor. Their job doesn't (shouldn't) end when you get your own truck. Hubby's mentor took all calls and was a BIG help the first few weeks when hubby went solo.

 

HAHAHAHA i just left that ########. Ugh i feel your pain brother, their was no freight i had to deadhead to portland ,tx to get a load