SWIFT Bronze, Silver, Gold Mileage Increase

Unfortunately with Swift it's more the norm then the exception. I can see and accept an occasional 1500 - 2000 mile week but to average 2000 miles or under because of the lack of planning and or scheduling is BS.

JJ

Unfortunately with Swift it's more the norm then the exception. I can see and accept an occasional 1500 - 2000 mile week but to average 2000 miles or under because of the lack of planning and or scheduling is BS.

Guys, I just want to point something out in this discussion. And with the full disclaimer that I know NOTHING about how Swift operates.

I do know this though, and that is that a trucking company as large and as successful as Swift cannot be accomplishing what they are with the bulk of their drivers only averaging around 2,000 miles per week.

One of the things that rookie drivers struggle with understanding is that they are partially responsible for how many miles they turn, or get given to them. This is something that separates the veteran's experience from the beginners in the results they get in this career. Naturally the guys who know how to get things done, and have a proven track record are going to often times be preferentially treated in this business, but there are things that a new driver can do to get himself noticed and rated along with these top producers. This whole idea of performance based pay is so foreign to most newbies that we go into this thinking that our employer is just going to treat every driver equally and hand out a nice even amount of miles to all the drivers and we will all be happy and content, while everyone is making some good money.

Where the veterans stand out and get treated like kings is that they understand many of the little nuances of the game that keeps them at the top of the list and on the top of their driver manager's mind when it comes to rewarding loads. Some of those things rookies have not yet figured out, but once they start focusing on them they will find that their miles will begin to increase. I know these things are true, because when I was a rookie driver at Western Express I practiced these things religiously and found them to be a virtual key to success.

Some of those practices include...

-Always try to deliver early, even if you have to call the shipper yourself and act like you are a dispatcher who needs to get your driver unloaded a day in advance! (I'm not kidding, I had to do this several times over the years, and it works) Creativity is worth the effort in this business.

-Always try to empty your self out early in the morning, I'm talking being able to send your MT call in before seven a.m. Learn how to get your appointments moved up. This pays big time benefits, and many drivers never even consider it. Veteran drivers do these types of things every day.

-Always show a great working attitude - I'm not just talking about your relationship with your Driver Manager , but with everybody, including those rude and nasty receiving clerks and guard shack personnel. I can't tell you how many times my driver manager told me that somebody had called them to tell them how pleasant it was to work with me. Relationships are extremely important to success in this business, and most truck drivers miss this key to success altogether. When your driver manager knows that you are courteous and friendly on top of being productive, you are a golden nugget in their eyes.

-Communicate effectively with your Driver Manager. Usually that means with your Qualcomm. Make sure you completely understand which Macros you should be using and when. Make sure that you are updating ETA's accurately and in a timely manner. All that driver manager has to go by is what you tell him, and if it is not accurate, then you quickly become like that old story about the boy who cried wolf - no one will pay attention to the information you give out, and you will just get what ever happens to fall your way.

-Be willing to make sacrifices that help you manage your available hours like the professionals who turn the big miles. There is nothing more frustrating to a manager than having a driver who is constantly running out of hours! I spend three to four nights a week sleeping on my customer's properties just so that I can block any early arriving trucks from getting ahead of me to get unloaded. I forego the comforts of the truck stop lounges, restrooms, and reruns of CSI so that I can get ahead of the game. Most days that I am getting unloaded in the morning I have gotten it all done, and been dispatched another load before I ever start my clock.

There are so many other tricks to being successful out here, but I'm hoping I've triggered some thoughts for some of you with this short list.

Miles are earned, and never given out of random acts of benevolence. Everyone gets all hung up on this idea of which companies have got the miles to give to their drivers, and they totally miss the secrets to success with that outlook on this career. There were a lot of drivers at Western Express who sat for days on end and would complain vehemently about it. I NEVER had that issue, and I always considered myself as being responsible for the miles I got.

If you want to turn more miles, you have got to realize your part in the equation, and you have got to make the effort and put in the time it takes to get yourself placed on that list of top producers who can always be counted on to "git er done." This doesn't happen overnight, but putting in the effort will advance the time that it takes to be considered as a top tier driver in your fleet. Show the initiative, be patient with the process, and the rewards will become evident.

And with the full disclaimer that I know NOTHING about how Swift operates.

With all due respect Old School,(I have the utmost respect for you and your wisdom), in my experience, I have to agree with Jim J. I have had a 100% Driver Ranking since day One. I ALWAYS pick up and deliver on time or early when possible. (It isn't always possible). Many times the QC will state "Do not arrive early" or "Do not contact Receiver to ask for early delivery delivery or you will get a Service Failure. My ETA's and PTA's are always updated. I manage my clock VERY well. In my first 6 months, I averaged 1800 per week.Months 7-9 haven't been much better. 2000ish. I have had several 2600-3000 mile weeks, but they are far and few between. It can be very frustrating when I have plenty of time on my clock, send messages to Planners/ DM , call Planners/DM, and still end up taking a "forced 34". I never refuse loads, take several "crappy" loads hoping for the "Big One" as a reward. Rarely happens. I am sure that plenty of Swift Drivers get good miles, but in my experience, MANY do not. IMHO, Swift has so much freight spread out so thin in many places, so many Drivers that cycle through weekly, (due to their massive size), that they can remain profitable running lots of drivers 1500-2000 per week in order to handle the freight they need moved. I really wish Jim J's "exception rather than the rule" comment was wrong. In MY EXPERIENCE, unfortunately, I must agree with him.

At what point should I make the decision to move on to another company? The last thing I want to do was jump around from company to company.

Norm, My situation at Swift is different as a Dedicated Driver. My mileage and pay is very consistent from week to week, and I am highly satisfied with it. Have you discussed your issues with anyone at Swift? Described what has happened with Gold level? Obviously you are a decent communicator (based on your posts), I suggest the same thing to you I have suggested to many,...speak to them frankly and professionally, let them know what is going on and what your expectations are for better, more consistent mileage. Ask them what you must do to break through the perceived glass ceiling, and earn consistently higher mileage. Get them to offer tangible suggestions for doing that, not fluff. I did not read what kind of mileage you are averaging but if you are at 102,000 at 52 weeks, that's less than 2000 per week, give or take; $750-800 checks every week. Between my first and second year running Walmart Dedicated, fact; I averaged $1050 per week, 5.5 to 6 days per work week. Although the job is different, it's still truck driving. Big difference in compensation though.

1.5 years is a point where things should be changing for the better, you are clearly not a rookie anymore. Maybe a Dedicated Account assignment is a good fit for you, not sure, but Swift thrives on those accounts and seems to focus a great deal of attention on them. They try like *ell to keep their experienced drivers on those accounts.

Wish I could offer more...Good Luck!

Norm asks:

At what point should I make the decision to move on to another company? The last thing I want to do was jump around from company to company.

I think you answered your own question (The last thing I want to do ...).

After that first year, which helps demonstrate your commitment, you are free to move about the nation. However, we do preach here that other grass is not always greener, that in fact it's pretty much the same.

I have no plans to move from Swift. Remember CPM does not make the job, many other factors as to what makes you comfortable might be more important. (Pet policy is a deal breaker for some, for example.)

Check and compare company policies with the Trucking Company Reviews, consider terminal locations, area coverage, and such.

An example might be Dollar store dedicated. The recruiter can wave a nice CPM at you, but then kind of skip over the real physicality of off loading your truck, and the backing/parking problems with that kind of route. TT does NOT recommend these for rookies.

Check out the Big Picture of any company before you decide on a move..

Great info and reminders for all drivers OS. Thanks for the post.

And with the full disclaimer that I know NOTHING about how Swift operates.

With all due respect Old School,(I have the utmost respect for you and your wisdom), in my experience, I have to agree with Jim J. I have had a 100% Driver Ranking since day One. I ALWAYS pick up and deliver on time or early when possible. (It isn't always possible). Many times the QC will state "Do not arrive early" or "Do not contact Receiver to ask for early delivery delivery or you will get a Service Failure. My ETA's and PTA's are always updated. I manage my clock VERY well. In my first 6 months, I averaged 1800 per week.Months 7-9 haven't been much better. 2000ish. I have had several 2600-3000 mile weeks, but they are far and few between. It can be very frustrating when I have plenty of time on my clock, send messages to Planners/ DM , call Planners/DM, and still end up taking a "forced 34". I never refuse loads, take several "crappy" loads hoping for the "Big One" as a reward. Rarely happens. I am sure that plenty of Swift Drivers get good miles, but in my experience, MANY do not. IMHO, Swift has so much freight spread out so thin in many places, so many Drivers that cycle through weekly, (due to their massive size), that they can remain profitable running lots of drivers 1500-2000 per week in order to handle the freight they need moved. I really wish Jim J's "exception rather than the rule" comment was wrong. In MY EXPERIENCE, unfortunately, I must agree with him.

This pretty much sums it up. Swifts DMs apparently have very little to do with the loads you are getting. You are basically moving from terminal to terminal and the planners in that area plan your loads. Some are better than other, some just plain old suck balls. LOL!

JJ

Swifts DMs apparently have very little to do with the loads you are getting.

I have been told that by my DM. I also received a QC message recently from my DM that read: "WE have lots of freight right now. If you are not getting 1800 miles per week, let me know". That pretty much tells me that 1800 miles is the threshold DM's must meet. I am not trying to bash or badmouth Swift or my DM. I am simply relating MY experience. I am sure there are some Great DM's that lobby for big miles for their Drivers, and get them, and I'm sure handsome Bonuses that go with those miles. Apparently, there are those that are happy with meeting minimum quotas. The new CEO, Richard Stocking, that took over on Jan. 1, is apparently trying to implement some BIG changes. Hopefully this will be one of the areas that He addresses. There are rumblings that Driver retention is a Front Burner issue. (There is obviously a problem). Time will tell!

Tractor Man, have you been getting and or submitting any of the driver surveys mac 61 that Mr Stocking has been asking for? I've actually received 4 requests in 6 months but have hesitated filling them out because I was basically **** ed when I got them. Well, I received another one yesterday. Yes I'm still ****ed but I filled it out anyway and sent it in. LOL!

Basically it just asks on a scale from 1 to 10, ten being best. Would you recommend to other drivers to come to work at Swift? There is also a few lines for comments.

I gave them a 5 and then stated that I while I have the utmost respect for guys like Jerry and himself. I also believe that Swift is a good company in general, I can not in good faith recommend coming to work here at this time. I went on to say that there are too many issues to discuss in this survey but the bottom line is that myself and probably most solo OTR drivers simply aren't getting enough miles.

Wish me luck! LOL!

JJ