That's what makes the decision making process so hard! The way things were isn't usually the way things are with anything, whether it be your marriage, your lifestyle, or the trucking industry! There are thousands of posts on these threads bashing companies for the way things were! Not nearly so many telling how things ARE, and verifiable. Those that had good experiences aren't looking for forums to "vent" their good fortune and advise newbies where to look for jobs!

DD, I respect that you had some hard times, and it must have been within the last 3 years, but it doesn't really tell me what I need to know right now. When you get away from the forums and read some of the blogs, there are thousands of happy and successful drivers with some of the worst companies imaginable (if you believe what you read HERE!) and many of them do drive for Swift and every other company that's ever been bashed here.

I tend to be pessimistic about most all new ventures, and I rarely ever take a chance on anything (I am NOT a gambler), but how bad can it be if I get paid ANYTHING for doing what I want to do? I've still got a few days before I have to make a decision, and I've spent nearly 12 hours a day for the last 2 weeks online and doing research. I know a little more than I did then, but not much more, due to all of the conflicting info in the forums, and the out of date company websites. Drivers need to post what they know to be current info, and not what they know used to be true in the past, if they really want to help a newb decide. I spent 20 years at a federal job, but I have no idea what goes on there now!

__________________

"Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the one's who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would most likely be worth it."
(From a short story by Michael Gartner)
________________

Free information: Sometimes it's worth what you pay for it!
(Anon)
________________

I'm a Swifty and I can tell you the company is not as horrible as many would have you think. Was it in the past? According to many it was, but the past is past. I will tell you however, this is my first otr trucking gig so I haven't tasted any of the other flavors out there, so I only have what I've experienced so far to go by.

Do they annoy me at times? Sure. I'm sure I annoy them as well from time to time. Overall, I'm getting fair pay I suppose, for my lack of experience. The miles could be better. I probably average around 2300 a week. There are times I pull my hair out because I'm ready to run and all I get is 400 mile runs, however the frieght does seem a bit slower than usual for this time of year according to many drivers and shippers I've asked.

Other weeks I get more than I care to run. That's fairly standard at most companies from what I've learned from other drivers out there. I turn down loads on occasion and haven't been starved yet. My biggest complaint would be getting stuck east of the Mississippi most of the time and rarely getting out west.

They are good about getting you back to the house as I have yet to have a problem regarding hometime. I imagine where you live may play the biggest role there. You set your RDO (remaining days out) with your dm and I'll be damned if they haven't got me back home every time.

I recommend staying out for 3 weeks minimum if you you want to have the opportunity to make more money. If money is not you're main goal in trucking, then I can't see why you wouldn't want to drive for Swift as a new driver coming into the industry.

WELL SAID, area904! I've been doing the same as you, researching on-line for the past 2 weeks. Been off of truck driving since November, made a little money writing travel articles(have a degree in journalism), but that field is a dog eat dog market. And I miss the road, so I've decided to get back into trucking once more. But now its not so easy with companies downsizing, cutting back because of the fuel situation. Rubbergears; when I worked for Swift, they were very good about hometime. Its the other issues that compelled me to leave them. MOstly, when freight was slow, they continued to push out students at a large volume. This made freight availability even more scarce, there's only a finite number of trucks, and, a finite number of loads. Swift makes alot of money on the training side, which kind of de-values the experienced drivers such as me. But, I met alot of good Swift drivers, and good guys and gals when I worked for Swift. If they would re-structure their company a bit, it may be a great company again someday. But any company is really what you make it, and what my be good for one driver, may not be good for another.

I don't think some of the newbies I am reading about realize there is a thing called paying your dues. It seems to me that some of them want the top pay and miles now before they have earned it. Earning the respect and miles the other drivers have put in is what I am trying to say. When you first start any job you must earn respect and get the experience then you will get your place on the ladder. It takes time to get your dispatcher to trust you and your work ethics.

Thanks, Wild Bird!

I agree with you in concept. I don't mind paying my dues at all (as long as they aren't UNION dues - been there, done that, never again). The industry is volatile and has created a lot of it's own problems. There IS a shortage of drivers, or no company would reimburse anyone for school, no matter how long you stayed. Competition is keen between companies for safe and experienced drivers, and a student should shop around for the deal that suits them best, but that doesn't have to mean that they are looking to start at the top. It just means they have a choice. Would you start a new career at less pay and benefits than you have to? Of course not. And, as far as paying our dues, none of us newbs are going to be offered the better pay and benefits until we've proven ourselves, and I think most of us do know that. You can't blame us for going into something we know nothing about and being apprehensive about making the best choices we can.

Truth be known, we're all starting at the bottom no matter where we go to school, how long it is, what we pay for it, or any other variable. It just doesn't seem to make much difference where we start, as long as we start somewhere. I think we are kidding ourselves when we think one company's program is that much better or worse than any other. Otherwise, instead of 1.4 million registered trucking companies in the U.S., there would be only a handful left, with all the "bad" weeded out, and only the better ones left operating! Competition is good for the newb, because it gives us a choice, and a much better chance I think of finding a company that suits our needs.

I don't blame any company for wanting me to sign a length of service contract as payment for their investment in me. Even if school is only 3 weeks long, it does cost the company a sizeable chunk of change in salaries, room and board (in some cases), training facilities, and lost revenue while I'm training in their trucks (not to mention fuel, oil, maintenance, insurance, etc.) If they make a profit on me for dumping them for another company, they deserve it! I'll get my CDL and will be making money at their expense, unless I pay them back. Now, if some fool pays a trucking company or school $6,500 dollars up front for the same training they can get at the local community college for less than $2,000, then maybe they shouldn't be in trucking (if you know what I mean). Some of us can't wait for college classes to start again, or they aren't available locally, or we don't have the finances, and will have to accept tuition assistance and a contract at a company school.

As far as still turning out drivers when freight is slow, that's planning for better times, and I see no other choice! You can't haul freight without drivers, and when freight's available, you'd better have trucks and drivers to haul it. That's called growth potential. Yeah, you can work a few drivers to death and pay them well, but if you have freight sitting on the dock not getting delivered on time, how long will it be before you start losing business? Where will those 3,000 mile/week but well paid solo drivers be then? Looking for a new job with the rest of us!

I'm glad to see you're sticking in there at 70. You're doing what you want, or you'd be sitting back living on social security. I hope I'm still doing what I want at your age, which isn't that far away, it seems. Keep on truckin'!

__________________

"Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the one's who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would most likely be worth it."
(From a short story by Michael Gartner)
________________

Free information: Sometimes it's worth what you pay for it!
(Anon)
________________

Rock Salt, How many miles have you driven in your career? How many other employers have you had? These are very simple yet important questions I have for you. They have you blinded right now. You better watch your back side. Just take my advise as a precaution measure. I have not put my story together yet on here, when I get it posted, then you will see what I mean. BE VERY CAREFUL! THESE PEOPLE ARE RUTHLESS!

Grandma, Come on, lets hear your story. What happened??

dear area 904,
I am not driving now because of a drunk that hit me head on in my private car. I am now on canes and in a wheel chair. I was driving my truck and working the ports every day before the accadent at the age of 61. I am sorry if anyone didn't read this in one of my earlier e-mails. The truth is always the truth no matter who says it or when it is said.
All drivers go tho the stage of learning how and what to do for the company they work for. The thing about paying your dues means doing what all newbies must do and that is learn to take the instructions of the dispatcher. I am pretty sure that hasn't changed, all drivers have a dispatcher even if it is the computer. Someone is putting in the information a driver must go by to pickup or deliver that load of goods. Getting to and from a place to do your job on time and with out incident.

OUCH! So sorry to hear of the accident! You are "Hanging in there!", nonetheless, and still have my utmost respect as a seasoned professional "Driver!" You still have much to teach the newbs (myself humbly included) and we all value your input!

__________________

"Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the one's who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would most likely be worth it."
(From a short story by Michael Gartner)
________________

Free information: Sometimes it's worth what you pay for it!
(Anon)
________________

You truly have a very simple mind if you believe all of the elephant dung that you just wrote!! I sure feel sorry for you when you wake up one day to the nightmare that a great majority of individuals have had with Swift! Of course you can't be very Swift for working for Swift!!