The truth about Swift

His got turned in to the dealership, I think. The guy I drove to Alabama so that he could get back home... he straight abandoned his truck.

 

I think they were told to take the trucks to the nearest dealeship..

I remember so many of them were stranded all over.. and I remember on here at Truckers Report a lot of drivers doing what they could to help.. some picked a stranded driver or two, with all their belongings and got them as close tko home as they could...

It was really moving to see that sense of community and brotherhood sisterhood...

It was just before Christmas if I remember right..


Now, as for Swift, I have never driven for them.. I have met a few of there drivers... nice guys.. I do believe one, two or more were if not happy.. they were not disgruntled. ..

As for the ex swift driver you trained... he left or got fired from swift... his view is tainted... when I hear a disgruntled driver complain I take it with a grain of salt... they often embellish the bad, minimize any good and take no blame or responsibility....

Now, again I have never driven for SWIFT.. so I truly dont know what they are like... just met a few of there drivers and they were nice.. and seemed content...

 

I seem to remember it took a while for that word to get out, and, by the time that happened, a number of drivers had already jumped ship. And yeah, I think it was three days before Christmas.

I started with Swift's flatbed division in 02, after my ETS from the Army, and left in 03, when Uncle Sam said, "hey, enough of this part-time ####, go pound sand... literally". All in all, I wouldn't call it a perfect experience, but I'd call it a fair one. I benefited from it. I don't have a grudge with Swift.
Okay, well.. the (then) 60 MPH trucks did irritate the hell out of me, but I was more tolerant of it then than I would be now, so...

 

I firmly believe many drivers suffer from Stockholm Syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_syndrome).

Swift, like any mega-crap company, pays less the minimum wage, works you some 70-100 hours a week, keeps you away from home and family for months at a time, micro-manages and dumps all their management problems on their drivers, ect......

It is so bad at these companies, like Swift, that 100% are out the door within a year even though they owe some $5000 for training, even though most considered Swift a 'carrier choice.'

 

Folks I think everyone knows that swift is only to start your career and gain some experience. .... no one should stay past a year. If they do then they can only blame themselves. Newbies may not know this and that is what this website is for.

 

So what's your point?

 

Wow this is crazy.

 

Are there career company drivers at Swift?

 

at $7.50/hr working 70 hours a week we're talking $525

but please do not compare "hourly wages" to this industry,you're comparing Apples to Grapes, we don't work by hours, we don't get paid by hours so don't say "we should be hourly" as a matter of fact we're limited how many hours we work, so our paychecks will never adjust in size

but lets assume we're paid for every hour we are on line 3 or 4, we'll be making less money than you realize

and the owing $5000 for training (which is a stupid number, its only half that) is something they do to get you to stay, their turnover is so high that they do this, then make you sign a contract saying you agree,

also, if your'e a "job hopper" you' aren't going to get hired anywhere, so they know this

"look, you COULD leave but unless you have a year experience nobody wants you, Oh and also you'll owe us money"

since they helped me get my CDL and stuff I say its fair

absolutley

 

Back in the Fall of 2012 in a restaurant, I visited briefly with a woman driver who had 18 years OTR, the last 14 of which were with Swift in their dry van fleet. She seemed to be happy with the situation. Beyond that, I can't say one way or the other because I have not had any dealings with Swift personally (and don't plan to either). But, they are a big presence in the Industry.