The tide is going to turn, and only the best carriers are going to survive. The word "best" will describe both the efficient, and the ones that offer the best working conditions too. We are not too far away from the time when a REAL driver shortage is going to choke this industry.


Like you said, a real driver shortage... There is currently no shortage of drivers: only a shortage of drivers willing to live in a truck for 400-900dollars a week, spending their nearly every waking hour babysitting a truck that their supervisors value more than them. The second-class "dumb truck driver" mentality has to stop, or America will lose its trucking power.

If you come back to swift after working elsewhere a few years, with perfect MVR or your own truck, you can make a lot of money, esp if you are willing to train. I worked for swift as a newbie, though, and saw all that money go to those folks. They are trying to fix their retention, but they still need an overhaul. When I worked there in Dallas, it was really bad. The first truck I got had rotten dog piss in the floorboards, and it was take it or take off, so I stripped that s.o.b., and drove it like a jeep for a few months before re-carpeting it myself and repainting the cabinets. They didn't even say thanks, but I did eventually get a better truck. Their real losing trait is how they treat drivers in any dispute.
The first two rules of driving: 1. If it looks like it could be your fault, it is your fault. 2. If the DM or FM or DOT can make it look like your fault, it is your fault. 3. If its even partially your fault, its all your fault. Yeah, thats 3 but what do you know: you are just a DUMB TRUCK DRIVER (thats what they think.)

Bi-Polar is a medical term and not a slur. I know for a fact that there is one woman that is employed by swift that has been diagnosed as schizophrenic and manic depressive and also Bi-Polar. she is a x-daughter-in-law. she spent months in a mental ward and had to take medicine. the rest of her life and she took the medicine long enough just to get set free then she quit taking them. She also was on meth and crack and had to dry out before swift would hire her. scary isn't it. I feel like not driving when I see a swift truck.

I have spent a couple of months visiting many of the forums here looking for advice as to where to start in trucking. Swift gets beat up pretty bad, but I can't seem to find any company for newbies that does not get someone complaining about how they are the worst company in the world. Schneider seemed to get good reviews, so I called them and they told me that they were not hiring where I live because they could'nt guarantee to get me home at all ( I live 20 minutes south of I-10, one hour outside of tucson AZ) and they told me to call Swift. Im afraid because of where I live most companies will not hire and train me, Swift is based out of phoenix and has lots of freight
in arizona.
I have talked with two Swift drivers who currently work there one has a local route and his only complaint was he wasn't always sure when his day would start the other driver was a lady who started 6 years ago and went from Swift driving school to O/O at swift she seemed very level headed and said that swift is what you make of it shes heard bad things about other companies too. I also spoke with two friends of friends who also at one time drove for swift, one left for medical reasons and the other because he needed more time with family they both said the would do it again if those reason were' not there.
Where do I go from here? It seems as if I have no other options other than swift! The voc schools which are so highly recomened are not offering classes anytime soon! I am scheduled to start training at Swift academy
end of august provided no one has a better option for me I would be glad to take it!!!!

Have you checked out Roehl (pronounced "rail") Transport? From what I've read here, they seem to be ok for new drivers.

Jeez, I justed wanted to make sure my question was seen in the place!
Anyhow thanks for your reply but thats my problem, Where I live!
I call roehl and they said they were not hiring in my area!

Any other Ideas I think looked at all the companies that train you but none in
my area. I even thought of seeing If Schneider would hire me out of El paso Texas and maybe I could Park my car in a Garage there and drive home on days off (3.5 hours away).

im screwed, stuck with good ol swifty till i get somemore experience they lie they cheat swift reminds me of the devil. swift ,yeah swift to steal the money right up from under you. They dont care about the newbies in this industry becoming a proffesional in this career they just care about all the money there making off your dumb little sorry ### find a company that'll actually train you. or go to school that will put you in a situations so that you know how to deal with them better once you get a job with a company. man do i feel like a ####### rushing into all of this.for any newbies out there do your research on everything before you go and make a mistake thats all i have to say. im out here learning from too many mistakes :biggr in_2552:<<<<nervous breakdown lol... oh and dont blame swift drivers were just retards that dont know any better because we work for an irrisponsible company. not trying to bum anyone out or make anyone upset just thinking outloud. i know alot of drivers say you get what you put into ,with swift whatever you put into can sometimes get takin away if your not paying attention if you wanna work for swift just pay attention to paystubs trips and anything else that deals with you getting paid. enough said im done now!

if you now work for swift just try to do the best job you can until you make your time. then move on to a better company. that is called paying your dues. sometimes we make decisions that isn't the best but just bite the bullet and keep on trucking.

Apache436

I just finished going through the Swift Driving Academy. If you have any questions, let me know. You'll need to go through Mack E-6 so that I can get your email address.

martinez

__________________
Ismael "Mario" Martinez

That's alright. Any staff member here will do that for you. I'm not the only one.

__________________
Z-Lady's devoted hubby.