Getting in my time
Posted by Gofindmango@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 4 comments
I’ve been solo at swift for almost a week…
I have gotten such the shit end of the stick compared to others who I went to the swift academy with
I was given an international that was detailed & did not have working AC..
When I cried to my DL he basically said suck it up & wait until you make it to Phoenix
So today im in Jurupa & I took into the shop.. Turns out I had a brake valve leaking.
The mechanic told me it couldn’t be fixed today.
I have a load going to Phoenix, my DL was furious with me, & had to scramble to find me another shitty truck..
DL didn’t give zero fucks about my well being, while he acts as he does, but he doesn’t.
He even asked me to see if I could drive the truck with a broken brake valve to Phoenix to drop off this load..
The mechanic at swift said let me give you some advice, your DL is not your friend, he doesn’t care about you.. It’s quite clear… He didn’t even say ‘good you are safe’ rather he would prefer you to drive a truck with a broken brake valve.
& once the mechanic said those words it hit me.. Because it seemed like the only person that cared was the mechanic doing his job.. & but the truck out of service..
I understand im a rookie, but you would think with all the talk Swift saids, & the resources they have, you’d expect them to actually do Preventative maintenance to make sure a rookie doesn’t die from overheating or crash because of a brake issue..
So, my question for you guys, how long should I stay until I quit & find a different company?
6 months or you think I should just stuck it up for longer?
I need my experience, I need to be good at the job. Because right now I’m still learning & struggling…
Sometimes I’m messing up on my backing. I just need to dial it in..
ColeHimself@reddit
You're going into this job with the mindset of an office worker. Remember, you aren't the employee. The truck is. You're the overhead. They think of you as a cost like a fuel fillup. Once you understand this, and understand that they'd have a new driver lined up for your truck before you finish having a heart attack at the end of your career, you'll fall in line with how you need to communicate. You don't ask, you tell. You work for you, not them. You cover your ass before anyone else and you don't fire up the truck unless it benefits you to do so.
tvieno@reddit
I'd say tough it out. We all go through patches of mechanical issues, dispatcher issues, freight issues, and sometimes you get all three at the same time. You can quit and go someplace else, but there is no guarantee it will be any better at your new company. Get your year or two in with them and then move on.
What the mechanic said is true, you dispatcher only cares about you if you are able to drive the truck. But that his job. He's probably got someone above him yelling at him asking why his trucks aren't moving. Your dispatcher is trying to push you to run with that brake valve leak because he can and has successfully pushed his other drivers. Why? Because they give in or they don't know, or care.
This is where your "power" against him lies. Tell him it is a DOT issue and a safety issue. Tell them to either they find you a different truck or you'll sit and wait for the repairs to get done. If he pushes back, go to his boss.
Imaginativested@reddit
If there is proof (text messages) of this guy trying to get you to drive illegally and unsafely turn it in to your safety department and it could be his job. Screw that guy.
indytrucks@reddit
No mega carriers give a shit. You’re a number and an ass in the seat. It’s a tough lesson but one most people learn. Do your time, get some experience and move on to a better company.