More Questions About Swift
Topic 13508 | Page 1
Can anybody tell me about swifts comfort zones? Like what states would I run from the south east? Errol?
Yeah, I saw that map. But I never heard that term used.
I think that SWIFT's explanation covers where they are, and what they can be used for by drivers. If you happen to live west of the Rockies (more or less) you can't utilize a comfort zone. The two zones overlap. Denver is included in western most zone; and the eastern most includes all the Atlantic states, so driving in New England is likely.
COMFORT ZONES
The following regions, known as comfort zones, are designed to keep drivers closer to home allowing them to get home more frequently. Truck drivers have the option of utilizing the comfort zones if they choose or they can decide not to stay within the comfort zone and travel the country
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Can anybody tell me about swifts comfort zones? Like what states would I run from the south east? Errol?
Phillip B. you'll have to ask SWIFT directly, but from the map if you lived in Georgia you'd run the Mid-West to the Atlantic - the states in the 909 zone.
Can anybody tell me about swifts comfort zones? Like what states would I run from the south east? Errol?
I don't live in the East so I can't really give you any info there, sorry. Like Errol, other than on the website, I've never heard the term used here at Swift. But I live in Denver and they haven't sent me east of MO the whole time I've been here. I'm a 48-state otr driver but I usually run the Western 11 and end up getting home every week during trips. I want to see the country though lol so I'm going to ask for my next load to be out east. When I asked a dispatcher about it yesterday, she seemed surprised and said I could just ask a planner. According to her, they usually have a hard time getting drivers to go east.
If you're on good terms with your dispatcher they might help you out too if you want to be home more often. Just last week I was delivering a load to Salt Lake and had just enough hours to go home, so I asked my dispatcher for a load to Denver and she got me one. I'd been home just the week before.
There's also alot of dedicated options. You gotta have 6 months otr experience for some of them but I've met other Swift drivers that got dedicated routes within a couple months, so it may be possible for you depending on what's available in your area.
Dedicated Route:
A driver or carrier who transports cargo between regular, prescribed routes. Normally it means a driver will be dedicated to working for one particular customer like Walmart or Home Depot and they will only haul freight for that customer. You'll often hear drivers say something like, "I'm on the Walmart dedicated account."
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Dispatcher:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
Paul's right. There's a career "path" of OTR first then something else. But it's easy for a company to make exceptions.
I met drivers who finished their road training (mentors) and were put on a shuttle route - home every day but 11 hours driving.
And do good work for your dispatcher. My mom lives in Tampa, FL but my DM doesn't "go" there. I asked if she could route me so she did get a plan from the Florida DM just for me. Got a weekend at Mom's for "Free"!
But I never turn down any load, never need some exception, always update my ETA so I'm never late. That gets me the miles, and I make my DM's job easier.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Dispatcher:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
Cool thanks guys I look forward to driving for Swift soon I would love a shuttle gig thanks for the input
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Can anybody tell me about swifts comfort zones? Like what states would I run from the south east? Errol?