If people would quit pulling the string sticking out of his back maybe he would stop babbling and go away.
I noticed in the "Letter To Swift" Sean says they gave him an impossible task, to go 500 miles to get a truck assignment and they only gave him 12 hours to do it. I don't understand how that is "impossible", at 55 miles an hour it would take about 9 hours.
Impossible? I must have missed something.
When Sean posted his first messages here there was considerable compassion and sympathy for him from the membership on this forum. But as his posts went on, and became such long repeating diatribes, I noticed that folks here lost their ability to feel sorry for him.
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This is civil, I know how to be civil in return:
You did miss something. In my mile long Swift story, I'll explain the point missed in this half mile reply. The point missed is the fact Matthew Thompson (a SUPERVISOR at the Ocala Terminal) had over a MONTH to inform me of tasks I had to perform BEFORE signing on to the truck. Matthew Thompson claimed someone on their end "dropping the ball" which is his reason for not telling me of several tasks to be done - and I reiterate - BEFORE I can be seated in the truck. Swift trucks must be seated within a 24 HOUR time frame - anyone who has driven for Swift recently knows this.
None of the tasks I had to do existed when I got off the mentor's (trainer's) truck. The most lengthly of the tasks I had to complete which came up during the time I was home waiting for a truck assignment which I had no way of knowing of is the Smith System. That takes most of the day, to say nothing of the few other things I had to complete. I was THREE HOURS from the nearest terminal as I had to stay with my mother in Virginia because of a lack of income for over a month - and this is after I was told I'd most likely be assigned a truck "within a week or two" of completion of training. Matthew Thompson gave me the truck assignment at about 10:00AM on a friday. Knowing the truck was 500 miles away, I was allowing an ample time of 12 hours to get there in my car. My plans were to leave after supper after getting my things together, eat, cleanup and take it a little easy before the long drive. An hour after Matthew Thompson tells me of the truck and whre to go, he calles me back when he miraculously discovers I had to do the Smith System to be current - and thus be taken off safety hold. I was expected to do this that day, and still make the truck assignment in the 24 hour time frame.
By this time, it was about 11:00AM or so. I would not have made the Richmond Terminal until at least 2:00PM. This would have been far too late to complete everything I had to get done (the Smith System alone takes most of the day with CBT and driving - I knew it then, and I experienced it later with Werner). Even IF the Smith System were administered on saturday (which I doubt), I could not have done or completed tasks at Richmond and still made Avenl by 10:00AM. Even if I headed to Jonestown, Pa, there is no way this could be accomplished.
I did everything I could to try to work with Swift, and them "dropping the ball". The only solution I could see was signing onto the truck, then getting to the terminal in Jonestown, Pa. to do the tasks, be taken off safety hold, then be ready for my load assignment. I at least would have the truck assignment, and this already would have me running more than I should have had someone done their job properly. I was already making a sacrifice with the added expense of being willing to drive 2 1/2 hours to the Jonestown Terminal, then get back to the truck after my tasks were done. This I would have had to do because I'd have to get to the truck location (a drop yard I think it was in Avenl, N.J. - I was there during my training and I knew it was not a full service terminal where these tasks could be administered). I was trying to bend over backwards and work with them - I was willing to drive a lot extra and devote more time. Matthew Thompson told me NO, the tasks had to be done BEFORE I went to Avenl to sign on to the truck. This was impossible with the available time - by the time I got to Richmond, folks who administer these things would be gone two hours after I got there - three at most; and as for the Smith System, I would not have made it ontime to start that day - I doubt they would have even bothered to let me start the Smith System knowing I could not complete it that day. Even so, the Smith System was not the only task thrown at me, just the longest task. There was no way everything could be done that day. And the truck assignment (if a truck really existed) would not be pushed back another day - if I were not prepared to sign on to it with 24 hours of Matthew giving me the assignment, the truck goes to another driver. With Matthew telling me no on my solution to the problem, I was stuck with the impossible task. I guess I was expected to waste my time and money which would not be reimbursed, by going to Richmond to prove this could not be done that day, then drive all the way back to western Virginia on the other side of Roanoke to sit and wait another month without pay. Knowing I could not accomplish everything that day, and Matthew telling me that someone on their end dropped the ball, I was not going to Richmond. Matthew terminated my driver code citing a V.Q.. I tried working with Swift and their mistake, they would not work with me.
Matthew was a SUPERVISOR in the charge of assigning trucks. I called him DAILY to be updated on the list. Given his position, my status is known on his screen when he enters my driver code (IE; safety holds, tasks to be completed - etc.). The "someone on our end dropped the ball" is bunk as far as I am concerned. Even if it were true, allowences should have been made and some consideration extended on my part. Even if Matthew had told me up to the day before I got the truck assignment, I could have had the tasks done. So even if this did not come up until the day before, he could have called me and told me of the tasks coming up, and I could have been in Richmond when the terminal personnel got there first thing in the morning. Then I very well have been able to complete everything, and then set out for Avenl.
Matthew Thompson had plenty of time to inform me. He chose to not do so. I believe it was because Swift had no trucks/jobs at the time. They got their subsidy money for hiring and training me. I served my purpose. They found a way to get rid of me, and not have to pay for my CDL schooling at C1. Loads are slower, the subsidy money helps in the lost load revenue. So things like sinister saying I am trying to find a way to not blame myself (as if it were totally my fault), and say the industry is horrible is a not true and true thing. This "dropping the ball" was NOT my fault, and so I say the industry IS horrible seeing the things I have seen.
I know full well how to manage time. Swift gave me no time to manage.
This did not happen due to any attitudes like I display here on the forum. I was looking forward to the job and I was enthusiastic. And I feel justified in telling my story because this CAN happen to SOME others. And I am sure it has and does. They are just not posting on this forum.
As for things falling apart here on the forum, I just got tired of the hints that I was at fault, or it was because of my attitude, or this is not the line of work for me. Things just deteriorated with the innuendos and name calling. The facts got lost and/or forgotten. And it became a foregone conclusion that I was a mean jerk with attitude from "day one". This is not so, and if my earliest responses still exist, it is evident that the people here I now clash with was not the case from "day one". I kept trying to make a point. Because the point was not made and the inuendos and innaccurate interpretations on what I am persisted, I persisted in my repeating. Further: people telling me that I am trying to find ways to blame everyone but myself does not help - just pissess me off more - fuels the fire. What Swift did is pretty straight forward, and I can't see how I am to blame.
Do I regret what this has become and deteriorated to? Yes. Did I want it to happen? No. One of my shortcomings is I am a fighter and defender of myself - I don't walk away - I am not FIDO (Forget It Drive On) when it comes to defending my word.
Name calling is not the only way to set people off. Certain inuendos and accusations can be as bad or worse as any name or medifore. Much of what has been said to me here is tantamount to calling me a baby, lier, unfit...... I can go on and on.
A "type A", I will not deny being. I like things to run right and efficiently. What Swift did was not right or efficient. And I see myself along with many others used for the federal subsidy program.
I stand by what I said. Moderators: Do as you will where banning me for "spamming" or "fluffing my post count" goes.
I know this is another long one - and I apologize, but it was said something was "missed". The "hows" of what Swift (Matthew Thompson) did are all here in this post, not just what they did. This is to eliminate the need for me to answer any questions (IE: how did this happen, why could you not do this or that - etc.). This is not just for Racer X, but any other reader who may question "hows", Whys" - etc..
Racer X siad something very intelligent and true here. If people would stop pulling the string out of my back (and stop giving me something to defend or argue), I will stop babbling and go away. I made my point with my long posts from day one, and there were some who could relate.