Swift Transportation Company, Inc. - Phoenix, Az.

Is "ignore" the equivalent to a kindergartner sticking their fingers in their ears because they know you are right but they don't want to hear it?

 

I read it on the internet! It must be true!!

 

TimmyTruck, how long do you consider a driver with any company "long term"? 3years? 5 years maybe 10 ?? I started a job at a Pilot Truck Stop behind the truckers fuel counter. Wanted to get some 'behind the scenes' of the trucking business at truck stops before I became one. Maybe run into a few drivers from Swift or MCT (my two school/truck companies i've narrowed it down to) and I can bounce some questions off of. I actually ran into 3 drivers today from Swift, one has been a driver for them for 4 years, and he was not an o/o, and he appeared happy, and satasified. You can tell the ones who like the paycheck they are getting, enjoy what they do and dont walk around with a chip on their shoulder. This guy seemed pretty upbeat, and when I asked and he said "3 years"...he didnt sould like a driver with regret.

 

Timtruck won't "hear" my response because he has his fingers in his ears but you must be mistaken, according to him. No driver has ever been at Swift for even two years so how could one be there four and the other three? And you mean to tell me they actually like Swift? I am sure Tip won't be able to accept that because according to him everyone hates Swift. I will guarantee you that you will meet more Swift drivers there that like the company than the other way around. Will there be ones who don't like them? Of course. Not everyone is going to like them but, even many who have left to go to other companies feel they are a good company. They went somewhere else because the new company could offer them more of what they were looking for.

 

By all means , drive for Swift. "Slave" to the man. I really dont care, but dont say you werent warned. You newbie guys think you know it all-a lot of us have been there and done that, but you all wont listen, then you come crying and what do we say? "we told you so" . BTW, last time Ichecked this board was for bad companies and anybody who has been driving for about 2 days understands that Swift fits this bill to a "T"! Of course you can find 3 and 4 year drivers, probally could find 20 year drivers if you look, big deal--but there isnt many-they are not average Swift drivers . Swift's turnover rate is in the 300% range-that is extremely high, but it is a fact.

 

LIST YOUR SOURCES! You keep coming here spouting things with no fact to support it. What is your source for 300% turnover because that IS NOT true? There are more drivers over 3 years and 10 years then you care to admit. You come on here and think that listing 7 years gives you knowledge. For all we know you have never even seen the inside of a truck. A person can put any "time behind the wheel" number they want to put. And since you have given false information here (including saying you put me on ignore) for all we know your "7 years" is also false. I have driven for Swift and found them to be a good company along with hundreds of other Swift drivers I had the opportunity to visit with while I was there. Were there some that didn't like Swift? Of course. BUT the overwhelming majority liked the company. And again, if you would read the forum you would know that I am not currently driving for Swift and am not going to be driving for them.

And this board IS titled "bad companies", however, if you understood the meaning of the word "forum" you would know it means a place to dialogue on an issue. That means, on the bad forum people can list their negative feelings about the company BUT to really make it a forum, those who have had positive experiences can come here and counter those negative posts with their positive experiences.

 

What gets me, is that Timmy thinks he is the "see all-know all" of Swift. If he has NEVER worked for them, i cannot justify listening to his opinion. "slave to the company"...OOoooooh...tell me where else can a newbie go, FRESH out of a school, and make $0.40-.45cpm? Hmmm?? Gotta start somewhere. I think timmy is just afraid of hard work. Think timmy just dont want to be 'away from home', having to drive 2500+ miles a week, because it is actually time consuming. Guess what, you are married (wouldnt suprise me if you wernt) with kids (afraid of how often THEY speak their mind) and you have a REASON to be 'home'. Not everybody is YOU (thank god).

 

I know you will ask "why you go with swift, why not go with anybody else"...well because Swift is the only one to show an interest in getting me into school. Schneider has never called back, TMC wants you to already have a CDL, MCT wants you to have a permit..(which i will have in a week).

 

I've been around various aspects of trucking all my life and just completed 3,000 miles solo in 9 days. I work for DSW (Tucson AZ) that leases all their trucks to Swift. Essentially I operate as a Swift driver drawing pay from another company. My 6 week "training" was with a DSW driver that focused more on basic driving skills that I had acquired 15 years and 1,000s of miles before he had a learning permit. Before 2 weeks were completed I knew that learning to back, use the QualCom, and everything else would be done independently. I want to thank the shippers, consignees, DMs, and fellow truckers that have helped me the past few days. I have learned much and know by being humble and admitting my inequities, they will continue to help so that I can do the same for others who come behind me. Growing up and going to school there were instructors that baffled me but I persevered and found ones that could help me understand what the others could not. Patience and diligence in achieving your goals will get your farther that banging heads with ignorant types that are not comprehensive enough to give you real help.

People at Swift or anywhere else can give you a pole and bait. Some can tell you how to fish, but not all of them can teach you how to catch one. Seek out the ones that can help you be independent and be respectful of the ones that can't (pity them for being shallow).

 

Bhangt - I like the way you think. Hang in there.

Charlie