Swift Orientation, Memphis, TN
Topic 6891 | Page 2
Carlos was waiting for me out front. He drives dedicated, so we're limited to the area he works, and he goes home for weekends. So I'll be staying in a hotel in Jackson for the next six or so weekends.
Is that on your dime or does Swift pick up the hotel? Jerry
Is that on your dime or does Swift pick up the hotel?
Jerry
Swift buys the room for the trainee when the mentor gets home time. Hotel breakfast is a benefit, beyond that you're on your own for eats.
We had an incident yesterday - a deer hit the front bumper! We had a load headed for Memphis, so after making delivery, we drove to the terminal for repairs. The truck will be in the body shop for at least one day. Swift will put us up at a local hotel. (I live close enough to Memphis I'll go home.) No more driving for a bit.
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.
Hope you get back on the road soon!
Hope you get back on the road soon!
Looks like tomorrow (Tuesday) around noon. As a Swift trainee two things:
- I get paid by the hour while in training. No driving, no moo-lah.
- I need to make 240 hours of trainee-driving. No driving now means more time before I'm a solo driver, paid driver style.
Hey Errol; how's the job going? I, too, am presently a 'Swifter' in week 4 of mentor driving. Kind of sucks in that I only get 7-8 hrs@ day as he is a leased owner/operator, dedicated run Salt Lake city to Las vegas is all he does. He's a really nice guy, good teacher, but I'm from WI and not interested in straight runs way out here. I do have somewhat of an advantage in that I pulled a 6 horse trailer w/ a 4500 all over u.s. for 10 years, so know the long hours, tedious waiting at times, and I can back most anything, anywhere. Other than that it is all different though. And I'm pushing 60 so no spring chicken, but always worked 10-12 hr. days pretty physical, so not too bad. Hope the road is being kind to you and you're still at it. Thanks for the Swift info, need all that I can get!
Dedicated Run:
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."
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He is a leased owner/operator, dedicated run Salt Lake city to Las vegas is all he does.
Garrick, my mentor is also dedicated, only to one company, not a particular route. It's just "luck of the draw." I can do the road driving, and shifting, and fortunately with all my p/u & deliveries I get lots of backing practice!
And I'm pushing 60 so no spring chicken.
Being 60's not all that bad, I was 60 once myself. Now I'm 63 & really getting into this job, too!
Dedicated Run:
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."
The truck has been in the body shop since Monday. Tuesday afternoon we get the repaired truck back at 2pm. Now to hit the road again. Just can't wait to get on the road again. ( Oh, hi, Willie! Ok, I'll stop.)
Just like last Thursday - Leave Memphis to Indianola, get a trailer to take to Campti. At 4 am we're done. So we pull to a quiet roadside spot for the rest of the night. My 10 hour break means I can't drive again till 2pm Thursday. Good night.
The truck has been in the body shop since Monday. Tuesday afternoon we get the repaired truck back at 2pm. Now to hit the road again. Just can't wait to get on the road again. ( Oh, hi, Willie! Ok, I'll stop.)
Just like last Thursday - Leave Memphis to Indianola, get a trailer to take to Campti. At 4 am we're done. So we pull to a quiet roadside spot for the rest of the night. My 10 hour break means I can't drive again till 2pm Thursday. Good night.
Am I missing something? Because now im confused...
You posted this almost 11 hours ago and its now, 4:30PM Eastern time on Wednesday.... how do you calculate that your 10 hour break means you cant drive until Thursday afternoon? Did you mean to say Wednesday? 
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So Sunday morning we head for Crossett. Arrive around noon, but the shipment won't be ready till 2:15 ... am. We have 14 hours to wait.
To get my drive time in we head to Monticello, AR, find a safe spot, and go see a movie. We're spending the first half of the night in the sleeper berths. We'll hit the road just after midnight & return to the shipper. I just hope the shipment is ready then!
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
Sleeper Berth:
The portion of the tractor behind the seats which acts as the "living space" for the driver. It generally contains a bed (or bunk beds), cabinets, lights, temperature control knobs, and 12 volt plugs for power.