Hometime

"You must submit your request for home time one week in advance." Haha ha ha that is what they'll tell you, but they don't tell you that you're probably not going to be home any of the days you're requesting to be home. What do you do: be flexible.

You must realize that freight isn't everywhere. Yes, you can accept that order that came across your qualcomm , but do you know if there is any freight up there that will get you home next week? No, you dont. And this is why you always call the area planner to ensure they can get you out of there before you even go in.

If you don't mind missing the hometime, then just go with the flow and don't be disappointed when you are sitting two, three, or five days at the terminal with no runs for you. Yes, this happens in some areas, especially at Swift.

Just be flexible, or cover your rear-end by asking the planner to get you a run out of there before you ever accept the load to go there.

You must be new here. You may get some interesting comments on this thread. Lol

Lol

I've only been here for a few months... I'm only telling the truth

And this is why you always call the area planner to ensure they can get you out of there before you even go in.

That may be true at Swift and some other companies, but not most. But that's ok. I like what you're saying and I'll explain why in a minute.

First though, every company is structured a little differently. Most companies will not give you access to area planners in the first place and if you tried calling them directly you'd be put in the doghouse for a while.

Also, at most companies, dispatchers will put you in the doghouse if you call them instead of using the Qualcomm. The overwhelming majority of dispatchers can't stand using the phone - it's a much slower and more disruptive process than using the Qualcomm.

You must realize that freight isn't everywhere

That is very true. I always tell people you have to understand that trucking companies are not run by magicians. They can not just magically make freight appear where and when you'd like it to appear. Sure would be nice! But it doesn't work that way. They simply have to make do with the available freight.

What I do like to see is that you're learning the system there at Swift. You're figuring out what works, what doesn't work, and why. That's one of the big reasons we tell people to stick with their first company for at least one year:

• It takes quite a while to learn to manage your time and your HOS efficiently. If you can't manage time efficiently you simply won't be able to turn the miles the top drivers are turning
• It takes time to prove yourself to your company. Because of #1 it's going to be at least 3 - 6 months after going solo before you're going to be able to turn big miles safely and consistently without being late for any appointments. Until you can do that you're simply not going to be given the big miles and nicer loads the top drivers are getting.
• It takes time to learn how your company works internally. As mentioned, you're figuring out how to make things happen there at Swift. Your recommendations probably wouldn't apply to most companies, but at Swift it may work marvellously.

you're probably not going to be home any of the days you're requesting to be home

That may happen from time to time but it shouldn't be true most of the time. If you do have to be home for a certain date, like a wedding or a doctor's appointment, then make sure you let the company know that in advance and put in home time for a day or two before that date.

Putting in your time at a company, proving yourself, and learning how their system works is absolutely critical to your happiness and success out there. New drivers often expect everything to simply be handed to them but this industry doesn't work that way. You have to hustle, you have to be creative, and you have to learn how to work the system. It's much easier to explain this stuff than it is to understand it when you haven't been out there to experience life in the industry.

Rookie drivers tend to think they're working for a bad company when things don't go as they expect in the beginning. They simply don't understand that they haven't proven themselves yet, nor have they learned how to work the system yet. They're not reliable enough nor are they efficient enough yet to turn the big miles, get access to the best freight, and get some special favors from time to time. So it's common to see rookie drivers jump ship within the first 3 - 6 months in the industry and start slamming their company for treating them like garbage. The reality is that they simply hadn't put in the time needed to learn their trade and learn how to make things happen out there.

Brett, you're completely right. And, of course, I can only speak as a Swift driver on nearly all matters of this career so far.

And it's funny tha t you mention new drivers expecting a hand out, because I've ran into a handful across the states within my own company who've only been out here for a few months, and claim to get between 800 & 1500 miles every week.

In my mind, something doesn't seem right. They're either not hustling freight or they're never on time... it's all that I can think of really.

OTR is a hustle.