Swift Transportation Company, Inc. - Phoenix, Az.

I saw the same thing running for Arrow. Drivers would get down to the Laredo terminal and sit around complaining for a week that they couldn't get out of there. I'd get there and they'd offer me a load going to Long Island or thereabout and I'd take it. Usually be gone within a few hours. The only reason they'd have those loads waiting for me was all the guys sitting there complaining all week wouldn't take them. I took everything they gave me and made pretty #### good money. The only reason I left was because I saw where it was going.

 

Hell I'd run the short ones they pay better. I did get tired of running PA to Jersey to PA though. That will wear you down. One time a 30 mile run got me a 2000 miler so as long as they reward you once in awhile, it ain't all that bad.

You could make a killing if you could run 2 195 mile trips a day. That would pay better than cross country but it would get old fast if you were on the dirty side all the time.

 

Second load I was offered was 99 miles. I told them no. They piggybacked it with another load and I took it.

 

Hmm. I'm not making money with werner right now, but it sure isn't because I'm turning down loads. We're not allowed to, but i've had a couple of times when my FM asked if i wanted one before assigning it to me...therefore i could have. Still didn't. I had just split a load at the drop yard in battle creek and was going to go home to stevensville, and there was a driver that was going home to battle creek that had just picked up an 800 mile load going to olive branch MS. I dont know what happened exactly, but i was asked if i wanted it..I said HELL YEAH. I had to wait in that yard an extra couple of hours (whereas if i rejected it i could have gone home immediately most likely), and it cut my hometime short a few hours...but #####. I got down to MS and I stayed down south for two weeks. Never even came within 500 miles of the canadian border...best money week in a while! hahaha...

I wonder if i should go work for swifty then. Hmm. I won't tell them I have a passport, since that seems to be my main problem at werner, besides ####ey maintenance.

Now, a 300 mile load isn't the best, but....what the hell. How can you let yourself be stuck somewhere for days because you wont take a load. A 300 mile load with a 200 mile load after that is a great 14 hour day. 300 miles is better than 0 miles any day any way...

I wonder though, if I tell them i loooove NYC, what they'd do to me...hehehe.....

 

When I was there, Swift did not go into the city. They would have the OTR guys drop at the yard and run the local guys on those. If you think about it, it makes sense to do that. The local guys will know which roads to take, where all the clearance problems are and whose palms to grease to get around the city.

I didn't see the NE very often. This company? I get sent there about every other month and then left there for three to four weeks at a shot until I'm begging to get out. And I usually lose money on tolls and high fuel cost. Told them I was getting ready to buy property up there. When asked why, I said so they wouldn't send me there any more. Seems this company likes to send you as far away from your home as possible and then keep you there with the statement that there isn't any freight going back to where you want to be.

 

Hello how are you ? good I hope. I am writing you because I am trying to find my way in the trucking industry. I have no experience and I would like to know is swift a good place to start at. I have been doing some research and I found that not all cdl school are scams and are not certified by the ptdi. Please let me know what I should do. Thank you in advance im in Richmond VA.

 

Find a Community college or Vocational School that has a CDL training class.You'll be better off there.Trucking companies that have schools will allegedly train you for free ,but you must sign a contract to work for them 1 year after training.If you do not complete 1 year of employment you will have to pay them for your training(at inflated cost).
During the 1st year they will treat you like crap and do everything in their power to get you to quit.Low miles,no home time,you'll basically be a mushroom(kept in the dark and fed nothing but horse manure)...

 

on the contrary at swift. if you do as you're told, don't cry, go where they tell you (unless you're due for home time or can't due to HOS), and stay out of trouble. they'll treat you rather well. however, once you no longer owe them anything, they'll start pushing you away. that push will be even harder if you refuse to sign on to their fleece-purchase and/or refuse to become a trainer.

 

Spot on...no exaggeration!

 

Oh yes! We'll be GLAD to sell you a truck and you can be an Owner operator...
By the way,when you have finished paying for a 7 year old worn out truck,which will likely need an overhaul.You will have paid the company enough for them to buy 2 new trucks,which they will in turn run to death and then SELL to the next driver "waiting to become his own boss" and be the proud owner of a 7 yr old worn out Freightliner..
AND THE BEAT GOES ON.....