Attention Swifties...I Have A Question

Who do I contact to ask for a new driver leader / DM? Being harassed about hometime, hassled about asking for layover pay and only averaging 1800 mi a week is not what I signed up for. LOL

Started out great, except for the home time that is. From 9/20 - 9/28 I drove exactly 39 hrs while sitting for 124 and change. I really wanted to give my DM a chance but it's not getting any better. I still like to give Swift a chance too but there just doesn't seem to be any type of planning. Could just be the terminal but something really has to change. I've been 100% on time and took all the crap they can come up with thus far. LOL

Thanks in advance, JJ

I believe the next Person up the Food Chain is the Fleet Manager. If you haven't already done so, try to arrange a sit down with your DL/DM first. Plead your case and be as nice as can be. EVEN if you don't have any NICE left in you. That way if you need to go to your DL's Boss, you can say you have exhausted your efforts with said DL. Good Luck Jim J.

Jim speak to those next in line and if they do nothing, call Phoenix. You have to be more assertive when it comes to hometime. I have learned that the hard way as well. Be professional and at the same time assert that you earned your hometime. The dm gets to go home every night and I wouldn't doubt yours has never been in a truck. Most Important Stop, was advertised so much at orientation that when it comes to hometime start rejecting loads if they aren't getting you anywhere near home or will take you farther away. Of course sometimes it may be a few days late or early, but you have to make sure to put your foot down when it comes to this.

Jim speak to those next in line and if they do nothing, call Phoenix. You have to be more assertive when it comes to hometime. I have learned that the hard way as well. Be professional and at the same time assert that you earned your hometime. The dm gets to go home every night and I wouldn't doubt yours has never been in a truck. Most Important Stop, was advertised so much at orientation that when it comes to hometime start rejecting loads if they aren't getting you anywhere near home or will take you farther away. Of course sometimes it may be a few days late or early, but you have to make sure to put your foot down when it comes to this.

Swift will not allow a person to be a DM unless they have experience as a driver. There may be exceptions, but I am not aware of any.

Jim, Hassled and harassed are strong words. I understand you are rather upset but if you escalate this with "guns a blazin" you are not going to make any progress at all and might find yourself in a worse situation, Try and work it out...with your DM.

I strongly suggest you focus on building a better relationship with your DM before you talk to the fleet manager. I don't recall how long you have been solo, but honestly it sounds like typical first year issues. Read what Chickie wrote about her dispatcher/DM. She worked really hard on that relationship, it took her many months to get it to that point. It won't happen over night...takes time. Paul went through the same thing. You must learn to build that relationship. Read what Old School has written about the relationship with driver management and dispatchers. Other than safe operation, it's the second most important thing you need to work on.

I agree with Tractor request a sit down with your DM. Organize your thoughts, write them down if need be and try to understand through your DM's eyes what you need to do to get better/more miles and what his expectations are for hometime are. Get yourself on his radar in a good way, sounds like right now, not the case.

Be humble, professional and above all else present yourself in a way that shows the DM you want to be a performer. What must you do to get to that point? Ask him...show him a positive, can do attitude.

Also, when you request home time are you requesting it through the QC? Point is, unless it's documented, no record, it never happened. Use the QC for communication as much as you can.

If I sit for awhile, I'll call the local planners. I have a sheet with all the terminal phone numbers that Swift gave me. I believe they have them at the swift terminals. Also, the app has the ability to display local planner information. However, I've started using Mac 10 to message the planners. It's been positive and I get responses. Seems better than calling directly because sometimes they get annoyed with direct calls for loads.

For hometime that is time sensitive, I'll send the normal hometime macro, then follow-up with a freeform message to my DM letting her know. I've been told that hometime does not show up on their system until 5 days before the hometime date. Seems short notice, so possibly incorrect.

For changing DMs, not sure about that but my mentor did around 3 times, but he was leasing his truck.

Jim J. I am just about at the 4 month mark Solo. I too seem to get many 1800-2200 mile weeks. I've had a couple of 2500-2800, not enough though. I think the biggest problem with Swift is they have gotten TOO BIG! Like any Giant Beauracracy, with massive size comes INEFFICIENCY! Unfortunately, it seems to me that the DM's are really a "Buffer" between the Planners and CSR's. They really have no control over much of that. They get you what they can. I think it is a different story for Dedicated Drivers, they are a couple of steps up the food chain from the "Masses" (OTR Drivers). I am just continuing to stick it out and will be looking into a Dedicated position ASAP. Worse comes to worse, I'll complete my 13 month contract and start shopping. One of the most frustrating things to me is the inability to reach My DM with any regularity. I will call her number and my call can be routed to ANY Terminal in the Country. Too many times you get someone on the phone with no clue! I really wish there was more 1 on 1 contact with my DM. I think smaller Companies, ( not Mom N' Pops), but maybe 300-800 Truck Companies, have more 1on 1 with your Dispatcher. That fosters more of a close relationship, which in turn should mean more consistant miles. Just stick it out if you can afford to. Fortunately, I have no financial obligations to anyone but myself. I can afford to deal with crappy pay and miles if necessary to get my "1 year with my first Company" accomplished. But I would rather not! I am just keeping the proper perspective that I am paying my First Year Rookie Dues! Good Luck!

Tbh, the issues of larger corporations (do they even qualify as Companies any more?) is why I went with a medium sized Trucking Company. Everybody knows everybody. That can be good and bad, but since I don't live next to the terminal... Some of those problems are a non issue. Keeping contact is easy and predictable. I wanted that "family" feel.

Tbh, the issues of larger corporations (do they even qualify as Companies any more?) is why I went with a medium sized Trucking Company. Everybody knows everybody. That can be good and bad, but since I don't live next to the terminal... Some of those problems are a non issue. Keeping contact is easy and predictable. I wanted that "family" feel.

Patrick, THANK YOU for confirming my theory! It reminds me of the "Too big to fail" Banking fiasco with the Government Bailouts 10 or so years ago

Thanks guys! Tractor Man, when I woke up this morning there was a Watkins & Shepard truck parked right in front of me. Schneider keeps messaging me about them hiring in our areas. Could have been a sign. LOL

JJ