[quote="beeiatch"]Boneebone..... Please go start your own thread..... this is my thread, if you would like to comment on the post title, please feel free.... if not EditNow that thats taken care of.....

WOW! I'm so tired i think i will die in my bed for another 12 hours. Here's the scoop....

I got my mentor 11 days ago. Tuesday...


Are we allowed to use vulgar language now?[/quote]


NO! A small oversight on my part. Problem fixed now. Carry on.

Southernpride,

When your on break or trip plannning this might help get you on line.
Free wifi access throughout the U.S.

http://www.wififreespot.com/

HEY!!!!! I'm back! Well nothing too major to report on the fornt here, it's just been learning a bunch of new stuff every day. My backing is getting a lot better. I'm ok driving like 10-11hrs a day now, without having to stop every 3. My mentor is great! i am truly lucky.
He is sooooo patient yet has no problem puting his foot down in a professional mannor when needed.... He keeps telling me that i'm doing so well, i dont miss gears (or deer.)

Here's a little personal type news.... I have realized that in life you can only TRULY count on yourself (and maybe your spouse) My brother inlaw who came to school with me and was going to be driving team flatbed with me decided that this wasnt for him. Now i understand it's not for everyone, but he's full of you know what.... He got a taste of hard work and ran. ANYWAY..... i decided not to go flat bed after all. So i'll stick with this mentor for the whole 6 weeks.... anyway basically he has toally lied about it and been really 2-faced about the whole thing.... so all i can do is do my own thing. (ps. he has 3 kids and no incom right before Christmas but he's not even MAN enough to tough it out to put food on the table and give his kids a Christmas. Well... I'm not bailing him out AGAIN!)

Other than than, things are going REALLY well. We are in Iowa right now at the Iowa-80 largest truckstop in the world. :) On our way to WI then PA then...... GEORGIA!!!! HOME for a MUCH needed 34hr. 3 1/2 weeks since i saw my wife or my kids. Man i cant wait to get home. I'll check in again soon. Laterz.

MODS- Sorry about the vulgar language in my last post.... but he deserved it.

good for you southernpride.
Someday maybe some of us newbies from this board will run into one another "Out There"
Now THAT would be cool.

These diaries all start the same. Anyone want to bet on how it ends?

re: Anyone want to bet on how it ends?

Being the positive person that I am I would say it ends with a person enjoying his profession.
You have seen it written many times. Attitude is a big part of what you are. I have seen this my whole life. For some people it is just natural to put their heads down and push for a good outcome. For others it is just as natural to sit and complain. GOD gives every bird its food. HE does not put it in the nest. You have to GET OUT THERE and get it. I have been in the military, food service, construction, manufacturing, computer and sales fields SO FAR. People who work hard and have good attitudes succeed. Those who don't wonder why their lives are so miserable.
It is up to you.
You have a choice.

I just came through CR England orientation and in their school that something like 100 in a class. I heard the put 6 in the truck and the best you get before you actually take the road test is like 3 to 4 hours. I came through Roadmaster and you had to have 9 hours driving before you could test.

So u wanna bet?

If Jesus had worked for Swift we wouldn't have the Golden Rule.

Trucking is a tough business with a good compnay. With a bad one, all you can do is X the days off the calendar.

mbadriver,
I will tell you this. If I don't like it I will go do something else. I will not complain about it. I will move on.
respects,
Dennis in se pa

Wait until you go solo....
 

Keep up the good attitude, you'll need it when you go solo. I personally went through a private school and decided to go to swift since they had a terminal close to my home.
The training period was a breeze! 99% drop&hook, good directions, new truck, no east coast, awesome DM, GREAT miles.

REALITY Check!

I've been solo for 6 weeks now. I average 2000 miles per week. That = $250.00. Horrible directions. (highly recommend a GPS system) that'll save you hours a trip. DM's that won't respond to your messages. Most loads /i get are live load/unload that have you sit for insane amount of hours. Don't forget the scale, toll roads and lumper fees. This comes out of your pocket until you get reimbursed minus the atm fees and advance fees that are not. So you can kiss $6.00 each time away as a "gift" to the company.

Let's also add sitting on the weekend cause the majority of the loads you get at are less than 600 miles.

My truck has been in the shop 4 times already.

Hope and pray they don't send you to the east coast your first week and leave you there!


Now, on the flip... I've spoken to a few new drivers that haven't experienced what I've been through and are happy. I suppose it all depends on the terminal you're at and DM. ( all terminals are run differently)

Now, I still have the same enthusiasm and drive for this industry, just not with Swift

Let me go ahead at put this out there. You wanna bet on something, go take a bet thats worth it, like that the Patriots will win the superbowl. Or that Junior will the Daytona 500. Screw you betting on me getting screwed!

1st. 2000 miles @ .26 cpm is not 250, even after taxes, unless you owe back taxes. Does tghat mean i wont have bad weeks...no, but i am prepared for that.

DM - You get what you put in in 99% of cases. I firmly believe if i show a DM i can keep him looking good, he'll keep me happy.

FEES and waiting for reimbursement... did you not know this up front? No? then shame on your recruiter. You know, i was told from the get go, plus i did my research.

I'm getting into this to WORK for what i want, i dont expect it to be handed to me, or for it to be easy. Now if anyone else wants to tell me how "bad" things are going to be.... please send it to my email address the address is

i_dont_care_what_you_think_about_swift@grow_up.com k?

AND.... please guys, go bash Swift on another thread, i really dont care to read it anymore. When a company has 17,000 drivers there's alot more unhappy ones than a company that has 5,000 drivers. But i'm sure you'll find the percentages are similar. There is a reason Swift has one of the highest retention rates. And there's a reason peoplke stay for 5, 10. 20 and 25 years... and they'll all tell you it's not all roses... but hey.

Back to my "diary" - We ran out of hours in PA and could run the GA load. Then freightg was against us to GA. We started to head back to the "regular route" when a chip in the windshield decided to spread in 7 different direction. So my mentor decided to goahead and take the load we accepted to NC and put the truck in the shop. So we were about an hour from the customer, and i was pulling over cause my hours were up, i get up to the stop on the ramp and the truck dies. So i check the fuel, i should still have 70 gallons, tank 1 EMPTY. Tank 2 about 1/2 full. Apparantly the fuel pump quit working on that tank. GRRRRRRR..... We managed to refire it and get it to a gas station (not a TS) and managed to just fit under the awning and put some fuel in the 1st tank. So truck went into the shop at about 8am the next morning and we had a new pum, new windshield, flaring fixed all by about 10am. We also ordered the bumper and fog light from the deer incident. We are taking a 34hr restart now... i got here (hotel) and almost instantly got sick. cold or flu or something so i spoent the last 2 days in bed hopped up on nyquil and just trying to recover. I cant wait to get these last 2 weeks done and get home though. I REALLY misss my family, but hopefully missing thanksgiving will mean i can get Christmas at home.

I'll check in again soon....

southernpride thanks
 

Would like to thank you for doing the messages ,Wife and I are starting with Schneider this friday and Im going to post like yours because its been very informative for a newbie thanks again. :D

Just wondering southernpride, does your wife and family follow your thread here? Keep up the good work. Happy T-Day on the road.

swift bashing
 

Hey man, if you can succeed at swift, go for it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Besides, nobody started out on top.

Thanks!
 

Thanks for your story southernpride. I'm checking out this forum for info on trucking and different schools and companies etc. Stories like this really help the cherries like me who know zip about the trade. Hope it goes well for you! :)

Hey.....just looking for an update on your training!! I really enjoyed your diary.

Hey! Just checking in, only got a few days left with my mentor, I really lucked out and got a really good one! I dunno if anyone been looking at my blog (http://www.nepageocachers.org/truckin/) but it gives a little outline of my time with my mentor. But I will post more later, got to go pick up a load.

Bump

How are you guys doing at Swift? Any updates?

yeah what happened with everything? My brother drives for Swift and he's fine with them...

I was just kind of worried about the kid. His last post sounded like he really wanted off the road, and I was hoping the best for him.

OTR at Christmas time with twin boys at home, and a young wife can be very tough. Hope he is doing ok.

I know a 63 yr. old man in Texas who has been with Swift 12 years and does just fine. Driving a van and averaging 43 cpm and 2400 mi. wk.. He told me once he had gotten sick and took a week off, and Swift came by the house, and took his 190k mile Volvo and left him a 870k miler. But once he got back out, they switched him back within 2 weeks. :roll:

870K? Swift doesn't have any Volvos old enough to reach 870k miles.

I think that was the real problem it was a Freightshaker, not Volvo :lol:

Hey an update from me, I have been solo 3 weeks, only had my truck (A 2004 Freightliner) for about a week and a half tho. This truck doesn't look too good, very beat up, has a few issues, has 1.2 mil miles, BUT it does run good. First week didn't get many miles as they where keeping me near home for christmas, but the first load after christmas home time, 1200 miles (NJ to Kansas City, MO). You can get more details from my blog, the link is posted a few posts before this one.

Southernpride, I am going to PM you.

Everyone else, if you see my truck (Swift truck 95287) in a truck stop, at a terminal, shipper, whereever, come say hello :)

Hello Boys.... I'm BACK!

My last post was way back in November, but i'm back with a catch up post. I finished out my 7 weeks with my mentor (just the way it worked out due to freight and hours) and got off his truck on 12/6. I tested out and finally went home for 5 days of R&R ! WOW you never reealize how much you appreciate things untill you go without them for a while. QI know it sounds cliche, but i finally understand. I'm actually glad now that i went that long without getting home and was able to stick it out, because i know if i can do 7 weeks, i can do 2-3. I was home (taking care of the honey do list) for 5 days and then went back to the terminal to get my truck. I did have to wait for a day, but I got lucky. People were being sent all over the country with other driver to get trucks, when a guy drove in and quit, i got his truck. 05 Volvo, 470k. OK shape, a few things need work, but it drives ok, and the air, heat and headlights work. Do i was off! My first day REALLLLLLLY pissed me off. I spent 5 hours running around looking for an MT that was less than 5 yrs old, duraplate no patches no nails..blah blah blah... Picky shippers! I ended up having to decline my first load cause not enought time. But then i got an empty and got a load. Greenwood SC to Rochester NY. 8000lbs, This was in the middle of that snow strom too. I had ample time to get there, and took it easy. I got to NY with just enough time to take about 11hrs b4 i had to deliver. Then i had to back to a dock door .... this was interetsing. I know i'm new and still learning, but my fiorst back on my own was blind side, at 5am, in a 89ft long parking lot (yes i measured!), AND it was snowing and there was ICE everywhere. 30minutes later i managed to inch it in there. YEAH!

Since then i've been running pretty hard. not taking anymore than "10 hours" down time and bugging my DM for loads. The longest i've had to wait was in NJ i hav to wait 19hrs in Newark.... but i know it happens.

1st wk solo: 2480 miles
2nd wk: 1587 (2 days off for xmass, 1 day shop)
3rd wk: 2699

As you can see i cant complain about miles right now. I've also been pd every receipt i've turned in for reimb. My bonus was pd SUPER fast.

Here's my gripes, My DM is non-responsive. I send msgs and nothing back till i call him. I know he is busy but..... Terminal showers are DISGUSTING!!!! Thank god for TA.

My fuel routes are intelligant, and my even i have not been asked to take a load impossible to del. on time.

I did have an issue on one load where i got caught up in 3 wrecks.... YES 3! it cost me a total of 4 hrs, and i still managed to get to my consignee w/ 3 minutes to spare. ( WHEW!) I guess experience will te\ach me to find ways around the traffic, but i'm still scared to take my truck off the interstates and big hwys. for fear of overpasses and such. I guess i'll get over that. I'll admit I avoided truck stops like the plague my first week, due to not feeling comfortable backing around those pretty long petes.... which is when i realized that my mentor as great as he was, and has become a good resource and freind, taught me the basics. I wish i had done truck stop parking at night, learning how to save hours...
( i ran out in 6 days my first week) managed to get a 34hr.

I eventually made myself go do it and just take my time no matter how many people i pissed off, and then i realized as long as u turn the CB off, you can do it fine. Which brings me to.... JESUS people, leave swift drivers alone, we're trying to learn, you had to start somewhere too. Witgh that said, i wanted to knock one swift driver out, he thought he knew everything after being on the road for 2 months, and was telling me to use jake brake when icey. I've been taught not too, unless i've got dry conditions it's off.

Problems i've had w/ my truclk, and why its in the shop as we s[eak:

--Opti idle quit working last night
--Fuel transfer issues (which caused me to have to be towed on my 2nd - trip, oh i also got a story about that trip....)
--Diff. lock wont engage
--8th gear is wont engage when mt or bob tailing. (wierd huh?)

My second trip: WOW Welcome to life on the road! Picked up in canandigua NY, well i drove past the shipper, and had to drive 18 miles down this tiny road b4 i found a place to turn around, a large intersection. (keep in mind still snowing HARD) well i didnt see the snow covered no uturn sign, but the DOT officer behind me did. I got a FULL inspection and he checked my logs for all of december (16 days worth).... all i got was a uturn ticket and a lecture. Later that night, due to fuel only coming out of one tank, ran out of fuel on the exit ramp and blocked 4 lanes of traffice for about an hour. the cops loved it. Me not so much.... but swift got a tow truck out there quick, i still felt like an idiot though. I've had to seal and unseal the over flow valves to controll the fuel flow. but this morining i ended up with a puddle of diesel under my truck.... thats the end of that.

OK thats all for now. I Hope everyone had a GREAT xmass and happy new year to all. I hope it's a prosporus one. I will continue to update this as i can, now that things are setteling down a bit. Please post this as a link to all the drivers asking about Swift. I hope it helps.

My wife actually reads the posts as does my mother, father and sister. to answer a prior question. ( Hey Guys! I'll be home soon !) My boys turn a year old next week. So thaat will be really cool.

Glad to hear from you, Southern Pride! Im happy for you that things are working out. I may end up in a swift truck myself (supposed to start school next week).

southernpride
man glad to hear again from you. I have been reading you posts from the beginning.

I am glad things are working for you. I am like you in the respect that nothing is given, you have to work and earn it all. I am a family man also, I have 4 kids total (2 full time) but If you can make the road work for you I know it can be done.

I have read alot of posts on this forum and for all those bashing Swift I find good comments too, as well as nearly all the other carriers. I think all carriers can be terrible or great, its all in the road you take.

You did a good thing staying away for that long gap back in training. from my military time I know it makes you cherish the time you have when you get it. I would seldom be home and sometimes way out of communication. My first 3 years with recon I was home for 9 months total. as I look back on it it was a blast when I was out there and plus I saw the world....
I think you will look back at these early years as a rookie driver and laugh when you are 5...10..15 years into it.

Keep the road posts coming. I really enjoy reading your info.

Good luck

Way to go man! Keep on truckin!

Ooo-Rah recon!

Recon - Thanks for reading and for the vote of confidence.

To Recon, Coach and all who serve or have served. THANK YOU! I know it sounds wierd, but being away for a few weeks from family has given me a new appreciation for those who served and have to be away from family for a year or more at a time. Not only that but you guys go out and put your life on the line so that my wife and i can raise our children in a better world.

Didnt mean to get all sappy, just wanted to say:

THANK YOU to all the men and woman in uniform! (past and present)

Thanks for checking in SP, glad its all ok, and just the typical stuff getting started on your own truck.

Andy

from reading your posts it looks like you been running into a little bad luck , running out of fuel on the hwy and doing a u turn with a dot officer behind you.
it will get better as the miles get under your belt, at least you didn"t put it in the ditch. super truckers (owner operaters ) they love to put it in the ditch.
as for the jakes you can use them in the rain (not ice or snow )the more you have in the trailer the less chance you have of jackknifeing , but even if it"s empty you probobly will not, just be more vigalant with your mirros.
as far as your d.m. not getting back to you if you are running late .after you c.y.a. on the q com it is best to call the shipper or reciever on your own and inform of the situation and make a new apt. time directly with them because your dm or dispatch will forget and your time will be wasted

Where was the consignee here in Rochester, if you can remember (the name or location)? That was a pretty rough storm - but worse in a single-screw! (I work for a private carrier, hauling plastic bottles) And hey, at least you didn't run afoul of one of our many, many short bridges - they seem to get hit pretty regularly, despite being well marked.


And re: your logs, aren't they only supposed to be allowed to go back seven days? Or do you only have to supply them with seven days? (This is, I suppose, more of a general question.) I've never been entirely clear - I know I have to hand him (or her) seven days worth, but if I hand over more, can they cite me on things further back?


BOL, southernpride - do what you can to keep up your positive outlook when things get rough. Time'll pass quicker than you think.

They can go as far back as 6 months, or even longer if they do an audit on you with the company, and yes they can cite you for anything they find, if you have log books from 2 years ago in your truck, they have a right to search your truck, and if they find it, and check it out, they could cite you for something on it, if they so chose to.

I may have missed something,but I thought you were going flatbed? Glad things are going alright.

Thank you again for all of your time that you have put into this post! It is very informative and is written with a great perspective!

Thanks and best of luck to you!

Pfft, the company did an audit on my logs, and discovered the one day I fudged the logs a little to gain some time, now I have to take a log class :(

Hey everyone.

Just wanted to check in. I have just hit the one month out on the road mark. AND 3 months with Swift, so i got my first Raise !!!!! WOOO HOOO 1c !!!! the good news is next month i get 2c!

Rochester - It was a small 2 door medical supply co. sorry dont remember the name.

Flatbed - When my BIL quit on me, i gave it up, didnt feel like doin it alone for 3 reasons:

1. 2 people can tarp and and strap a lot easier than 1, and safer
2. I'm lazy
3. I liked the idea of drop hook, not that it's happened much yet.

ANY way... i'm up to 27cpm now, still getting about the same miles, maybe a little more, but i'm learning to manage my time better now and find i'm actually available to run more miles.... I'm on a 1800 miler now!

I'll end up grossing about 3,000 for Jan, but it is a 5pay check month for me.....

Now the interesting stuff.....

After 3 days in the shop in kansas, I got to run some good miles and then ended up with 3 loads all around my house, so i got to spend a total of 6 nites in my own (or should i say old) bed. I couldnt sleep worth crap!

But it was good being home, and i got to be home for my twins 1yr bday! They are growing like weeds!

While i was in the shop waiting, i talked to a few drivers and found out about a dedicated acount that runs out of Rinco GA (12 miles from the house) pays 35cpm and 800/wk guaranteed. PLUS 1 day home per week guaranteed to, i'll be home more than that since it's so close. Wee i figured even though they say you have to work for 6 months otr before going dedicated that i would try my luck..... Jan 5th i was #8 on the waiting list. Today i'm #2! CANT wait for that.

I talked to my Fleet mgr and asked for a new DM, he said he'd get back to me, never did, but all of a sudden my requests and messages are being answered FAST! hmmmm...... i'll let it be till i go dedicated. Then i'll be out of ATL. terminal, not greer.

I also had an issue with about $300 swift owes me for lumpers truck wash and so forth. I was startiung to get "damn it they were right feeling" when i called payroll and as it turns out i turned them in incorrectly, and they were quickly pd! WHEW! Thought ya'll were gonna be right about me being getting screwed for a minute.... PSYCH!

Lastly, I have my truck set up to my liking now. Took a MONTH! but i can drive for hours on end, talking on the CB, listening to my Sirius radio, chatting on the phone, and time is flying, and i'm enjoying it. Yeah i said it, i'm actually having fun out here.... (OH and i havent eaten fast food AT ALL since JAN1!!!!) i got my lunchbox stove and my cooler and i'm happy as can be.

and as i siat here typing this a CR England truck just bumped into me.
(F!%&) I dont wanna hear no more BS about swift drivers backing, this guy is a Owner op and been driving for 20 years. Unfortunatley he did some damage, so i had to call it in. but he's being cool about it. gotta run.

96948
"Lead Foot" (yes ironic cause i drive a swift truck i know)
Come say HI anytime!

Very cool post... SP. Thank U for all the time and effort you've put into it.

I just sat here and read the entire thread. Sorry bout your ticket and the deer. Sounds like my luck. :?

I start w/ CRSI on the 4th of Feb. I just got the call today. Like U I have been in the IT business and really hated the office environment; and I was the owner for 16 years.

We moved from Calif. to Nashville in Oct. We love TN. and the south in general. We hated Calif. for many years and tell most that we escaped Calif. I just wanted a change in careers and love to drive. Your post has been very uplifting; post reading all the trucking company bashes Not just Swift.

Anyhow, Congrats on passing, are you still smoking? cause I do and I'd like to think I'll make the decision to quite when I'm ready :)

Keep the posts coming. Would love to see a year in the seat of what was a rookie.

Foxx

Hello again. I have discovered IDLE AIRE! Love it... kinda pricey though. Should get my idle time down a bit tho, and I guess the TV and internet is worth it once in a while. Maybe i can get some reimbursement?!?!? hmmm...

Any way, I've had a GREAT week (as far as miles go anyway) - 3700!
i deliver ATL, Ga tomorrow. Plus as of Jan 12 i got my first raise!
27cpm now. Feb 12 i will have another raise to 29cpm. Hopefully shortly after that i will get on the dedicated run i'm waiting for! 35cpm 800/wk guranteed and it runs outa my back yard so more hometime!

The CR england guy who bumped me while i was writing my last post was arrested for drugs, but that seems to be the end of that. After i delivered in Ogden UT, i got sent to WA. On the wat there a woman just in front of me lost controll of her car( snowy and icey roads) and hit another truck. i stopped cause it was pretty bad, but all was ok.

So now i;m going through the motions w/ swift about possibly being suspended for 3 days and having a performance review because i got 2 tickets. (one from school which was thrown out and my u-turn ticket)... I'm trying to get them to not count the soeeding from school since i was not an employee and it got thrown out. So waiting on word about that, The same day i found out about all this, the following happened.

20 miles from oregon state line my tag flies off the truck, i tried to find it (it hit the windshield cause it was zip tied to the grill.) but no luck. So i go into oregon weigh station and get the "park and bring in paperwork" sign. GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Turns out i had to get a different permit now cause i have no "base plate" so get the permit and keep going. No other paperwork was checked. Get to WA get the same thing at weigh station so i figured it was because of the plate again. WRONG! I got a nice random level 1 inspection! After going over the truck with a fine tooth comb the stupid piece of shitaki mushroom cop could find nothing.... till he went into my permit book. My insurance card expired 1/1/08. i explained i had been an insurance agent and thought it was 12/31/08 honest mistake but could have a new one faxed right over. NOPE he wouldnt allow it. Then the trailer registration... it was there and valid, but he couls not read the tag number on the reg. card (cause it's like 10 years old) so he wrote me a ticke for that too! Sorry SOB. He was just p'od that he couldnt find a good Violation to get me on. But those wont count against me. thank god.

This adventure has turned into one heck of a roller coaster trip let me tell you. Still enjoying ot though, just wish protecting a CDL was as easy as getting one.

I wont be home again 2/12 for 4 days. (Been out since 1/12) i'm moving. till then adios!

-Lead Foot.