Best Swift Terminal-Worst Swift Terminal

I remember having to go through that with another company that I worked for. Whenever had to pu a trailer that was comming out of Mexico, had to bring the rubber with me, like Otay Mesa and Laredo. They take them from the trailers before it goes over, and they take them back off when they are returned across the border. As to why, who really knows. Heck, at Laredo, there is even a sign that tells you were to get them when there.

 

There's a Laredo in MO, and a Laredo section of Havre, MT. Is there a terminal in either of them? Surely you don't mean the one in Northern Mexico!

Back when I was a wee elf of a Swift driver, I had a load for which the trailer was going to continue on to MX but was to be delivered to a broker, not to the yard for a tcall. I got to the broker and they wanted to know where the inspection report was. "Your what hurts?" I replied. They explained the routine and most of you know all that. Backtrack to the terminal I go.

The gate guard explained the ensuing routine but, to my bewilderment, there were no fewer than 30 trucks in line with 1 (o n e, o-n-e, uno as in solo) bay open and this was an H-O-T, J-I-T, high value load. I msg'd my (brand new to the company) DM who had no idea what to do but would get back to me.

Two hours later while the backs of my mirrors had begun to melt, I get a msg back saying to stay in line, do what needs to be done and "Oh! By the way! I have another msg that says you're getting a service failure (?). I'll look into it . . "

Nowhere did the load mention . . to this day they still don't . . that I needed to stop at the term and they're going to give me an SF? I spent 2 of the 5 hours I had to wait on the phone with the TX Dept of Industry/Labor . . I don't remember what they call themselves. It wasn't the first complaint and they were looking into it. Never heard a word since and absolutely nothing has changed. I beat the SF, though.

So, anyway, blsqueak, you see the unpaid inspection wait as a benefit?

 

I always liked the Eden terminal. Dirt lot, no gate, could pull your car right up to your truck, great mechanics. Unfortunately, to my understanding, it is no longer in operation.

New Boston, MI: + Good mechanics, decent staff. - If someone wasn't watching the cameras, you could be waiting a while to get into the terminal after taking on fuel

Greer, SC: +Nearby parking if no space was available in the terminal, never had a problem getting flatbed equipment there, TA and Pilot at next exit, nearby Wal Mart, not a highly politicized terminal, shower attendant on hand. - It still got crowded, and the bathrooms were never maintained.

Martinsburg, WV: + Not a highly politicized terminal, small lot, third party security company which didn't take an electronic recording of when you were in and out (although they did write it on paper). - Their shop was less than impressive, and their lot had a bad tendency of getting muddy.

The ones I hated:

Fontana, CA: + None I can think of. - The lot was crap, there were no showers available, and no real driver facilities.

Phoenix, AZ: + Decent shop with quick turnaround, ready availability of flatbed equipment, good sized parking lot, nice facility overall, transport available across the lot (for the lardass door slammers who were too lazy to walk). - Too many bigwigs, too many people scrutinizing your every move, large lot meant you probably wouldn't witness it when, say, for example, some dope with a spotter backs into your truck.

Memphis, TN: + Good shop, used to have Detroit Diesel techs there, good facilities. - Again, highly politicized and heavy scrutiny. The presence of students there (from the Millington school) tended to have some negative effects.

Decatur, GA: + Good sized facility, well maintained lot. - Thieving mechanics, prick of a security supervisor, out-of-the-way location, no nearby facilities, facilities within the terminal were rather lacking.

 

Beware of the roach coach(AKA Taco truck) at Fontana! Three tacos for $3 but oh heck the breakfast tacos are only a few inches long!!! I bout died laughing and the lady looked at me funny. These aint tacos come to Texas and we will show you what tacos look like,

Mira Loma may not have good facilities but the truck wash is amazing. Two guys working to make your truck look beautiful. They expect a tip when they are done as well.

 

You shall be called a whiney steering wheel holder for that comment! Why don't you want to sit for free?

On a serious note one of those trans shippers tried to get me to do a drop and hook when it was a live unload. I told him no! I didn't have an inspection and he was going to unload it! I wasn't going to get in trouble for that.

 

I remember when i was in laredo - i think i insulted the poor lady when i asked if she had american food.LOL I coudnt take the smell of the tacos/burritos.

 

It would not surprise me as every part on a truck has a value. Yes a good citzen would do the proper thing and not steal. He/She would ask. However when people get desperate, they steal.

KH

 

I go to Lathrop when im on hometime because i live about 5 minutes away, when there i do any training i need to do and take my days off. Staff has always been nice to me, service desk people do not act like fixing my truck is a huge hassle to them. Before i leave i fill up my oil jug and 5 washer fluid jugs so i dont have to buy it. Terminal staff has to deal with smelly annoying truckers all day so give em a break. Not saying the way they deal with you is justified but after i see the way some drivers talk i try not to hold it against them. I avoid the terminals as they have nothing i could ever need. If i go in to a terminal i go in like i would any other shipper, get my paperwork and get out. I avoid terminal lounges due to the poor hygiene displayed by the people in there who, despite showers being there, do not shower. I Shower at truck stops every day or two so i dont have to be paranoid from the dark blue swamps swift terminals provide, shop at walmart so i dont have to eat subway and arbys every day, and keep my contact with swift to a minimum. I talk to my driver manager on the phone maybe once a month, send him a message on the qc if he or i ever need anything (which he shouldnt as i keep up on my own log/sim classes before or after i go on hometime) and i get the bs qc messages that get mass mailed (no jerry im not going to contribute to your charities, and richard stocking im going to always be 100 percent ontime service i dont need to get an impersonal message from the computer system saying its you). But back to the whole terminal thing, what i have found is in general the office staff no matter where are hit and miss, the shop staff are generally not pleased to work on your truck, the bathrooms are cleaned by people who have no idea what clean means, and the lounge is over run by people who need to shower and exercise. For the most part the drivers we have that are in shape or a pleasure to talk to stay in their trucks or leave the terminal to do something other than watch tv and tell fish stories. Some things at note for various terminals,

Gary In - The pizza place that delivers there has great deep dish pizza

Lancaster Tx - Shuttle to Walmart is a nice, Thankyou swift.

Greer SC - Quiet, just like i like em

Lewiston Id - Great terminal to drive to and from, Also no nanny to check you in and out.

Fontana CA - Avoid, Small lot If you have to find somewhere to park and your stuck in LA just park on the street for the night. No Shop

Mira Loma Ca - Busy, if you have to shop your truck there find a way with duct tape or velcro or bungee chords to get out cause it will be 2-4 days no matter what

Columbus Oh - Big lot, Mostly full, generally helpful

Troutdale Or - 4 day wait last time i was there to get my bunk heater fixed (yeah i doubled up on blankets and left)

Willows Ca - The place you want to get your truck worked on, they need something to do to justify their existence. In and out very fast almost always.

Edwardsville Ks - Never waited less than 5 minutes for the person to raise the gate so i could get in, grease your 5th wheel and get your washer fluid in the fuel island with no nanny

Mexico terminals - Carry gladhand seals as said before. And trailer lights sigh. Spanish speaking a plus.

Phoenix - Swift Headquarters, its like a small town, reminds me of iowa 80, neat to visit once, just once.

Walmart terminals - small, friendlier than any other terminals, small

Salt lake city - Ut Why go there? loves, 2 flying j's and a sapp bros within 10 mi

dont have too much info on east coast terminals as i pretty much have no idea where they are nor do i care to, i try to avoid the far northeast, 200 mile runs thru major cities with nowhere to sleep are the worst. Texas as a rule is a black hole. I am on my way to laredo now much to my dismay. 4 days waiting on the border or going up to lancaster and running dfw local for 2 days before they give you a run out is terrible. Normally when i get preplans for texas i throw in my hometime macro and deny deny deny but i just came off hometime so my efforts are futile! meh has to happen one of these days, Happy trails swifties, oh and take your #### showers before watching wwf or or reruns of law and order on the lounge tv.

 

Inver Grove Heights, MN

Does anyone have any experience with the shop here?

I am taking some home time next week and will be putting my truck in the shop there. It has some very annoying problems, and the folks at Denver (although they did try very hard) didn't have much luck fixing them.

We just moved very close (~15 miles) to that terminal and I saw it on my last home time.
They are very nice people, and the shop looked very clean and organized (and not very busy).
MT's are scarce here, and the coffee is not free.

 

Only experience I had with IGH shop is a minor trailer issue that took five minutes to fix. They were on top of it. Can't speak to tractor repairs. What's your truck doing? I had a Cascadia for two years.