Swift Intermodal

Yes. Anywhere that will not only hire you but also train you when you are new to the industry is a good place to start, especially if you are looking to stay local. You find something that hires, take it and get time under your belt.

 

Let me get this straight $14 hour. No!!!.No!!! You can do better than $14 not driving truck(less headaches). Even starting out you shouldn't be at $14. Do better for yourself.

 

Its not just hourly pay. Say he takes 2 local loads that day, that's $102 + his 12-hour shift at $14, or $102 + $168 = $270 for the day as a newbie fresh out of school going home every night.

 

I understand but do understand you will be putting a lot of time in to make your money. I know you are starting out. Multi-billion dollar Swift needs to be ashamed of themselves paying $14/hr & $51. If you can turn 3 a day they figure your going to work 12 hours days 5 days a week. The beat goes on

 

With that example, that's $153 + $168 = $321 * 5 = $1605. There are THOUSANDS of newbies living in a truck making less than that each week. Heck there are thousand of experienced drivers living in a truck making less than that. It equates to $26.75 straight time.

 

There in lies the problem cheap labor. I learned that from my uncle when I was 7 years old moved rotten potatoes for his pigs and he paid us 50 cents for a hard days work. I just figured I was going to get $5(when $5 meant something to a kid).
I never forgot it not to work cheap. Even when I started in plumbing or trucking. Working cheap is not an option when you have options.

 

The short answer--yes, if you can get it...take it (Swift).

Intermodal experience for a new(er) driver is GREAT--in part because with intermodal, you will spend FAR MORE TIME backing up--than you will in say, OTR duty. Most new(er) drivers need all the backing practice they can get....

With that said--I would respectfully submit--intermodal is not the best place to be, for a completely brand new driver.

Solution: I just hope your intermodal trainer is a REEEEEE-ALLY GOOD one (mine was not--but note that all this was NOT with Swift). If so--then I would take back what I just said...

Your pay situation sucks because (in part) you don't really bring any experience to the table--just a CDL. Driver pay is based, to a considerable extent, on experience. After you get some honest "seat time" under your belt--the pay situation will begin to resolve itself.

Depending on the rail or shipyard(s) you service in intermodal--ingating and/or outgating can REEEEEEE-ALLY TAX your patience, and waste your time. Conversely--a rail/shipyard that has its act truly together can be a joy to work.

Safety tip: Before you put your rig in motion--ALWAYS MAKE SURE that your container is properly secured to your chassis. If you don't see/have a ziptie at each corner--there could soon be real trouble!

Part of what's cool about driving with Swift--after you spend a year or more doing intermodal work--you can "pivot" to other types of freight within Swift's fleet: dry van, dedicated, reefer, etc. Thus--you can get experience with still other types of freight--all without the usual hassles of changing employers.

-- Lual