DON'T WORK FOR SWIFT? ... NOT!
Topic 9863 | Page 1
The first part is a common posting here and on many other boards. After that is the explanation from a Fleet Manager
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I am tired of getting skee-rooed by this company! I drive a scheduled shuttle run that gets me 512 miles daily, four days on, two off. Plus being home every day. But they don't tell you when you get cancelled! I went to the T-call window, ready for my run. The clerk said "Sorry, you got cancelled!" Well, can't they tell me this before I get dressed, pack a lunch and drive 30 miles to the terminal! Nooo - they don't have time. The the clerk looks at the actual schedule - ANOTHER DRIVER'S LOAD WAS CANCELLED, AND HE GOT MINE - and I have the honor of staying hoe and not get paid. How can I make a living this way? I'm not sure if going back to OTR or looking for another company who better takes care of the drivers is the way out of this junk!, I'm going to post what happened to me on Trucking Truth, Trucker Report, CDLLife and LifeAsATrucker to warn people away from Swift!
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(The previous paragraph is a common reaction by people. I called the office and (not my intention) ended up talking to the fleet manager)Turns out I have not been set up in the phone-mail system where I could call in to see if I'm scheduled or cancelled - the phone call that saves lots of time and aggravation. The FM apologized and would get me set up.
The load swap, where "my" load was given to another driver is actually a rotation thing. On any given load that is cancelled, there is a rotation so that we all get cancelled in turn. That's a great advantage if one lane gets lots of cancellations, hurting that one driver, the "joy" is spread around instead.
If a load is cancelled, and the driver ends up not driving, they get a cancellation pay of $100. The round trip is worth $184 to me if I drive, so for 80 bucks I get to stay home. Better than a poke in the eye, at least!
So before you go ballistic, try talking with someone, or making a phone call. You might get an explanation that makes sense!
4 days on 2 days off and also home everyday? That's a very nice gig. I was told that Swifts walmart dedicated routes in the Florida area want one year experience. I'll have several options for a home almost every night by then though.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
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.
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.
Fm:
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.Fleet Manager:
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.
4 days on 2 days off and also home everyday? That's a very nice gig. I was told that Swifts walmart dedicated routes in the Florida area want one year experience. I'll have several options for a home almost every night by then though.
I was "recruited" to work a Walmart reefer route for a week. About as cush an assignment as you could get, only I had to stay at the DC since home was several hundred miles away. BUT the DC was literally behind a Walmart, so I couldn't improve much on that assignment.
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."
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
Errol, would you happen to know if Swift offers any dedicated routes around Memphis? I'm originally from Byhalia, MS, and nearly my whole family lives there. I'd like to live in Desoto County, MS, but I'm not familiar with the options Swift has to offer around Memphis. I've heard about Walmart dedicated routes in Shelbyville, TN, but are there any routes closer to Memphis?
Thanks.
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."
Errol, would you happen to know if Swift offers any dedicated routes around Memphis? I'm originally from Byhalia, MS, and nearly my whole family lives there. I'd like to live in Desoto County, MS, but I'm not familiar with the options Swift has to offer around Memphis. I've heard about Walmart dedicated routes in Shelbyville, TN, but are there any routes closer to Memphis?
Thanks.
Currently I drive a dedicated Georgia Pacific account. I do business for GP as if I work for them. This account gets me home on weekends for at least 34 hours. I tried to get into this account right after my road/mentor training, but "they" wouldn't let me. Had to go OTR for a while.
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.
Errol, would you happen to know if Swift offers any dedicated routes around Memphis? I'm originally from Byhalia, MS, and nearly my whole family lives there. I'd like to live in Desoto County, MS, but I'm not familiar with the options Swift has to offer around Memphis. I've heard about Walmart dedicated routes in Shelbyville, TN, but are there any routes closer to Memphis?
Thanks.
Currently I drive a dedicated Georgia Pacific account. I do business for GP as if I work for them. This account gets me home on weekends for at least 34 hours. I tried to get into this account right after my road/mentor training, but "they" wouldn't let me. Had to go OTR for a while.
Georgia Pacific, is that a paper company? If so, do you go to the Georgia Pacific down in crossett arkansas?
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.
Yes, GP does paper. Loads include big bales of cardboard, tissue & towels, and huge rolls of Kraft paper.
GP Crossett is one of my main hang outs. And my favorite Walmart.
Yes, GP does paper. Loads include big bales of cardboard, tissue & towels, and huge rolls of Kraft paper.
GP Crossett is one of my main hang outs. And my favorite Walmart.
I thought Georgia Pacific sounded familiar, picked up some tissue and took it to indianapolis a few days ago. Maybe we will cross paths down there one of these days.lol
Errol, would you happen to know if Swift offers any dedicated routes around Memphis? I'm originally from Byhalia, MS, and nearly my whole family lives there. I'd like to live in Desoto County, MS, but I'm not familiar with the options Swift has to offer around Memphis. I've heard about Walmart dedicated routes in Shelbyville, TN, but are there any routes closer to Memphis?
Thanks.
Currently I drive a dedicated Georgia Pacific account. I do business for GP as if I work for them. This account gets me home on weekends for at least 34 hours. I tried to get into this account right after my road/mentor training, but "they" wouldn't let me. Had to go OTR for a while.
I already plan for OTR, but I'd like to eventually move to dedicated or local routes in the future. How to do you get into something other than OTR after you've been with the company 8-12 months?
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.
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The first part is a common posting here and on many other boards. After that is the explanation from a Fleet Manager
= + = + = + = + = + = +
I am tired of getting skee-rooed by this company! I drive a scheduled shuttle run that gets me 512 miles daily, four days on, two off. Plus being home every day. But they don't tell you when you get cancelled! I went to the T-call window, ready for my run. The clerk said "Sorry, you got cancelled!" Well, can't they tell me this before I get dressed, pack a lunch and drive 30 miles to the terminal! Nooo - they don't have time. The the clerk looks at the actual schedule - ANOTHER DRIVER'S LOAD WAS CANCELLED, AND HE GOT MINE - and I have the honor of staying hoe and not get paid. How can I make a living this way? I'm not sure if going back to OTR or looking for another company who better takes care of the drivers is the way out of this junk!, I'm going to post what happened to me on Trucking Truth, Trucker Report, CDLLife and LifeAsATrucker to warn people away from Swift!
= + = + = + = + = + = +
(The previous paragraph is a common reaction by people. I called the office and (not my intention) ended up talking to the fleet manager)
Turns out I have not been set up in the phone-mail system where I could call in to see if I'm scheduled or cancelled - the phone call that saves lots of time and aggravation. The FM apologized and would get me set up.
The load swap, where "my" load was given to another driver is actually a rotation thing. On any given load that is cancelled, there is a rotation so that we all get cancelled in turn. That's a great advantage if one lane gets lots of cancellations, hurting that one driver, the "joy" is spread around instead.
If a load is cancelled, and the driver ends up not driving, they get a cancellation pay of $100. The round trip is worth $184 to me if I drive, so for 80 bucks I get to stay home. Better than a poke in the eye, at least!
So before you go ballistic, try talking with someone, or making a phone call. You might get an explanation that makes sense!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
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.
Fm:
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.Fleet Manager:
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.