Like I posted in a Werner thread, both Swift and Werner are doing some thinning but, what I have heard, it is not just to replace people. They are actually cutting fleet size due to the soft freight market.

Any statistics instructor will tell you that you can make stats say anything you want them to. After all look at how the candidates spin the same poll numbers to their advantage.

A true picture is found when you look at percent of fleet numbers. Logic says the more drivers you have on the road the more chances you have of being involved in fatal or injury accidents. These statistics you list also do not show who is at fault in these accidents. AAA says that 75% of accidents between 4 wheelers and big rigs are caused by the 4 wheeler. I am sure you have had at least one close call with a 4 wheeler and fortunately you were able to avoid it. They cannot always be avoided and thus the accident. And when a 4 wheeler mixes it up with a big rig it is highly probable that someone in the 4 wheeler is going to get injured or killed.

Doing percent of fleet calculations shows the following (I have added a couple of "better" companies that you failed to mention to show some comparison.):

Swift - killed = 0.3% of the fleet; injured = 3.5% of the fleet
JBH - killed = 0.2% of the fleet; injured = 3.3% of the fleet
Werner - killed = 0.4% of the fleet; injured = 5.2% of the fleet
CRE - killed = 0.4% of the fleet; 4.1% = of the fleet
Covenant - killed = 0.4% of the fleet; injured = 4.8% of the fleet
Crete - killed = 0.4% of the fleet; injured = 4.0% of the fleet (5291 units; 21 fatalities; 212 injured)
Schneider - killed = 0.4% of the fleet; injured = 4.2% of the fleet (11902 units; 49 fatalities; 505 injured)
Roehl - killed = 0.3% of the fleet; injured = 2.9% of the fleet (1913 units; 5 fatalities; 56 injured)
Knight - killed = 0.5% of the fleet; injured = 5.0% of the fleet (3480 units; 18 killed; 174 injured)
Stevens Transport - killed = 0.6% of the fleet; injured = 4.6% of the fleet (1648 units; 10 fatalities; 75 injured)

We can all agree that 4 wheelers and class 8 trucks don't mix well.75% 4 wheelers fault seems quite high but if thats the data then thats the data.

I agree with you 100% on being able to spin the numbers....The numbers I quoted came from the FMCSA website Safersys which does not assign fault...I just scoped out the ones I usually see wiped out beside the road and everyone complains the loudest about...Fleet calculations can be misleading too.For example...I have a friend who had two trucks...He drove one and two more buddys drove the other one.Middle of the night in Neb. a straight truck crossed the center line on a two lane road and hit them head on killing both truckers,the straight truck driver and several cows.These 2 drivers were not jackwads just out of a cdl school.They were fast,smooth,safe and clean drivers with probably 30 yrs driving between them that I would've put up against anybody on the road.They(during their time with my friends company) nor my friends company had EVER had an accident or work related injury,but, if you followed 24 month percentages you would have: XXX Livestock Trans(not his real name)-killed =0.50% of fleet;injured-0.0(2 power units; 3 fatalities;0 injuries.Kinda be a bit misleading wouldn't it.

There is no way to spin it,these cdl mill companies are dangerous and since they pay lobbyists out the #### ,they'll always be a danger whose almost above law.Check out some of the posts where folks are trying to get their pay from them or their dacs cleaned up.They ,IMHO, are a wart on the driving publics gluteus maximus and these poor folks just trying to follow a dream of something better are just fodder for them.

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" Fights begin, finger prints is took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated."

"Haven't I told you a million times not to exaggerate"

"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives. " Hedley Lamarr

CBA # 454

I agree with you muleskinner. I think the most reliable safety numbers may be the DRSEA and VHSEA scores along with the ISS score and Inspection suggestion. The higher these scores are the worse the overall safety record of the company is. Yet sometimes these can be confusing. Werner, for example, has low DRSEA (obviously with electronic logs) and VHSEA scores yet their latest ISS is 94 with a recommendation to Inspect. One of the values I see here is, if I am choosing between a company with an ISS of Pass or an ISS of Inspect, the Pass would be higher on my list because it means I am less likely to get pulled into a scale (if I am running Pre-Pass) or being inspected if I am called in.

Tonight I had to shut down at the Pilot Pleasant Hill NC I95 exit 180
I counted 14 Swifts trucks idling. Talked to one of the drivers asked why one of his fellow drivers was taking up 2 spaces. He stated that the driver tried for 30 mins and this was the best he could do. I know Pilots are not known for their parking spaces but 2 spaces. I realy enjoyed the saftey stats that were posted. The driver I talked with stated that he was looking to move to better company and I told him about this great site. Im sure others will be doing the same.

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You are driving a truck not a PHONE BOOTH!!!!!!!!

Do you still like working for Maverick?
Do they have forced dispatch?
What could a new driver expect to make per week take home?
Thanks
Jeff

I have been with Swift on and off for 5 years keep coming back. When otr I average 3 weeks out home for 4 days. They always get me home when I want to be and I do get a mix of good and bad runs. Now with Jerry back I see nothing but good in the future.

I was out of shape and passed but barely passed DOT phyical which I did right after work well and my BP was sky high. Failed for flatbed.

This is a good thread. Of course there is good and bad about all companies. I am considering Swift and I have had my CDL A for 1 week now. Does anyone know how you can get into their flatbed program?

Swift trucking is trying to screw me around by saying that I didnt call or show up they like to keep you out way past Your RDO but no big deal if that is what you want all of the tractors are being turned back from 62 to 58 no more JIT loads the flat bed div sucks they are losing more drivers there than vans You cant make money while sitting for them to send a crane to get the 2nd flat off of the first I do drive rig and swift looks good but is one of the worst they want a 95% O/O by the end of 2009

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Jenn 27
Tony 48
Desiree 6
Nathan 4
TTC # 3