Comments By Ahmalia

Thanks, glad to be back!! I personally have had no problems with Swift, they treat me very well. Think I've heard about every Swift joke out there. Had a driver bite my head off once, and after he vented, he apologized, saying he was having a bad day. I told him, "You think you got it bad? I'm blonde, female, and drive for Swift!! I have you beat before I even roll out of the bunk." He said, yeah, good point, and we had a good laugh. I think a positive attitude and a sense of humor are vital in this industry. Worry about the things you can control, and forget about the things you can't.

Hey to all the ladies!! I've been a solo driver for about 4 years now. For anyone considering becoming a trucker, or just starting out, feel free to ask any questions you might have, (I know I had a ton of questions when I started) and I'll be happy to answer them if I can. For myself, despite some ups and downs in the beginning, I love my job, and I can't imagine doing anything else.

When I first started driving, I had no idea of what tools I may need to have on the truck. So I thought I'd list tools I use often, and ya'll feel free to jump in and add to my list.

1. A decent flashlight. I have a mag-lite which can also be used in self defense if necessary.

2. Vice grips, for those pesky tandem handles that won't lock in. Much safer than having another driver pulling on the tandem handle while you try to slide, know a driver who broke his arm doing that.

3. A really big hammer. I have a mini-sledge hammer, for banging on those dang tandem pins when they are stuck. Also good for knocking the brakes loose if they freeze up in cold weather.

4. Flat head screwdriver, which the only thing I use it for is when I'm replacing the rubber seals on the glad hands and trailers.

5. Needle nose pliers, which the only thing I use those for is pulling out the aforementioned rubber seals.

6. Bungee cords, for securing trailer doors before backing into a dock.

7. Various sizes of zip ties. I often drop a trailer into a dock door, grab an empty trailer, and go. Sometimes the chains or hooks for securing the doors are damaged, not long enough, or whatever. Just extra security, so when the trailer is moved later, the door doesn't swing open and get ripped off, or damage another truck, trailer, or the dock.

8. Gloves. I don't go crazy here, I just buy the cheap 3 pack of garden gloves found at every truck stop, although I get mine at Walmart.

9. Push broom. Sometimes trailers have to be swept out. I secure mine in the load lock rack.

10. Shovel. I just have a small travel collapsible shovel, it does the job.

In regards to the "speeding" and to answer Charlie's question, company trucks are governed at 62 mph because Swift safety has determined that is a safe operating speed, fast enough to not impede traffic (much) and slow enough to control the truck. That being said, it is definitely possible to exceed the governed speed by going downhill, if the hill is steep and long enough, and also depending on how much your load weighs. The engine brake can only slow you down so much, and its the driver's responsibility to keep an eye on the speedometer. If you are driving with cruise control on, if you are in a hilly area, set the cruise at 58 mph to help prevent those overspeeds.

I don't think the RA points can be reported, and your RA score will go down eventually. Negative points will roll off one per month for each month you don't have any RA dings. Also, as you saw, things like passing a DOT inspection, a positive road report, etc can also help lower the number. But at this point, your best bet is to make sure you are adhering to Swift policies, and wait it out.

In regards to the trailer with no registration, where were you picking it up from? The registration could be faxed or emailed to the shipper and printed out there, if they allow it. Just remember that checking the registration, tags, and inspection dates is part of the trailer pretrip. I've been driving for 4 years, and I still use my pretrip cheat sheet every day, checking off every item, to make sure I don't miss anything.

I've always operated on the attitude of there is nothing in my trailer that is worth the risk of injury or death. I've had dispatchers try to push me to continue driving. I always communicate via the qualcomm as opposed to phone calls, so there is a record. Also with Swift, any message using the word "unsafe" automatically forwards to the safety dept. If you feel it's not safe, park it. Better safe than sorry.

Hey Jv. Being homesick is definitely one of the hardest parts, and sitting with a trainer waiting on loads sucks. This is probably not what you want to here but most companies aren't going to give local runs to a new driver. Generally speaking they want at least one year, preferably two years of otr. I would say take advantage of the downtime to practice backing ALOT. Find an open area, set up some cones, and work on blindside and sight side backs, 45 and 90, tight fits, all that. While you have a second set of eyes. Heck, ask him to do sound hard backs while you watch from outside. Take note of when and how much he turns the wheel, and how the trailer responds. Pick your trainer's brain, ask about how he handled missing turns or exits, getting lost, bad weather, near accidents, etc. Once you are on your own, time will go by faster. But sitting idle makes homesickness worse, so focus on learning to take your mind off it. Good luck!!

Don't really know how to explain it. He was drunk, was pretty much copping a feel, and ended up slamming me against the steps. I punched him in the nose, he let go, I jumped back in the truck and hauled butt out of there.

Ha, Chris, that is exactly what the manager said to me, that big trucks come in there all the time. And oh, yeah, good point on calling the cops. Reminds me of another incident where Nav-Go took me to a back gate of an industrial park that was padlocked because they didn't use that gate anymore, and I had to blindside back over 3 sets of railroad tracks to get back out, and trains were going by every 5 minutes, I was not about to try and do that back without a second set of eyes at the very least. My dispatcher said he had called the railroad and they stopped all trains so I could get out, but as soon as I started backing, the gates came down again, so I was like, forget it. I kept asking if I could just cut the lock and buy them a new one because the guy that had the key was 3 hrs away. Cops never did show up even though I called 4 times, and after 5 hrs the guy with the key finally showed up. But I've had other times where cops have come to block traffic for me, they are usually very good about that.

Hi, Kimberly!! I've been driving for about 4 years now. I trained with Swift because they allowed male trainers to train female drivers. Other companies required female trainers for female students, and there is often a wait, and I didn't want to wait. Also, and this may just be me, but I didn't want a female trainer, I felt like putting two women in a space that small for 8 weeks or more would not be good. I had 3 male trainers over the course of my training, and they were all great, very professional. Not for everyone, but it was fine for me. I actually still drive for Swift, despite the fact that alot of drivers rag on Swift. You have to have a sense of humor out here, and if you are easily offended, trucking may not be for you. I have been approached at truck stops by male drivers assuming I'm a lot lizard or something. I have been at shippers where they will ask if I want to have my husband back it in, assuming I'm a team truck. People will assume you can't handle the truck just because you are a woman. You can't let any of that get to you. Be confident in your ability to do the job, but act like a lady and you will generally be treated like one. If you are parking at a truck stop for the night, it is better to pull through the fuel line, go inside to use the bathroom and grab some dinner, and then go park. Pull your curtains and lock your doors, be smart and be safe. I don't know your home situation, but for me, I was single with no kids, so I actually gave up my apartment, put everything in storage, and lived on my truck for 2 years. I paid off all my old bills and debts. Once a month, I would take 2 days off and get a motel room just to get out of the truck and have easy access to a bathroom. Since you are just starting out, definitely take the CDL course on here, I did and it helped alot!! Don't be afraid to ask questions, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.

1. GPS lies!!! Even the on-board Nav-Go system can be wrong. I once followed my Nav-Go trying to find a truck stop in Wisconsin, ended up on a dead end dirt road with nothing by cows as far as the eye could see, and Nav-Go confidently informing me I had arrived at my destination.

2. Your phone is your friend. I always call shippers and receivers to get directions, because the aforementioned Nav-Go will sometimes take you to the front door of the office, not the loading docks. Also use my phone to check for construction zones along my route, weather conditions, I'll use Google Earth to get an overhead view of locations, apps to locate truck stops along the way, the list goes on and on.

3. When in doubt, don't turn. If you can't see what you are getting into, it is better to set the brakes, get out and walk it. And if you aren't sure you can make the turn, don't. In my early days, I was delivering to a Big Lots where it was a sharp 90 degree turn at the corner of the building to get to the dock. I knew I couldn't make the turn without hitting the building, but allowed the Big Lots supervisor to convince me to try it. I didn't hit the building, but I did drop over the curb into mud, landing on the fuel tank and getting stuck. Had to have a tow truck come pull me out, and it counted as a preventable accident on my record.

4. Always have at least a week's worth of food and water on your truck. You never know when you might get stuck sitting in a dirt lot in the middle of no where, waiting for another load. I sat for 3 days, and on the third day I had to beg supplies off other drivers because I didn't have any cash on me. Also, when possible, stock up at a Walmart or similar store whenever you can....truck stops are expensive!! Always have a small supply of cash on hand, especially ones and change, for those random times where you don't make it to a truck stop and have to park at a rest area for the night. Vending machine meals may not be healthy, but better than nothing.

5. You are driving the truck. There isn't someone sitting in the passenger seat holding a gun to your head, you can't be forced to drive if you feel it is not safe to do so. Two examples, I had shut down for the night, was sleeping, and my dispatcher called and told me they were sending a driver to meet me to take over the load, and I needed to get it another 150 miles down the road. I was exhausted, but because I still had drive time, I got back on the road. After about 60 miles, I actually nodded off for a second. Scared me, I hit the truck stop at the next exit, and shut it down, called my dispatcher back and told him where I was and where the other driver could meet me. Second example, very high winds and I had less than 10,000 lbs in the trailer. Dispatcher was pushing me to keep driving, but after the wind lifted the trailer completely off the ground and slammed it back down, I stopped at the next truck stop and shut it down for two days until the wind warning ended. Use common sense, and if it isn't safe, or you don't feel safe, don't drive.

6. Patience is a virtue. You will encounter impatient drivers all the time, whether they are in cars, or other truckers. Impatient drivers are accidents waiting to happen. Don't be that driver. And if you see another driver being impatient, stay out of their way.

7. Always have an "out." Be aware of your surroundings. If there is a truck trying to pass you, and its taking them awhile, slow it down a bit and let them by. You don't want them rolling right next to you for miles on end, what if one of you blows a steer tire? Or a car cuts you off? Or a deer jumps out in front of you? Or in my case, what if a mannequin falls out of a pick up, and you think its a body, and you have a tanker on one side and a school bus on the other, and no choice but to maintain your lane? An experience like that, aside from scaring 10 years off your life, will definitely teach you to always have an out.

8. Assume that every other driver on the road is going to do something stupid. You will see it every day. Be prepared for that car to pass you in the breakdown lane, or that pick up to run that stop sign, or that suv to go into a spin on a wet road. You are the "professional driver" and in the companies eyes, most accidents are preventable. Aside from the fact that you don't want to live with it if you are involved in an accident that takes a life, regardless of who is at fault.

9. Plan, plan, plan. When you get your next load, take the time to plan your route, plan your stops, get directions, etc. Always have a few options of where you plan to shut down for your 10 hr breaks, you never know if an accident, construction, weather, getting lost, delayed at shippers, etc may delay you. I would write exit numbers of the various truck stops along my route in dry erase marker on my driver's side window.

10. Be professional. You are reflecting not only yourself, but your company, and truck drivers in general. The shippers are your customers, driving is your job. Don't go pulling into a shipper with music blaring, you are not at the club, you are at work. Don't go into a shipper in Spongebob pajama pants and flip flops (seen it). Don't start yelling and cussing at the shipper, or other drivers. Use common sense, treat others as you want to be treated, and be proud of what you do.