Comments By Big Ben

This post is a little late but here it is. I hit my 1 year as a professional driver! The road was long and hard, but I overcame the obstacles. There were times when I was scared and wanted to quit but I didn't ( Texas panhandle ice storm in November 2015) my truck was sliding and I honestly thought I was done but I calmed myself down and luckily did not crash. There were times where the loneliness would get to me and honestly I would break down crying because I missed being home and missed My family but I always got through it. It's all about the attitude you have, if you are happy and cheerful and have that can do attitude you will prevail. If not, you're probably not going to last. I hit my 1 year on August, 26, 2016 with Swift and I am glad I didn't quit, I have an awesome dedicated account and driver manager that will bend over backwards for her fleet. I did it....Now what lol

Thanks for reading

Big Ben

Some of the mega carriers are going to be all automatic soon anyways so if you can't shift I wouldn't be too worried. After I got done with my cdl school and mentor training I was put in a automatic and been in one since I went solo.

I've been paid for repairs and detention after my hrs ran rout. I'd say yes. Don't know how swift does things though. ( I think you're with them anyway)

Thanks and yes I am a swifty

Big Ben, although I am a Swifty I am paid CPM, stop-pay and dispatch pay. Your compensation depends on your contract. Is your hourly pay for both driving and on-duty? If so is the rate for driving and on-duty the same? Regardless of extending beyond your 14 hours on-duty, you can legally work beyond that as long as you are not driving. Just keep in mind it will push your PTA further out.

I suggest asking your DM to be sure.

I get paid the same wether I am on duty driving or on duty not driving and yeah I'll ask, I see her tomorrow morning after my SIM training.

I've been paid for repairs and detention after my hrs ran rout. I'd say yes. Don't know how swift does things though. ( I think you're with them anyway)

Thanks and yes I am a swifty

I work hourly and my 14 hos is up and I'm still being unloaded. Does anyone know if I still get paid until they finished even though I had to clock of due to my hos?

Then an underpaid Rent a Cop will come and tell you that you have to leave.

Geez I hope not lol

I gotta get in on this whole nap thing, how's it work lol

Well you see, I usually just zzzzzzzzz

I got a semi local route after just 3 months of otr with swifty from the jv terminal. I'm home on the weekends and starting out I got a bunch of L.A. And San Diego loads. Now since I have a clean safety record and proven myself dependable I get the longer loads to Arizona, Nevada, and places up north in Cali, it works out great since I get paid hourly. As a matter of fact I just woke up from a long nap that I got paid for because I'm still getting unloaded lol.

50 minutes till my clock runs dry and I'm getting unloaded in the front odd the store lol they won't be done for another 2 hours so after they are finished I have to crawl to the back and park lol gotta love it, at least it's in a shopping center!

I have been getting unloaded since 01:00 and was suppose to be at my second stop at 03:30, it is now 04:13 and I am still at stop 01. Eh really nothing I can do lol my clock will run dry in 3 more hours so if this store picks up the pace I'll make it to stop 02 really late lol and let the clock run out there and hope they let me do a 10 hour reset while docked. Note to self decline load if this store is in the delivery haha