O.k. so I've made the decision that the transportation business is just a better situation for everybody in my family after a lot of weighing my options and considering the worst scenarios.But now I've come to a fork in the road and I'd like to hear from the SWIFT drivers that have gone through and completed the 1 year contract.Just how bad is the company to work for? really? obviously it can't be too terrible if you're still working there and haven't pooped on the contract to go with another company,right?

The biggest reason I've heard coming from other people is they don't like the pay.I've considered this please let me know if my numbers are accurate as I don't want to get too far above my head here.Keep in mind that $30,000 a year for driving a truck looks a lot better than the $23,000 I'm currently making right now.

Now if I'm going to be going on the road I guess it would be safe to say that whether or not I want to go back home is my own choice,can I tell this company I want more road time? if so then I would just say screw it and throw all my belongings into a UPS Storage facility and garage my car in the first couple of days they tell me I'm going on the road (I am the type of person to do this).

So I'm already looking at saving(monthly):

$170 - Car Insurance
$200 - Gas
$300 - Rent

That's already $670 a month I'm saving in my pocket right there.Not to mention the extra $7,000 a year I'll be making that makes for a pretty decent wage for somebody who's Single has no kids and doesn't have to pay for rent wouldn't you say?

Now let's look at what I would be spending(monthly):

$67 - Storage
$240 - Food
$450(every six months) - P.o. Box.
$150 - School

$907

So we're looking at spending around $11,000 on a $30,000 salary.Is it so bad? I can live with it having no kids and not paying rent.But I'd like to address other issues here.What's the worst you've been treated by swift without violating the rules?

I had heard alot of good and bad about them.I figer gotta start some where.I don't drive for them,but I figer to give a try.Once you get the otr training out the way,try to see how solo is with them.The way I look at it is to give them at lease 4-6 months and see what happens.There are better companys than swift,but you have to have at lease3- 6 months exp or more.

I started out in the industry after my other plans fell through and I needed a job fast. I wound up working for a year as a driver and living on my brother's couch when I got time away from the truck. One thing to remember, if you don't have a place to liev the IRS won't allow you to claim the daily meal allowance, legally. That's to say if you don't have a home you can't be away from home. If you aren't away from home you aren't eligible for the meal allowance. So you probably want to use a friend or family member's residence as your official domicile.

I did what you are asking about, although I've never worked for Swift, and was able to save about $1,000 per month. One thing to keep in mind is that if you are buying your meals from truckstops and restaurants you will spend lots of money per week. I used an electric cooler and small DC oven to cook meals in the truck. Back then I could spend $40 per week for groceries versus $150 per week for restaurants. I had the added benefit of eating when I was hungry and not having to wait until I could find a place with truck parking that wasn't too crowded and at a time I could afford to stop. I could get something started cooking, start driving, pull over when the food was ready and eat it, and then get back on the road. Turn on the CB and you will hear lots of whining about how some unprepared driver has spent all day waiting at some customer and they had nothing but a stale vending machine.

I was able to make about the $30k you are contemplating and save about $15k in one year but you won't do that if you aren't wise with your money and you don't take care of yourself on the road. The more of your daily needs you can put under your control the more stress you can shed in a very stressful job. Many drivers seem to think their company, the truck stop, the customer, and local laws ought to take care of them and blame all of those when they feel like they are being treated like a stray dog.

Check your PO Box rent, guy. Mine is $45 year, not $450 every 6 months.

Yup thanks for correcting my error,I don't know where that figure came from maybe I was just not paying attention.Thanks

That's fine I kept the food budget the same for the truck as if I was living here,then I can adjust it later.I'll be saving a lot more by not having to make rent then I would paying food cost.

Are there any companies that you could forward me to that actually deal with making cooking equipment for OTR living needs?

Well I've made year long dedications for employers before I don't really see a problem with it as long as they don't make you sign something saying you agree to not work with other trucking companies after your employment is terminated.

The way I figure if 6 months driving experience is minimum industry standard,I should be golden after a year right?

i went to the swift school in millington tn back in 0/6 it was ok. went solo with them first week of feb 0/7. left in april 0/7 because not getting miles. went to marten transport in april 0/7 been there ever since sometimes after only 3 months you might be able to find a co that will take you. also i just pd off the swift loan if you leave before your time is up with them you can make payments to them each month. myself and a few other people that were in my class did just that. so you do not have to stay there. and yes you can stay out on the road as long you want a freind of mine who drives with marten stayes out about 2 months at a time. but remember you still need to take some time out of the truck he takes alot of his home time in vegas when im out sometimes i take time off in ca.

Re: Cooking for OTR needs. Google 12 volt appliances and you should find everything from coffee makers to popcorn makers.

go check walmart in the camping area or you can get all of the stuff at the truckstop like pilot. I have seen all of the stuff there.

if you could actually save 19000 (63%) of your earnings after a year, that'd be pretty awesome. generally speaking, i think your budget is naive. even more naibe is the notion of getting into trucking to "strike it rich" or ... even make more money than you are now. realize that you could make 30k ... you could also make 25k too.

this isn't supposed to be insulting, but getting into trucking for the money is really dumb. from what i've read and from the conversations i've had, you do it because it's like a calling. i think if you're in trucking for the money, you'll be disappointed, period.

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And it's official: I Start school in Lewiston, ID - 15 Oct 08

that depends on your zip code. some are more expensive than others. also depends on the size of the box i think.

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And it's official: I Start school in Lewiston, ID - 15 Oct 08