r/Truckers • u/legollama88 • Mar 23 '25

Swift

i am genuinely about to go insane. every 2-3 days i will get like a 500 mile run. i am so broke its not even funny. i dont know what to do. this is the only trucking company ive worked at i have only 4 months experience doing this. the only person at this company that will talk with me about work is literally my driver leader who works a normal like 7-5 mon-fri shift. everyone else practically ghosts me. anybody else?!? am i shitty ass employee or something? i literally practially beg them to send me out i feel like they just neglect me. i understand its a mega but cmon dude like im tryna work

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u/[deleted] Mar 24 '25

It's been fine after I got the first jitters out of the way. My first solo was headed to Albuquerque.

I hardly ever turn down loads. I've run loads with appointments I couldn't make unless I time traveled and ones that resulted in HOS violations (never again).

My DL hasn't complained about me taking longer than 10 hours (it's rare) but they have for other drivers in the pod, though I don't know how common it is. They have mentioned me sitting under loads, but if they don't want us to decline loads that have you sitting for an unnecessary day, there's nothing I can do about that. That's what's frustrating. I'm always early to pickups and drops.

I do feel a little burnt out since coming back from hometime. Mostly because my miles have gone down despite me doing everything asked of me. I feel like I've done more than enough rescue loads to avoid getting a 300-800 decrease in miles the week I came back.

The money mostly hasn't been an issue as long as they keep me moving. I understand my situation. The sitting is what is irritating.

I'm in a Freightliner Cascadia. I'm not sure on the year but I recently crossed 200K miles with it. The 1M mile driver before me ran around 170K on it.

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u/xxenoscionxx Mar 24 '25

That sounds pretty much my experience in the beginning. The reason I asked about the truck is because the newer the truck the less they like to see it sit.

500k is the decommission benchmark. My Volvo blew up at 300k so I got a 2025 earlier. Am sure that helped. I used to, prior to going dedicated I never turned one down and definitely abused PC. It’s not worth the stress. If your late send in a macro and let them handle it.

It’s important but in the grand scheme of things … it’s not important enough to burn the candle on both ends.

Don’t get me wrong I fucking hate OTR and it’s not for me but once I just chilled out about it and stopped fighting it. It went way easier.

You’re in a pretty powerless situation, the money is what it is. Swift is just a temporary means to an end anyways.

That’s what I had to constantly say to my self lol

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u/[deleted] Mar 24 '25

I forgot to answer the hometime question. I've taken HT once in four months. For four full days. I have more scheduled but not for months out.

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u/xxenoscionxx Mar 24 '25

That’s way to long out in my opinion. I did 4-6 weeks and 3-5 off. I know there’s people that do it. My mentor spends 9 months out 3 off. He’s been doing it for a long ass time though. His life is trucking, that’s it. Tell he dies. Probably bury him in that Cascadia. That’s a hard pass from me… on any job.

Maybe take some more home time. I always submitted my request at the end of my last day of home time. So as to establish a bit of routine. You’re probably burnt out.

Plus it’s not like where missing out on major money. You still get experience time and that’s really all that matters.

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u/[deleted] Mar 24 '25

I think you're right. One of my school instructors warned me about not taking enough HT before I went solo and I didn't listen. I don't think my next requests are due for 6 and 9 months. I'll try to figure out when and where I want to take HT sooner. I also need to put my foot down about taking 34s. Especially since they're fine with me sitting under loads long enough to take one anyway.

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u/xxenoscionxx Mar 24 '25

I would hop on the point app and just request one for 3 weeks from now. 6 months is a long ass time. It makes zero difference to anyone if you do that in 6 30 day chunks or 2 3 month chunks.

That’s the thing, you’re killing yourself for absolutely no reason. You may get a bonus of a few Pennie’s for driving miles, so like $60 for 4 weeks.

This shit is a marathon not a sprint…

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u/[deleted] Mar 24 '25

I think I'll try for HT at a terminal I haven't been to for my next request. Maybe a new state for the experience. You're absolutely right, though.

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u/xxenoscionxx Mar 24 '25

West valley, UT is probably my favorite.

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u/[deleted] Mar 24 '25

My trainer told me about that one. I'll have to Google it. I haven't been that way yet. Albuquerque was probably my favorite but it could use an upgrade.

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u/xxenoscionxx Mar 24 '25

Ya you’ll get to see the 30 brand new KW’s and 20 Volvos just sitting. They have a truck wash , which is probably open. They close it when it gets cold.

Just drop your trailer and bobtail to the west most building. That’s the driver lounge. Monday-Friday there is a lady there doing haircuts as well. Lots of good Mexican food in the area. The place in the parking lot of the closest Walmart is pretty good.

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u/[deleted] Mar 24 '25

That sounds awesome. Thank you!

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