It sounds like you have a good DM. If you are considering going o/o with Swift, talk to your DM now if you haven't already. Swift evaluates your mileage over a period of time and there are minimums you have to meet before they will approve your entry into the o/o side. Somehting about wanting you to succeed. Did I actually say that about Swift? Yes, contrary to what some feel Swift does want you to succeed. If you let your DM know, he/she will work even harder to make sure you are getting the miles you need to qualify. Good luck to you.

The pet policy is one thing that kept me from returning to Swift. They were good to me as well. Of course, I chose to work hard and do my job the best I could. Some call that sucking up but I call it being smart. I learned a long time ago that you reap what you sow. If you want respect, you have to sow respect. If you want to be treated like a professional you have to act like a professional. There will be those naysayers on here that say they wer mistreated but just look at how they talk and act on here. It is proof that speaks louder than all the words they can ever type in.

As far as those drivers who've quit the hugeantics go, there are three types:

1. Those who quit what they believed was a good company for even greener grass or for some other reason. They'd go back to the outfits, sure. This describes drivers such as Paw. They did well at the original outfits and do well at their new outfits.

2. Those who quit what they believed was a crappy outfit because they were being abused for no good reason. These quitters go to work at another outfit and do just fine. I myself am in this bunch. Why do these drivers do poorly at the first outfit, go to work at the second company, don't change a thing about themselves, and then succeed wildly? That is the mystery, friends and colleagues.

3. Those who quit a company because they're immature tykes. Many drivers out there are in this group. Far too many, in my opinion. These guys quit because the sky got cloudy one day. They can never be pleased, and quitting is an emotional release for them. They're head cases, in other words.

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--Paved Dudley--

Yeah I drive a Swift truck
And that means one thing
It means she's slow
It's a typical company truck
It's just all show and no go

I'm gettin' passed by Yella
And even Overnite
I'm gettin' passed by ever' body in sight
46 days on the road
And I'm not gettin' home tonight

No, my hometown's nowhere in sight
And if you think I'm pissed off
You're right
46 days on the road
And I'm not gettin' home tonight


Love pissing off those trucking company insiders.

Sounds like a lie based on many of your other posts that you are on strike and won't drive truck again. It is one thing to go to another OTR trucking company and succeed but to quit OTR trucking and go somewhere else just proves you were not cut out to be an OTR truck driver.

That's far from the truth. I have a degree in Broadcast communications. I've also worked with computers and the web, almost as long as both have been around. Although computers are slightly older than me.

Many of us drive because we like it. Then step out of it for awhile, when we want to or when someone pisses us off. Not because we're not cut out for it.

I saw NYC more times in my first 5 years of driving, than the majority of new drivers will see in a lifetime. Yet, I'll still go there any day. Most new drivers (and a lot of old ones) won't.

Using NYC of a measuring stick, for drivers "cut out" for OTR. The numbers get really really small

It all depends on the stick you use to measure with

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Team Players.....
It's hard for me to play professional team sports. On a minor league salary.

That post was specifically addressed to one individual.

And mine was directed at you. I've read many of your post that come from the same mentality. But chose to ignore them and see it as unjustified. While your age and experience may gain you respect with some. It only holds water, within your trained area of expertise. Which by your own admission, is not trucking. The majority of your post read like a recruiter. Or at the very least, a person used to being in a management position. And dislikes anyone who would make waves or challenges his authority.

This isn't the 50's or 70's. We don't have to work for anyone that treats us like dirt.

While I can admire a man who can stay with one company most his life. You'll find few within trucking (other than teamsters) who have.

Even within this forum, you'll find post from the "lifers/teamsters" who got canned. Because they thought they knew their job, along with it's rules.

There won't be any need to respond. As I will be placing you on my ignore list, to prevent further debate on this topic..

...Have a good day sir.

__________________
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Team Players.....
It's hard for me to play professional team sports. On a minor league salary.

I have worked on both sides of the fence (management and worker) and I have found that it is best to make the best of any situation. The problem with so many on here is that they carry a lot of bitterness and that bitterness hurts primarily themselves. But their bitter attitude can have an influence on others. Rather than offer constructive comments or try to encourage people to make the best of what they have available to them they spout their bitterness. Tip is a classic example of that. And I am not the only one on here who has a problem with his continually bitter musings.

He has made it clear that he has no interest in trucking so his bitterness is no help to anyone. I try to give people the information they need to make a decision that is right for them. Swift is a perfect example. Yes, many people do not like Swift. BUT there are thousands that do. So rather than trying to just say the same thing over and over again about the company sucking, why not offer points of how to do your best? What some on here do not realize is that often times a person's choices are limited. Usually they will come on here after narrowing their research down to companies that will a) hire in their location and b) hire someone at their experience level. If those are their choices and maybe they are all "terrible" companies, why not try to help them make the best of what is available to them?

The other problem with folks like you on here is that ANYTIME someone speaks positively of a company that you detest, they are automatically a recruiter. Face it some like the "bad" companies and some hate the "good" companies. I came here originally to research companies that I was looking at. And quite frankly, this site did not have much to do with my decision. Now my only goal is to bring balance and suggest things that might help someone make their decision. If you don't like that, that is too bad. I will continue to bring balance because many who are bitter like to spout false information about companies.

As for experience, I find it interesting that there are people on here who have only driven for one or two companies but are "experts" on several. I hope to offer wisdom for those who are looking for help. Where I have learned things from researching a company, I will share what I have learned. If I don't know anything about that company but can offer help in making a decsion, I will.

Have a nice day.

And that's only because of the "really cool guys" like yourself that they do. I can't imagine the time you have on your hands to be able to come up with awesomely cute little pet names and Shakespearean-esque poems for the company. You must be a sad and lonely person. If you have so much hatred for them, why not erase the company from your mind? Why talk about something so much that you despise so much?

I'm not taking up for Swift because I work for them. I just don't see the common sense involved in your Romper Room tantrums. You sound like someone still in 4th grade that didn't like their previous teacher.

Maturity reigns supreme with this one.

I was wondering is swift in need of drivers? I put in a request for info at a CDL school, just info, and i got a call from swift to be hired. I told the lady that i was in the military and was looking for info, not a job. I still have a little time left in and not looking to drive yet. But i have talked to ATS and when i get out i WILL be going with them. I have researched for about 2 yrs now and im not impresses with swift. Nothing against the drivers but don't like how they run the company. But back to my question are the desperate for drivers?

Nero