Swift Transportation

[Sean McQuaid]

Yea I agree 3000 miles are do-able,,what I'm trying to say is that in a normal 3 to 4 deliveries per week you will get aprox. 2500 to 2800 miles per week,,,like PATTY said tell me what company has steady freight??

That's why I mentioned rookies get 2000 per week AVERAGE....and I agree why hire so many new drivers when there are plenty not getting enough miles as it is,,,well the answer to that is that we are anticipating a pick up in freight and need to be ready when time comes around,,this will be in oct-sept,,keep an eye on manufacturing,,that's what gets us moving,,,anyway,,PATTY,,2700 miles at a good rate is good and safe.

You guys be legal and don't show D.O.T. them big miles because trust me they are not dumb like in the old days,,these guys are college graduates or at least have been trained to question miles in excess of 2800,,they go thru intensive training by VETERAN DRIVERS who know every trick out there to be known and these younger D.O.T. offficers are real bad ass M.FKRS,,,I've been there and back,,those of you that don't use line 1,,shit that's like telling them go ahead and screw me,,,and they will.

DRIVER 007......Sean,, your finally making some sense dude.

I also agree 3,000 is doable, and in my short stint, I've done it. But you better be away from the big urban areas, and be running mostly at night for a good average speed. Definately true no company has steady freight - one week may be running balls to the walls, the next, sit sit sit. Just one of the basics you don't need years of experience to see.

I wish I'd been a rookie with Swift if they really keep their new drivers under 3,000/wk.. The other company I was with pushed the miles on me as well as some other new drivers (cheap miles), and kept the higher paid veterans sitting. Does not matter what they paid me for, I came close to 3,500 miles a couple of times. Tough weeks, and barely legal with H.O.S.. Should be the other way around. Run rookies who are learning the ropes about 2,000 or so, and give the veterans the miles who have paid their dues and put their time in. Some other companies run rookies like they have 10 years experience out there, then when they get in the higher pay scales, they get less miles and get bored out of their minds sitting because they get used to the running.

D.O.T. college educated? Does not take a college education for some simple arithmetic (miles vs. avg. speed vs. H.O.S.). Maybe for the finer points of D.O.T. regulations, but I don't see that either. But it's all in "buying a job" and proving you know what you know by paying for the expensive piece of paper. But I agree the D.O.T. can be bad ass - they can take away my CDL - no company can. That's why I am by the book whether it's a conveinence to the company or not - they are not the D.O.T.. And I will not run non-compliant or in any way make myself work more hours than I have to just to "pay my dues" and get that 6 months to a year (or two) experience to go elsewhere to be able to run compliant without having to deal with any B.S. from the company. As for the big bad never fail or go under companies; I am not the only driver, and there are plenty of other drivers on the same region who will take the miles and fudge their log.

Just one thing I am not clear on with your meaning: You mention "those of you that don't use line 1,,shit that's like telling them go ahead and screw me,,,and they will.". Use line 1 (off duty) for what/when? And telling who to go ahead and screw me, and they will?

Appreciate you saying I am "finally making some sense". I still stand by all I have said, and have essentially repeated all I have said - maybe just different wording. Sometimes the effects of my being repeatedly dropped on my head, locked in the closet, and eating lead based paint chips as a child is not so prevelant (just kidding there).

I could get 3000 miles plus a week but sometimes im sitting an hr or longer waiting to get loaded and unloaded,I don't wanna have to drive all nite to make up for those lost miles if that makes any since.Now driving for a company that continually makes those drivers sit,I would go nuts and did for 3 yrs.

3,000 a week paid miles once in a while is cool, but too often will wear anyone out unless you are doing some intense drugs or live on caffine and no doze. But I have seen paid miles and hub miles are two different things. And the D.O.T. when checking logs sees what the hub miles are - that's what they care about - and you can't fudge what goes on that hub week to week. But in my mind, to do 3,000 mile weeks, you have to have the best conditions traffic wise unless you are in the middle of the deserts or the plains. Weather wise - can't do anything about that - Mother Nature is gonna do what she wants to do. Certainly I don't want to be sitting all the time, but I don't want so many miles that I have to worry about every minute where H.O.S. are concerned, and not have the time to stop for showing or get food and other needed supplies while enroute on a long haul.

You mentioned in a post you can not figure out why companies like Swift hire hundreds of drivers a week when they don't have the freight. I guess I can agree to some extent of 007 saying it's to anticipate a pick up in freight and being ready. But I still blame the federal subsidy program these companies get for creating jobs, and we are in tough economic times. And I believe companies create jobs by any means necessary, and whether the jobs really exist or not. Don't hire X number; then you don't get X amount of money, and you won't make up X amount of dollars where the freight is not coming in just now. I am not back to bitching, just stating what I really believe based on what I have seen for myself, and experienced. I can accept that I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time - maybe even THREE times in a row. But I also believe that it has happened to others. If times were good, and the industry had been in their traditional situation of having a hard time getting and keeping decent drivers, I really think I would not have been given the problems I had been given.

 

[patriciajnsn]

Oh yes deffinately it has happened to other and will continue to grow,it's a never ending cycle.I do feel sorry for all the new driviers because it does'nt have to be that way but I guess u have to take the good with the bad till u do get the exp.I went thru it for 3 yrs with Werner.My fault for staying too long.The last straw was while on hometime and they still made me sit sit sit.So I called my dispatcher told her i'm cleaning the trk out and taking it back to the term.Now as far as 3000 miles a week yes it can be done with a good amount of rest if you're not sitting waiting to get loaded and unloaded.For instance this load I can't deliver till 4 pm they go strickly by appt only.So I told my dispatcher last fri that onced I deliver this load I won't be in the mood to drive all nite.So she's going to get me a ld to pick up tomorrow.I forgot about the federal subsidies as to why so many drivers.Sad it has to be that way.

 

[Sean McQuaid]

Oh yes deffinately it has happened to other and will continue to grow,it's a never ending cycle.I do feel sorry for all the new driviers because it does'nt have to be that way but I guess u have to take the good with the bad till u do get the exp.I went thru it for 3 yrs with Werner.My fault for staying too long.The last straw was while on hometime and they still made me sit sit sit.So I called my dispatcher told her i'm cleaning the trk out and taking it back to the term.Now as far as 3000 miles a week yes it can be done with a good amount of rest if you're not sitting waiting to get loaded and unloaded.For instance this load I can't deliver till 4 pm they go strickly by appt only.So I told my dispatcher last fri that onced I deliver this load I won't be in the mood to drive all nite.So she's going to get me a ld to pick up tomorrow.I forgot about the federal subsidies as to why so many drivers.Sad it has to be that way.

Just the un-necessary bad is something that no one should have to take to get experience.

I definately agree with you here in that 3,000 a week can be done with good rest. It does not matter if someone is logging line 1 or line 4 when the wheels are not turning. If you are burning up your 14 everyday waiting to be loaded or unloaded, you will not be well rested. Definately I agree that if you are not sitting too long, 3,000 can be done as long as conditions permit for a good average speed, and you are basically only using - say about 12 out of your 14 per day. But as many here have pointed out, and I have seen for myself, it is not a perfect world - especially in trucking.

 

[patriciajnsn]

Nope,it sure is not.Trucking is one of the most fastest turnover rates for jobs.Many come into the industry for one reason,MONEY and soon find out that is'nt the case.I make alright money but it took 7 plus yrs to do so.Believ e me u don't know how many times I wanted to just give trucking up completely.I kept thinki=en somebody wants me to fail but I proved that somebody wrong.Trucking I would say is more for the person that likes to travel and does'nt mind stayin g out.Many get home on the weekends,I stay out for a month then go home.

Just the un-necessary bad is something that no one should have to take to get experience.

I definately agree with you here in that 3,000 a week can be done with good rest. It does not matter if someone is logging line 1 or line 4 when the wheels are not turning. If you are burning up your 14 everyday waiting to be loaded or unloaded, you will not be well rested. Definately I agree that if you are not sitting too long, 3,000 can be done as long as conditions permit for a good average speed, and you are basically only using - say about 12 out of your 14 per day. But as many here have pointed out, and I have seen for myself, it is not a perfect world - especially in trucking.

 

[Sean McQuaid]

Nope,it sure is not.Trucking is one of the most fastest turnover rates for jobs.Many come into the industry for one reason,MONEY and soon find out that is'nt the case.I make alright money but it took 7 plus yrs to do so.Believ e me u don't know how many times I wanted to just give trucking up completely.I kept thinki=en somebody wants me to fail but I proved that somebody wrong.Trucking I would say is more for the person that likes to travel and does'nt mind stayin g out.Many get home on the weekends,I stay out for a month then go home.

Maybe not such a fast turnover these days as has been before the economy tanked.

Money: I think a lot of people have a misconception that company drivers make $2,000.00 a week, and the job is a cake walk. Owner/Operators make $2,000.00 and more a week, but they also have big overheads with expenses. I knew the pay was not so great before I looked into companies and got set up for school.

The being out and traveling all the time is one thing I wanted about the job. That is how I lived most of my life with my flying and photography. Trucking was fine by me for a while, and still is if I will be allowed to work without un-necessary nonsense (like pushing up my load times after I got the assignment and while I am enroute). Being away does not bother me since I am not a homeowner or have a wife and kids to worry about.

Well, winter is ending soon. Maybe I will get to play student for the THIRD time without dealing with snow and ice. It's been a while since I have been in the saddle, but the only thing I will really need to fine tune again is backing. I got really good at that before Werner let me go, so I will probably need only a few days to get it back. Whoever trains me this time around will have an easy job since I am not totally green, whatever company I eventually get with....... I will start the application process again and touch base with some people I know in the industry to see what is what out there. I will NOT call Swift though - that's for sure.

 

[patriciajnsn]

Well stay away from those companies with a bad rep froma many other drivers.Crete spose to be real good and they are strictly legal and come down hard on the drivers who do cheat.

Maybe not such a fast turnover these days as has been before the economy tanked.

Money: I think a lot of people have a misconception that company drivers make $2,000.00 a week, and the job is a cake walk. Owner/Operators make $2,000.00 and more a week, but they also have big overheads with expenses. I knew the pay was not so great before I looked into companies and got set up for school.

The being out and traveling all the time is one thing I wanted about the job. That is how I lived most of my life with my flying and photography. Trucking was fine by me for a while, and still is if I will be allowed to work without un-necessary nonsense (like pushing up my load times after I got the assignment and while I am enroute). Being away does not bother me since I am not a homeowner or have a wife and kids to worry about.

Well, winter is ending soon. Maybe I will get to play student for the THIRD time without dealing with snow and ice. It's been a while since I have been in the saddle, but the only thing I will really need to fine tune again is backing. I got really good at that before Werner let me go, so I will probably need only a few days to get it back. Whoever trains me this time around will have an easy job since I am not totally green, whatever company I eventually get with....... I will start the application process again and touch base with some people I know in the industry to see what is what out there. I will NOT call Swift though - that's for sure.

 

[driver007]

hey sean,,line one is.......???

:headscratch:Sean,,I can understand you not understanding what I mean when I say "if you don't use line 1",,cause you ar not driving,,but if you get pulled over or checked at a chicken coop and d.o.t. doesn't see line 1,,,they will ask,,and you better have a damn good bathroom or kitchen in your truck to get out of the crack,,Patty you get it right?.....Anyway,,stop writing so much dude,,nobody reads or has the patience to read all that bla bla bla over and over,,,but the way,,when you say "3 times in a row,,does that mean you went thru 3 companies in less than a year??

 

[Sean McQuaid]

:headscratch:Sean,,I can understand you not understanding what I mean when I say "if you don't use line 1",,cause you ar not driving,,but if you get pulled over or checked at a chicken coop and d.o.t. doesn't see line 1,,,they will ask,,and you better have a damn good bathroom or kitchen in your truck to get out of the crack,,Patty you get it right?.....Anyway,,stop writing so much dude,,nobody reads or has the patience to read all that bla bla bla over and over,,,but the way,,when you say "3 times in a row,,does that mean you went thru 3 companies in less than a year??

Dude - people DO read what I post as I have recieved numerous POSITIVE messages privately regarding my posts. My objective has been achieved as there have been people who have read my posts, checked into the validity of what I have written, and confirmed the truth in what I have said. And long as my posts have been, they have been long (highly detailed) for a reason. XR did not seem to have a problem with it. Keeps more words flowing into the search engines and bringing more readers and members to the forum. I really don't care who reads and who does not, or care to know who does not. Apparently you read since you respond. For the ten trillionth time: Most of my posts are not for veterans, so let's not bitch and complain anymore - it got old. A simple solution to a simple problem: Don't have the patience, then don't read. SOME people DO.

I did not know what you meant by the line 1 thing. Just because I am not driving does not mean I don't know what line 1 is for. Trucking and logging is not rocket science, and one does not have to be a veteran with years on the road to know the book. Just able to read and pay attention.

I did not go through 3 companies in a year - they went through me. Let's get the perspective correct.

That's all I'm gonna say. The boring bitching and arguing does not need to be dredged up again.

Be safe Driver, and keep others safe.

 

[patriciajnsn]

Sean who knows u may end up quitting the next company and the one after that untill u find a company that suits u.I did.Many new drivers jump from one company to the next.My reason was because of bad trainers.It's all part of the boot camp learning.I call the first yr in trucking bootcamp.As far as the companies changing the appt times on u,well that's going to happen alot during your carreer.I know it sucks but either the brokers wants it changed or the customer needs their product right away.One thing u need to understand is trucking is full of changes all the time and does'nt tell the drivers.We the drivers learn to live with it and just go with the flow.

 

[Sean McQuaid]

Sean who knows u may end up quitting the next company and the one after that untill u find a company that suits u.I did.Many new drivers jump from one company to the next.My reason was because of bad trainers.It's all part of the boot camp learning.I call the first yr in trucking bootcamp.As far as the companies changing the appt times on u,well that's going to happen alot during your carreer.I know it sucks but either the brokers wants it changed or the customer needs their product right away.One thing u need to understand is trucking is full of changes all the time and does'nt tell the drivers.We the drivers learn to live with it and just go with the flow.

Need to get a job before I think of whether or not I'll quit. But I have no intentions of quitting, just as I had no intentions of it with Swift and Werner. As for changing my load times after I already got the assignment and am enroute: If they push it up to the point it will be almost impossinle to deliver on time without a break, I will simply tell dispatch I can't deliver ontime with the new pushed up load time. And I will definately do that if I am running hard with the intent to get in the general area early to be able to get a shower and/or shop for food and other needs. That's how I manage my time (especially on a long haul), and I should have done that (telling dispatch of inability to deliver ontime with new time) to start with with the last company I was with. I did learn that if you don't fight the tight times and let them screw up your time management so you can take care of your needs, they'll stick it to you all the time. This was one of the chief problems with the last company I worked for (name omitted because this is a Swift thread). Every time I had my time planned and managed, they found a way to screw it up. If a customer or broker wants a load at X time before the assignment, that should be noted from the get go. Otherwise it should stay the same once the driver has the load and has accepted the assignment. If I get denied a half hour or so of shopping time or other break while enroute, then PDT will have to be given to me after my run so I can get what I need, then finally find a place to shutdown. You have the right to take care of yourself, and an hour break time on a 500 mile run or 12 hour day is not too much to ask for. Maybe I'll just change to taking care of my needs (showering, food and other consumables for the road - etc.) at the beginning of the run and be sort of running just in time after. What the hey, some carriers make that a habit anyway. Stick with the original time - don't push it up just because I am running early, and in the process, make it impossible to take care of myself. Not gonna fly this time - either leave the time alone, or set up a swap.

Not pissed off, hollering, bitching - etc. here, just stating what makes sense to me and most other sensible people.

Be safe.

 

[patriciajnsn]

Now you're thinken like u should sean.All dispatchers ask is that u tell them ASAP if u think u can't make the ld ontime,then they can either swap lds or call the customer.See many customers its next to impossible to get ahold of somebody right away to reschedule.Some wait till the end of the day to giv the dispatcher a new appt time.Then many cust goes strickly by appt time and u dont show up ontime u better plan on sitting a day and some even charge for late lds.When u do your logs u tell your dispatcher right away how many hrs u have.As far as your needs goes as u mentioned u can do all that on your 10 hr brk and even in the morning if u get up early enough.Thats why we have 10 hr brk to get all that done.FMCSA knows we can't sleep 10 hrs a day even they don't do that. You'd be amazed how much u can get done in that 10 hrs and get plenty of sleep.It's nice to see that you and I are actually getting along instead of fighting.

 

[Sean McQuaid]

Now you're thinken like u should sean.All dispatchers ask is that u tell them ASAP if u think u can't make the ld ontime,then they can either swap lds or call the customer.See many customers its next to impossible to get ahold of somebody right away to reschedule.Some wait till the end of the day to giv the dispatcher a new appt time.Then many cust goes strickly by appt time and u dont show up ontime u better plan on sitting a day and some even charge for late lds.When u do your logs u tell your dispatcher right away how many hrs u have.As far as your needs goes as u mentioned u can do all that on your 10 hr brk and even in the morning if u get up early enough.Thats why we have 10 hr brk to get all that done.FMCSA knows we can't sleep 10 hrs a day even they don't do that. You'd be amazed how much u can get done in that 10 hrs and get plenty of sleep.It's nice to see that you and I are actually getting along instead of fighting.

Yeah, I sort of knew better even when I was driving. I just did not want to bother haggling or fighting with my DM when my load times were pushed up, and so instead, I just ran harder to try to deliver ontime. I know better now, and will never do it again. I do know what you mean by the 10 hour break. But that only works out well when you can get into a truck stop at the end of your day. You know how it is after 5 PM. I sleep a full 8 hours to be alert on the road - no less. That leaves only 2 hours to shower, eat, shop - etc.. If I can't get into a trck stop, then the shower is gone. If I get in, but have to wait a while to park, then wait a while to get into a shower, then that eats time. My point is just because a driver can work 14 hours a day, does not mean you have to do so without a break. And I have seen that often it is easier to stop for a half hour on a long run to do the shower deal. Then if I have to shut down in a rest area or someplace where there is no shower because the truck stops are full - no big deal. Even 8 hour a day jobs have breaks. I know this is trucking, and I know it is a whole "lifestyle" in it's own. But the pay is too small for me to not mind taking care of myself, and not mind working up to 14 hours with no break. That's been my point from months back. Also, it is true I am used to being on the road. But trucking is different, and newbies should not be treated like they have 10 years experience and know all the ins and outs on how to do things. 007 said Swift usually will not give a newbie more than 2,000 - 2,500 miles a week. That I could have dealt with. Even if I had to do without a shower a day here or there, I could deal with it. But it got too habitual with that other crap company. I refuse to live like a scum bag.

Anyway, my point is simple. I don't ask for much, but it seemed that with that other company, even a little was too much for them. And it really irritated me when they gave me too much to handle when experienced drivers on the same region as me (even the same DM sometimes) were sitting and starving. Experienced drivers paid their dues. They should get the miles. But because they make more than a newbie....... Anyway, the miles I don't want because I need to take care of my needs should not be an issue in the days of slow freight, too many drivers, and experienced drivers being screwed over because they make 10 - 20 cents a mile more than me. There more than enough new and experienced drivers who will be happy with a load I don't want.

Please everyone - I don't need to read about me writing too much or repeating the same things over and over again. This response was for Patty to remind her and reiterate in different wording of one of my points.

Yes. better to not bicker and fight. Got boring anyway

Be safe. Maybe someday a miracle will happen and unemployment will start dropping and freight picks up again.

 

[patriciajnsn]

.

Sean once u get the hang of driving u can take as many brks as u want as still get the miles.I usually drive a good 6 hrs then take a half hr brk then drive a couple more hrs and take another brk.As long as I burn up my 11 before my 14.Im here at the Pilot in Desmoines taaking my 10 hr brk.I already know where ill be taking my 1st brk tomorrow and that is at a Walmart in Lamar,mo.Thats about 100 miles past Kansas City on Hwy 71.When I was new I was taking a brk every 2 hrs till I got the hang of it.Now I have to drive at least 200 miles before even thinking about a brk.I'm not one that likes to stop too much anyway,Ilike to go go go,but thats just me.As far as finding a parking place after 5 pm at a truckstop,oh heck you wont hav e too much trouble there depending where u go .If its the east coast near some major city like Baltimore then yes u can pretty much forget it.Now who says u have to stay at a truckstop,there's service plazas everywhere on toll roads if thats the route u take.Which I prefer anyway they have way better food.Give it a few months solo sean and you'll find good parking places no matter what the time of day is once u get the hang of backing.Once upon a time if I couldnt find a parking spot that was pull thru then I would just keep on going Sean u just have to plan you brks.You look at the distance of where youd load is going and the day and time it has to be there ect ect its pretty much all routine once u get the hang of it.

 

[boone315]

This is proof that what goes around, comes around

NHL sues Phoenix trucking magnate Jerry Moyes

I had alot of friends still with M.S. Carriers when Swift bought the company out, Some had their entire 401 and IRA's fully vested with M.S. stock, when Swift bought them out, they rolled all the M.S. stock over into Swift stock and as soon as the deal for the company was complete, Swift filed for bankruptcy and all those drivers who had stayed on from M.S. had everything they invested flushed down the toilet. Some of those company guys had worked for Starnes for over twenty years and they lost everything they had saved. Those that left and took their 401k somewhere else where good but not the ones who let it ride,
He got sued in '04 for doing the same thing with company stock, this guy should not be allowed to own anything besides a shovel and a pickaxe
http://www.lawcash.com/class-actions/swift-transportation-lawsuit/3963

 

[Sean McQuaid]

Sean once u get the hang of driving u can take as many brks as u want as still get the miles.I usually drive a good 6 hrs then take a half hr brk then drive a couple more hrs and take another brk.As long as I burn up my 11 before my 14.Im here at the Pilot in Desmoines taaking my 10 hr brk.I already know where ill be taking my 1st brk tomorrow and that is at a Walmart in Lamar,mo.Thats about 100 miles past Kansas City on Hwy 71.When I was new I was taking a brk every 2 hrs till I got the hang of it.Now I have to drive at least 200 miles before even thinking about a brk.I'm not one that likes to stop too much anyway,Ilike to go go go,but thats just me.As far as finding a parking place after 5 pm at a truckstop,oh heck you wont hav e too much trouble there depending where u go .If its the east coast near some major city like Baltimore then yes u can pretty much forget it.Now who says u have to stay at a truckstop,there's service plazas everywhere on toll roads if thats the route u take.Which I prefer anyway they have way better food.Give it a few months solo sean and you'll find good parking places no matter what the time of day is once u get the hang of backing.Once upon a time if I couldnt find a parking spot that was pull thru then I would just keep on going Sean u just have to plan you brks.You look at the distance of where youd load is going and the day and time it has to be there ect ect its pretty much all routine once u get the hang of it.

Like I said, I do know how to manage time when I am given the time to manage. If you are given runs constantly with just enough time to do the run, then you really can't take breaks without being late.

I definately agree that once you are on the road a while and have run the same routes a few times, then you will know the better stops and such to take breaks. But that comes with a little time. When I trained with Swift, I actually was given some really cool locations by one of my mentors, and we even stopped at a few of them. So I do have a small list already. Some of the places we were at were places you either have to get some experience to find, or know someone who knows. I was lucky with this mentor who has 20+ years out there, and he gave me the leads. Great places, great food, and great showering. And hardly ever crowded. They are sort of mom and Pop kind of stops that few know about. So I am in luck there when I am routed by these places.

As for backing: I got good at that real fast at school, and once I was in training and on my own. But I will need a few days on the road to get the feel back, but it should not take too long before I don't have to worry about not taking too long to get into a tight spot (without hitting anything LOL).

This is proof that what goes around, comes around

NHL sues Phoenix trucking magnate Jerry Moyes

I had alot of friends still with M.S. Carriers when Swift bought the company out, Some had their entire 401 and IRA's fully vested with M.S. stock, when Swift bought them out, they rolled all the M.S. stock over into Swift stock and as soon as the deal for the company was complete, Swift filed for bankruptcy and all those drivers who had stayed on from M.S. had everything they invested flushed down the toilet. Some of those company guys had worked for Starnes for over twenty years and they lost everything they had saved. Those that left and took their 401k somewhere else where good but not the ones who let it ride,
He got sued in '04 for doing the same thing with company stock, this guy should not be allowed to own anything besides a shovel and a pickaxe
Swift Transportation Lawsuit | Swift Transportation Stockholders Seek to Recover $288M

I hope the people who call the shots get what's coming to them. I knew Jerry Moyes was over 300 million in the hole when he re-acquired Swift. He was also working some sort of deal with Werner to help with finances when I was with Werner (one of only two companies actually in the black - supposidly), but I never found out how that flew since I am gone now. The people who run these companies and treat drivers the way they do, I could care less about. But I do care about the drivers who are only out there trying to make a living.

 

[patriciajnsn]

That always help sean to get a trainer with lots of exp.These so called trainers with 6 months or less is nothing but a newbie themselves and thats like the blind leading the blind.I feel to be qualified as a trainer u should have a good yr of OTR exp.

 

[driver007]

thats true...there are good trainers and bad...and there are good students and bad.....nobody should train if they ain't got at least 3 years....and companies shouldn't hire wanna-be-fly=by-nite-drivers.....i used to tell my driver service guy,,line me up 5 and maybe i'll pick one of them...if not..i'd rather just drive solo than try to train one of these know it all educated fools that think driving is just another good paying job,,jajaja,,bunch of morons!!!!

 

[Sean McQuaid]

Sean once u get the hang of driving u can take as many brks as u want as still get the miles.I usually drive a good 6 hrs then take a half hr brk then drive a couple more hrs and take another brk.As long as I burn up my 11 before my 14.Im here at the Pilot in Desmoines taaking my 10 hr brk.I already know where ill be taking my 1st brk tomorrow and that is at a Walmart in Lamar,mo.Thats about 100 miles past Kansas City on Hwy 71.When I was new I was taking a brk every 2 hrs till I got the hang of it.Now I have to drive at least 200 miles before even thinking about a brk.I'm not one that likes to stop too much anyway,Ilike to go go go,but thats just me.As far as finding a parking place after 5 pm at a truckstop,oh heck you wont hav e too much trouble there depending where u go .If its the east coast near some major city like Baltimore then yes u can pretty much forget it.Now who says u have to stay at a truckstop,there's service plazas everywhere on toll roads if thats the route u take.Which I prefer anyway they have way better food.Give it a few months solo sean and you'll find good parking places no matter what the time of day is once u get the hang of backing.Once upon a time if I couldnt find a parking spot that was pull thru then I would just keep on going Sean u just have to plan you brks.You look at the distance of where youd load is going and the day and time it has to be there ect ect its pretty much all routine once u get the hang of it.

I know I responded to this once, but.....

I too don't like to stop too often - I've gone 400 - 500 miles nonstop. One reason was being under the gun with time with the other crap company I worked for. Another reason was I did not want or need to stop. I am used to being on the road, so as long as I do not need a rest room break - etc., driving 6 to 8 hours straight is nothing to me. What you said about truck stops near major cities on the east coast after 5 PM is correct, but it is also true in areas other than the east coast. I have experienced it. Also, as long as I have a little time to stop for breaks anyone who works up to 14 hours a day is entitled to, I can shower while enroute on a long run, and stop for my food to eat later. Then I don't care where I stop for my 10 hour since the shower - etc. is done. But service areas, parking lots, rest areas - etc. have no shower facilities. When I was out on my own, I did like doing my 10 hour at the Wal Mart lot in Kimball, Tennessee off I-24. Lots of truckers shut down there (and RVs). Plenty of food around, Wal Mart open 24 hours. I shut down there a few times. It was planned - took my shower earlier in the day - so no big deal.

That always help sean to get a trainer with lots of exp.These so called trainers with 6 months or less is nothing but a newbie themselves and thats like the blind leading the blind.I feel to be qualified as a trainer u should have a good yr of OTR exp.

I did mention the 2nd trainer I had with Swift had something like 20 years on the road. He was "By The Book". He was about the only trainer I had who emphasized pretrip and post trip. And he was by the book when it came to logging. "Log it as you do it" no matter what anyone else does. That was my intent all along anyway, but at least I had ONE trainer who did not try to get me to log line 1 every single time the wheels were not turning. He knew the book, and so did I. 007 mentioned Swift pretty much limits their new drivers to 2,000 miles or so a week. That would have been fine with me, and I would have had no trouble being a regs guy with that. But the other (nameless) company busted my butt because I logged by the book - I was even told so by my D.M. - I wish I had that phone conversation recorded. They wanted me on line 1 every time the wheels were not turning with the exeption of the B.S. 15 minute D.O.T. daily minimum for pretrip. And the trainers train you to log the same way. 2,000 miles a week would have been a piece of cake and not an issue. But instead, Swift purposly waited until the day I had to leave on a 500 mile trip for my truck to tell me of a task that takes all day to do first. I don't believe Swift had a truck - I saw the truck shortage when I got off the mentors truck. In the end, these companies have different ways to get rid of people to make room for others to keep the government money coming in.

thats true...there are good trainers and bad...and there are good students and bad.....nobody should train if they ain't got at least 3 years....and companies shouldn't hire wanna-be-fly=by-nite-drivers.....i used to tell my driver service guy,,line me up 5 and maybe i'll pick one of them...if not..i'd rather just drive solo than try to train one of these know it all educated fools that think driving is just another good paying job,,jajaja,,bunch of morons!!!!

I hear a message here. Like I said, the second trainer (mentor) I had with Swift was about the best you can get as far as I am concerned. So much so I don't mind mentioning his name (Steven Gregg). He was by the book - period. We had no problem with one another there. But he was a bit over the top and silly with a few other things. In the end, I could not wait to get off the truck. But I'll admit a lot of that (fault) is on ME as well. I can't live with someone (anyone) in such small space for too long which is just ONE reason I'll NEVER go team. And I dread having to play student for a third time when I finally get another driving job.

I think I hear you when you mention "wanna be fly by night drivers". What makes a person a "fly by night, wanna be"? The fact that the steering wheel was not in hand at birth? Everyone has had a "day one", some get too big headed and conceited and forget that. Well, if the fact I have NO intention of doing a job more than a year or two that I have to work near 100 hours a week to make $1,000.00 makes me a "wanna be fly by night", then so be it. This was not to be a lifetime career - not for the B.S., the money, and the long hours. This was "filler" until I was back with my regular work (whether it took a year, or two, or...). I agree there are some who really should not be entering this, but..... People change jobs temporarily all the time. It was my intent to do this job safely and by the book - just as I did with avaition. But only for a very finite amount of time. It's not worth it when you have disrespectful people all over who don't care about you or your CDL. Why should they, right? There are more than enough folks coming out of school. Anyway, I have seen I AM the one who has to take the initiative to look out for myself; to take charge of protecting my interest, myself (safety and well being) as well as others on the road. Because it was obvious to me the last company I worked for did not care, and if that is indicitive of most other companies...... It also seems to me that a person better not be educated to work in this industry (again, I hear ya). I am educated - far more so than I mentioned here on the forum. Further - don't give me a book of regulations mandated by the F.M.C.S.A./D.O.T., expect me to do the oppisite, or penalize me for doing what the book says I can or must do. Don't want me to be a regs guy? Then don't teach me the regs. No company has the right to make any changes to anything in the book because it is an inconveinence to them. And NO company can take away my CDL - the D.O.T. can.

There is a spacific logging regulation that is constantly ignored by companies and 99.99% of drivers because it is common enough that it has become easy to get away with and is largly overlooked. I was shafted for being among the only driver in the industry who went by the book. I did that for MY safety and the safety of everyone near my truck. I was not driving drowsy for 25 cents a mile. MAYBE with some experience, I too would have logged line 1 when I otherwise can (or should) be on line 4 - but not yet. Not until I was pretty much looking to quit driving anyway.

If going by the book makes me a bad employee or trainee - so be it. The reverse is true - any trainer or company that will have me do ANYTHING that is in contrary to ANY reg is a bad trainer and/or company. So just as a company is wary of problem employees, I am wary of problem companies/employers.

Let's face it: For the most part, trucking is a bad job because of drivers, companies and the F.M.C.S.A./D.O.T. being constantly at odds with one another. Not a healthy work environment.

 

[Semi_Sweet]

Oh Sean, it all depends on each person and what they can or cannot do hon. Its not easy life like so many feel it is
for the part of all duties required for driving I was glad see there are some that still are by book drivers.
Been out here many years hon,gets be old news and the thrill is gone, more now for me a way pay debts, my home, other
necessary life and day to day things. Not easy life, I hope and pray that you see by reading other things on this site, lifestyles
of the Truckers in the USA.
Good Luck God Bless

Semi_Sweet

 

[patriciajnsn]

I've been doing this going on 8 yrs now and i
m strickly OTR.I stay out a month at a time sometimes longer.I personally don't think it's a hard life style like so many think.I guess because I really enjoy being out here and I don't let pety ass crap get the best of me.Plus I don't have a husband waiting for me at home.So staying out is perfect for me.I don't go strickly by the book.If we all did that,we would'nt be making any money.I don't get creative on the miles.What I drive is what I log but I do is sitting at the shp and receiver too long and my 10 hr brk.Sometimes I have to get to the cust and no way would I make it if doing a stupid 10 hr brk.I dont know about the rest of u but I can function just fine on 6 hrs of sleep aday.Only time I ever take a long sleep brk is when the load has alot of window time and even then I dont need that much sleep.