Profile For Daniel F.

So I have 7 months over the road experience... Quit Schneider due to lack of miles ratio to home time ratio. Some of u all know my previous post on here. So I'm on my way to swift orientation last Sunday and get a flat. Buy a new tire and inspect the rest. 5 o'clock Sunday they r closing. Determine all tires are dry rotted. Head back home after talking with recruiter and get another blow out on the way back home. Buy 3 new tires in the morning so now I'm ready to make the trip back next week. Recruiter is being patient and said no problem, rescheduled for next Monday... Got a new verification email but has a lot of x tras from previous email. One being a sign off for picking a trainer. Did I blow this job for a dedicated route by missing the orientation?

None whatsoever.

Daniel F replies:

The job as I've heard so far consists of slip seating, 6 nights on 1 off, home every night in the Robert, LA area. Job stated drivers make 700 to 1000 a week. I'm set for orientation on the 25th of Jan. up near Dallas for 3 days. Still working on finding out how the job pays...cpm, stop pay, hourly....ect ..e mailed the recruiter today asking for the specifics on that...do I need to get something in writing with them? Also, any idea what to expect from the road test during orientation? How hard is the backing test, and how strict are they...should I double clutch? Any little pointers on these subjects will help....thanks in advance g-town

Daniel, The specific numbers are DC specific, but there is CPM pay that is higher than the base Swift rate due to lower weekly mileage. There is stop pay after the first stop (I average 4 stops per day), dispatch pay (I am doubled 1-2 times per week) and extra pay for spotting WM trailers in the event the dock is full. I average about 1900-2000 miles per 6-day week. The weekly pay is about right for a new driver on the account. As you get familiar with the process, the stores, backhaul vendors, and the DC, you will likely earn more. Find out about safety incentive pay, hey may also have that in their comp. plan. Would not hurt to get it in writing from the recruiter, but it still may vary from reality.

Orientation is nothing out of the ordinary; about a 30-45 minute road test and a sight-side, 75 degree alley back (could be 45, or 90, I split the difference). Make sure you GOAL before you execute the backing maneuver. I would ask the examiner if they are ok with floating gears before you actually try it.

I can go into a whole lot more detail...don't have the time at the moment. Try to find out if it's a grocery or general merchandise account. It makes a difference.

Good luck and safe travels.

Thanks again

Got 7 months OTR experience. Need to be home more often for my family s sanity and mine...lol. So swift is offering 6 days on, home every night, one day off, slip seating. Can I trust them not to try something shady at orientation? I've heard companies try to get you to orientation and then pull the rug out.

Daniel I have been Dedicated WM Grocery for 3 years. Happy to help. What specifically would you like to know?

The job as I've heard so far consists of slip seating, 6 nights on 1 off, home every night in the Robert, LA area. Job stated drivers make 700 to 1000 a week. I'm set for orientation on the 25th of Jan. up near Dallas for 3 days. Still working on finding out how the job pays...cpm, stop pay, hourly....ect ..e mailed the recruiter today asking for the specifics on that...do I need to get something in writing with them? Also, any idea what to expect from the road test during orientation? How hard is the backing test, and how strict are they...should I double clutch? Any little pointers on these subjects will help....thanks in advance g-town

When I finished my mentor training at Swift, my mentor recommended me for his Georgia-Pacific dedicated account. But the office wouldn't let me do that until I had some OTR experience myself. Don't worry about rugs being pulled. Sure, there may be some misunderstandings, but Swift is pretty straight. It took me about 7 months to move from OTR to the GP dedicated account.

thanks for taking the time to reply...so many horror stories its tough to know what to believe.

BTW, GP goes more or less continuously, but you are planned through your home city on weekends with a 34 hour break. Plus a guaranteed minimum pay. (Somewhere around $735/week, but usually you pull down more than that.)

Got 7 months OTR experience. Need to be home more often for my family s sanity and mine...lol. So swift is offering 6 days on, home every night, one day off, slip seating. Can I trust them not to try something shady at orientation? I've heard companies try to get you to orientation and then pull the rug out.

Ever look into Schneider van? They have a much easier orientation and training program that proves very effective.

I was paying 65 a week for medical both me and one dependant. 1200 deductible... So if I wanted to see a doctor they wanted 170 from me till I hit 1200....after the year deductible started again...that was Schneider ..

By reading all the feedback here it is helping me decide what to do...thanks for all the input by some and to others if you peace this whole thread from the beginning to end ya just might get what went down. 50 grand in a year would had been great. Most 2nd year Bulk drivers barely made that....I would nt be so negative if the money had been right.

Funny how at least 40 went to 32 to 35...oh and how about calculating that 5 grand bonus with your math equations to figure out the miles genius