Some truck drivers for Swift Transportation, a unit of Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. (NYSE: KNX), said they received messages via their onboard computer messaging systems around 7 a.m. Dec. 2 instructing them to chain up and drive in inclement weather to get their loads delivered on time.
“We cannot afford to have you down or the load to be days late due to weather,” said the message, sent by a Swift driver leader and posted by Swift drivers on the Twisted Truckers Facebook page. “If we can drive, we will — whether it be 5 mph or an appropriate speed as long as we are safe.”
The social media post received more than 3,700 comments from truckers responding to the message. Some said they would park until conditions improved while others stated that driving in harsh weather conditions is just part of the job.
Winter weather alerts disrupted much of the Northeast on Dec. 2 after a storm dumped snow, freezing rain and sleet across a large portion of the mid-Atlantic and New England regions. Severe weather was also reported in portions of the Sierra Nevadas and the Cascades in southern Oregon to the mountains of northern Nevada and southern Idaho.
A follow-up message was sent approximately four hours later by the same driver leader to Swift drivers clarifying that he did not recommend drivers be on the road “if the weather won’t allow it or you do not feel comfortable.”
Kevin Quast, chief operating officer of Swift, confirmed the message was sent by one of its “newer driver leaders,” but said the statement didn’t accurately convey the company’s position on safety.
“This was not a company-wide statement,” Quast told FreightWaves. “A newer driver leader with us was a little overzealous with what he was trying to do. We’ve coached him and helped him to understand really what he was communicating and we made sure we are all approaching it the same way.”
A post on Swift Transportation’s Facebook page on Dec. 3, a day after the original message was posted, clarified the mega-carrier’s position on its chain usage stance.
“Chains should be used to get a driver out of trouble and to find the first safe/legal place to park,” Swift’s post stated. “They [chains] are not to be used to make a delivery on time or to get through bad weather.”
Dave Berry, vice president of Swift, said he wasn’t aware of the social media posts concerning the Swift driver leader’s message sent via OmniTracs, formerly Qualcomm.
“Loads can be late, but the priority is the people on the highway and the people behind the wheel of the truck,” Berry told FreightWaves.
Since the merger with Knight Transportation in 2017, Swift is becoming significantly safer than it’s been in decades, Quast said.
“We take safety very seriously and are continuing to improve and work hard to become even safer,” he said.
FreightWaves’ Stephen Oatley contributed to this report
Joker
Then, with the last message, a Swift driver (Fred) that was held up at a truck stop due to the inclement weather, saw a snowplow coming down the street!! Could it be?? A way to get down the road?? So he pulls out of the truck stop and follows the snowplow. Fred was riding along with the orange whirlybird light of the snowplow flashing in his face, checking his watch and the speedometer, watch, speedometer, watch and back to the speedometer. Fred’s thoughts were, 12 mph, at least I’m not sitting at that damn truck stop!! After what seemed like eternity, Fred got a call on the C.B. “Break one nine, how bout that big truck followin this snowplow, you got your ears on”?? Fred bout spilled his coffee being so anxious with cabin fever having the chance to talk with someone!! Fred grabs his mic and quickly replied, “ten four good neighbor, you got him, go ahead”!! The reply Fred got in return was, “yaaaaa man, you’ve been following me for two hours. I was wantin to letcha know I was going over here to do the Walmart parking lot next, you gonna follow me over there too”??
Jim
Started driving 1985 u leave your the one need to make the call if your gut tells u to stop then that’s what u need to do you are a danger to all wait for few then try to ease on late lod one thing all gose Rong one that told you keep driving will not be the one going away if someone loses a life
Phil
Tell me to drive when it’s not safe, and I will ask you where do you want me to leave the trailer? Cuz I quit!
Bob
I’ve worked in LTL next day freight jobs and was ALWAYS told if the road is open, KEEP GOING!! I even know an instance at SAIA where a line driver was fired because he did not FEEL safe going to work to drive in a snowstorm..LTL carriers which I worked for three of them have all expected me to drive in blizzards..icey roads..even on bridges after a 6.5 earthquake..
Fred
Swift drivers have enough trouble on dry pavement. Stay in the truck stops. Oh wait, they have trouble there too. Your leader was right. Chain up and go for it.
Troy
This is news???
Lloyd Henry Smith
All the driver had to was no. What’s the big deal
Gabby B
Exactly thank you! All they had to say was no. I dont think what they said in the first message was wrong.
Gordon Music
That’s all companies though ,they finish by saying just be careful,landair,landstar,central transport,schneider,jbhunt,logan,westside,prime they’re all the same push push push not a care for drivers then wonder why it’s hard getting drivers with experience you end up like truck in colorado,ohio.drivers take care of your selves because no one else will