Swift for an experienced solo driver working out of the Memphis Terminal?

I don't know how it is running out of Memphis, but your home terminal is not always the most important factor.
My home terminal is Otay Mesa, and I haven't been within spitting distance in a couple years.
I've only met face to face with my DM 3 times in the past 3.5 years. We get along well, so when I moved to MN I stayed with him.

We are planned from the nearest terminal. Since I alternate my home times between CO and MN I seldom see the western 1/4 of the country, although it does happen from time to time.

The miles you get are usually determined more by you than by anyone else.
If you consistently run very hard you will get the longer and tighter loads. If you tend to slack off you will get shorter loads with more time on them.
There are many solo drivers here that maintain 3k+ miles per week.

I'm not one of them. A 3k mile week is fairly rare. Mine are usually around 2500.
That's the way I personally like it, and that is the way I work myself.
Yet, still, I can stay a Platinum level driver - mostly.
I fell to Gold level during December. This past week I got back to Platinum, but with my current load and upcoming home time I may again fall back to Gold for a couple weeks.

My current load was meant to get me to my home time, but it was sent already late for pick up. The revised pick up time had me sitting for a day. Then the revised delivery appointment had me sitting for another day. 4 days on a 900 mile load... and then I'll be off 3 days for home time. That next paycheck won't be very nice.
It's not a complaint about Swift. It is just how things work out sometimes. On this load I have simply been at the mercy of the shipper and receiver and when they could schedule the live load and unload.

One of the nicer things about Swift is that the driver has a certain amount of control, even though we are technically forced dispatched.
Mac 9 is your friend, learn to use it. The same with Mac 22.

Swift is a decent company to work for if...
You get a good DM, you understand what they expect of you, you understand the system within you work.
I guess it is the same anywhere you go.

I listed DM first, because that is your lifeline to the Company.
A bad relationship with your DM, or a lousy DM, can be a real deal breaker.
Luckily you can usually get a different DM if you don't get along.

What they expect of you is always over the top, but being aware of the most important things always helps.
On-time ratio and safety rating are the most important, by far.

Understanding the system is the most important of all.
It allows you to run your truck as you see fit, for your own safety and profitability. Even as a company driver.
And Swift's system is pretty easy to work with, once you know the in's and out's.

And I have found that Swift will NEVER second guess me when it comes to safety.
That might be because of shutting down due to icy roads, wind conditions or any number of things. The load is simply rescheduled.
It might be, as with my current load's delivery time, that I can't make appointment times because of my being up all day and simply can't drive all that night. The load is rescheduled.


It hasn't been in trucking, but I've worked for far less desirable companies than Swift.
And as a trucking company, I've heard of far less desirable as well. Both mega's and smaller.

Memphis is a major hub for Swift. Getting there for home time should not be a problem, no matter where you are in the country.

 

Along with Moose said. I can say that I have been there going on 4 years now. My lease is almost up and I am getting ready to sign a new short term lease the first of April. You can see from my experience that I have been around the block more than once. Swift just happened to be a fit for me. I am out of the Inver Grove terminal. I have run into drivers that are out of Memphis and for the most part they are very happy there. It just depends on what fits for you. Also I am one of the laziest drivers around. Only want to avg 2800 /wk and get that and for the most part I run where I want. There are many others here on this forum that have been here awhile and you will here positive. There are those that where here and left and all that they will mostly do is bash. Good luck with your decision.

 

been here 2 yrs now and really have no real issues. i'm out of the jrupa valley terminal. if possible...do a face to face talk with your dm. let him/her know what you expect and would like to do. as far as staying busy, have no issues here. i'm usually on the phone with my dl or(if he's gone) a dispatcher asking about a load. if at a terminal, i walk up to window and ask for something. its been pretty slow down here in so cal. last 3 months i been local.add to what moose and bisqueak says

 

So you know someone but have no first hand knowledge . Please go away .

 

I like it, been around for almost two years. Good thing about them if you get a crappy truck in a few months you'll more than likely get a better one! The way they operate is very easy to figure out.

 

I do not drive for Swift or for any company at this point. Plan on getting into it later this year as a second career. I have been studying several different company related threads on this web site including Swift as they have a terminal near my home and do not seem to deserve the reputation some continue to perpetuate. Glad to see you finally received some legit feedback after the usual nonsense answers you got first.