Swift drivers...

Thanks for info TCD = Reefer. I thought about checking with Maverick but just turned 60 and not sure about tarping and chaining out in the weather.

 

Considering another driver35 has probably never driven for swift you can take his advice to the bank and see that it's not worth the paper it's written on.

Swift has problems just like any company, but they typically take care of the drivers that work hard. Home time doesn't seem to be an issue if you drive for 3 weeks and go home for 3 days. You can be out less but it's hard to make money that way. Most will attest to the fact that getting home on time usually isn't a problem.

I have been treated well and they offered me a dedicated account right out of training and I make good money doing it. As far as miles go I wasn't solo OTR for that long so I can't really comment too accurately on that but there is a lot of freight out there so they always kept me moving.

The equipment is typically nice. I drive a '14 cascadia but it is luck of the draw when it comes to truck assignment. No APU's so that's kind of a down side but I have survived and so have many others without them. To me that's not a really big deal.

When I was solo otr I averaged close to 3000 miles a week but I was only solo for a month while a waited for my co-driver to finish training so we could run this dedicated account.

My mentor was a good guy with 19 years exp. and he was a good teacher. I still talk to him every now and again and since you have exp. you probably will only have to do 120 hours of training (2-3 weeks).

 

I know you have done some research but you can't believe every pissed off driver you talk to online. Most people who bash companies were lazy drivers with no work ethic who expect the world to be handed to them on a silver platter. Or they messed up and did something stupid so they got canned and blame it on the company and don't tell you be whole story how they were the ones at fault.

It is really hard to comment on a company when you have never driven a truck before much less driven for the company.

The op was asking for accurate info from swift drivers. I love how everyone becomes an expert on some company they have never worked for because they heard about it online.

I know you had good intentions with your post and didn't intend to be negative but if I didn't say anything moose or mystic probably would've and I'm a lot nicer when it comes to snarky replies

 

Easy there Broc, I get all my trucking info on here. I am in Korea so I try to learn all I can about trucking in case I decide to drive when I move back to the states. There are no truckers , truck stops , schools , trucking companies or rest parks where I can find any info and if there was my Korean speaking is not that good.
You say hard to comment on a trucking company since I have not driven a truck or worked for a company. That is the reason I mostly post in the Newbie section.

All I have been doing is research, so I have learned a little.

The OP said "I know Swift doesn't have a great reputation on here " I have noticed that also as well as Werner, CRST , CR England and on and on.

I asked why he chose Swift, I thought maybe I am missing something. They have a lot of trucks and a lot of drivers but have "RESEARCHED" Swift and a lot of other companies and see some negative post. I am not saying I'm a freakin expert. You don't have to be a driver or work for the company to read what OTHER PEOPLE POST.

I'm guessing you drive for Swift. Tell me why I should choose Swift over the other companies I mentioned because I am having trouble deciding which company to choose and you seem to be the expert at Swift.
They do seem to have nice equipment but someone mentioned some trailers are needing replaced. but I have never rode in a trailer either

 

Like I said I know you didn't mean it the way it sounded. My reply was more of a general reply to the many comments I have read from non swift drivers or from non drivers.

I have been reading your thread and have posted there so I know your situation and understand you have probably done more research than most. If you want to know why swift, then I will tell you my reasons. Bear in mind these are my reasons and not every person is a good fit for a company and that company isn't always the best for that person.

I chose swift for multiple reasons.

1: they are the largest trucking company so I figured havin enough freight to get good miles wouldn't be an issue (and I was right).

2: I served in the Marine Corps, so if I drive for them for a year my cdl training will be free.

3: after sifting through the garbage on the Internet I decided that they have one of the better company training programs. After experiencing it first hand I can say that it is a great training program. The instructors are extremely knowledgeable, and they teach you more than just the bare minimum to get by. Contrary to another driver35's comments they don't just pump out students like a factory. The academy is not easy to pass if you don't apply yourself. Out of 12 students I was 1 of only 2 that made it through the academy and got my cdl, and the other one is driving my truck right now, he is one of the few people I would trust to drive while I sleep.

4: The benefits are pretty good and the staff are helpful and supportive.

5: I drive a '14 cascadia with only 50k miles on it but before that I had a '11 prostar with 460k miles so its luck of the draw bu even my old truck was pretty well taken care of and ran great. it was put in the shop because of a part and the shop had to order it and my DM didn't want me sitting for 3 days so he put me in a new truck. As for the trailers, some are old but the drive down the road and are legal. I've never spent enough time inside a trailer to really care how old it is, I mostly ride down the road inside my truck.

I could go on but those are the major points for me. If I didn't have a family and didn't want to drive local after I get enough exp. then I would consider staying with swift for a very long time. They have a quarterly safety bonus and a driver ranking system and once you make it to diamond driver (can be done in a few years) you get a $3,000 quarterly bonus (if I remember correctly) and you get to sort of pick your loads. So driving for swift for a long time wouldn't be a bad thing but for me the problem is the same as every OTR company and the problem is: I have to be gone too much. I don't mind being out for now but it's not something I'd like to do for years and years. I make $1000 a week or more and have only been driving with them since December, so they can take care of you if you work hard and do your job.

Also swift's experience is recognized by other trucking companies as experience. That is another nonsensical comment by another driver35.

 

Thanks for the good reply. Like you say on # 3 I am just sifting through the garbage. I might pass along some info that I read but I never claim to be anything more than a Newbie.

I read Swift pays 26 cpm to start is that true ?

 

Positive attitude says it all