Death In The Family

? I got about a week and 1/2 until I upgrade, I’m on hometime with my trainer but I got some very bad news earlier my fiancée 1st cousin got killed in a car accident earlier, I got to be there for my fiancée and her fam, so what do I do and who do I discuss this with because I can’t leave my fiancée alone this is real heavy on my mind it’s been in emotional day.

I would discuss this with your dispatcher , and if possible... do it in writing. my company can do it from a phone app or email.

Understand though that "my fiancee's cousin died" is not the same as your own family member. They may not be as understanding as you would like.

that sounds mean but it is life. Even my home job were jerks when my grandfather died. 🤨 hence i quit that week. sorry for her loss and good luck

Ryan you want to talk to your Driver Qualifications contact and your mentor's DM.

Swift's general policy is three days off, but that is up to the DM and DQ. They may let you go and finish up with a different mentor.

As Kearsey pointed out though: a fiance's cousin isn't going to be seen as the same as a direct relative (spouse, child, parent) so you may get some push back.

This is one of the hard parts of this career is when stuff happens and you can't be there.

Ryan, my advice would be to let your fiance handle it herself. Fiance's cousin technically is not a death in your family and during training I wouldnt want to interrupt the flow. If it were your family, grandparent, parent or child I would take off but only one of those. Once training is done and you have been out solo you could take time off for her family. That's just my opinion of course but I wouldnt even ask for time off for her cousin during training as it is a fairly delicate time in your new career and may be frowned upon by your employer even if they let you off for it as it interferes with the planning they have done to get you going with that trainer and their time schedule to get you rolling solo. I'm not trying to be cruel and please dont take offense but if you have to chose between your finances cousins funeral or finishing training and rolling solo as soon as you can the choice is obvious to me.

So I talked to my driver leader he told me to take all the time I need and that once I get back on the road Monday I’ll have a new mentor and I won’t have to start the training back over.

Ryan you want to talk to your Driver Qualifications contact and your mentor's DM.

Swift's general policy is three days off, but that is up to the DM and DQ. They may let you go and finish up with a different mentor.

As Kearsey pointed out though: a fiance's cousin isn't going to be seen as the same as a direct relative (spouse, child, parent) so you may get some push back.

This is one of the hard parts of this career is when stuff happens and you can't be there.

So I talked to my driver leader he told me to take all the time I need and that once I get back on the road Monday I’ll have a new mentor and I won’t have to start the training back over.

Glad to hear you'll be able to be there to comfort your fiancee and her family.

Ryan, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. My condolences across the miles/internet. I am also glad you have an understanding company and trainer. My prayer is with you. I too have had family issues pop up during my own training, family is everything we got to take care of our loved ones.

Moe

So I talked to my driver leader he told me to take all the time I need and that once I get back on the road Monday I’ll have a new mentor and I won’t have to start the training back over.

Ryan you want to talk to your Driver Qualifications contact and your mentor's DM.

Swift's general policy is three days off, but that is up to the DM and DQ. They may let you go and finish up with a different mentor.

As Kearsey pointed out though: a fiance's cousin isn't going to be seen as the same as a direct relative (spouse, child, parent) so you may get some push back.

This is one of the hard parts of this career is when stuff happens and you can't be there.

Ryan, sorry to hear of your loss.

On a positive note, my experience and others (I know) with Swift on personal matters has always been positive and typically uncomplicated. It's a really great sign for you...meaning they value you as an employee even if you haven't gone solo yet. While you are on leave, maintain communication with them, try to make good on whatever return date you have committed to.

Best of luck.

Also, related side note, pet peeve I see online far too often:

Don't be this driver:

"Heartless Company X put me down as Quit W/O notice/Abandoning truck/load/job/etc because I had to go home for my mom's funeral."

No - what happened was you mom sadly passed away. I am sorry for your loss. Your company was understanding, and released you to go home, maybe even helped you get there. Without notice, no problem, tragedies are unpredictable. They probably recovered the truck and found someone to finish that load for you. No problem at all. After the funeral and arrangements, and once you're ready to drive again, they will be there for you. Most companies will eat that loss for one of their drivers.

But...in the case where you read the quote up there... after the funeral, that driver choose to not go back to that company. So now they have quit without notice, abandoned a truck, and it has nothing to do with them needing to be there for a funeral and the company being heartless.

I have seen that story 1000x in almost every company review, and its ridiculous. Don't be that driver.

Thanks everyone and naw I’m not abandoning the company I’m committed to them they gave me a chance, I was ready to go back out today to finish my training, but yesterday while we’re looking for houses we received this unexpected call that rocked my fiancées world, her close cousin was only 19, right then I knew I had to be there for her because if I was on road I would of lost focus because my mind would of been on her and her family but I’m 💯 committed to Swift this is a career I love.

Ryan, sorry to hear of your loss.

On a positive note, my experience and others (I know) with Swift on personal matters has always been positive and typically uncomplicated. It's a really great sign for you...meaning they value you as an employee even if you haven't gone solo yet. While you are on leave, maintain communication with them, try to make good on whatever return date you have committed to.

Best of luck.

Also, related side note, pet peeve I see online far too often:

Don't be this driver:

"Heartless Company X put me down as Quit W/O notice/Abandoning truck/load/job/etc because I had to go home for my mom's funeral."

No - what happened was you mom sadly passed away. I am sorry for your loss. Your company was understanding, and released you to go home, maybe even helped you get there. Without notice, no problem, tragedies are unpredictable. They probably recovered the truck and found someone to finish that load for you. No problem at all. After the funeral and arrangements, and once you're ready to drive again, they will be there for you. Most companies will eat that loss for one of their drivers.

But...in the case where you read the quote up there... after the funeral, that driver choose to not go back to that company. So now they have quit without notice, abandoned a truck, and it has nothing to do with them needing to be there for a funeral and the company being heartless.

I have seen that story 1000x in almost every company review, and its ridiculous. Don't be that driver.