Must start another GOOD SWIFT thread...

Thanks for the advice about the endorsemnets I will go for it, and you will do just fine on those skills test just do all the practicing they will allow you till you perfect it. Till next time...stay focused on the prize

 

I drove vans for Swift and hated it. I sat a lot. Lots of local loads that would run my hours down before they would give me a descent load. Then I went to flatbed. Most of the loads are 800+ miles and they would have no problem deadheading me a couple hundred miles to get to a load. I might be going back there soon.

 

Hay CANGST!
Thanks for the tip! I was wondering how it is working for SWIFT when you live in Oxnard being that the terminal is pretty far from home? I live in Pismo Beach and will be working out of Lathrop, 250 miles from home! Is this a problem or will they work with me some how? I don't mind being away for a few weeks at a time or the travel to and from work, but it would be nice to eventually be closer to home every ounce in a while! I will be going to orientation next week and I'm sure I will find out then, but I'm just wondering how it works for you? I'm considering flatbeds as well. I also have my Doubles/Triples, Tanker, and Haz-Mat endorsements, do you have any suggestions? Thanks!

 

Well tomorrow is the big day! Everything I've been training for boils down to tomorrow at 7:30am! It's DMV drive test day! I feel confident, I feel ready, my pre-trip, skills, and driving are all good so I'm going for it! I've been praying allot and would appreciate anyone else's prayers for me! The LORD knows my needs and has never let me down before! Worry about nothing, prey about everything! Polk Salit out!!!

 

Well, i finally am all set to start training with Swift August 13th. I'm headed to Lewiston, ID. Took a while, and since I first applied with Swift, I gained employment at the fuel desk at a truck stop for the truckers. Kinda get a 'behind the scenes' look at what goes on when they stop for fuel. I get to ask em questions, etc. One poster on here thinks you should be able to get $0.40 cents a mile fresh out of a drivers school. Thinks that if you make less than .30cpm, you are just 'slaving'. I asked a driver today, 'what is a good average to start for a newbie fresh out of school'...and he said $0.29. Swift starts at .26 for 3 months, then goes up to 27, then 28 after 6 and then 31 after a year. Gotta get seat time and have a good record before another company will look at you and say "gee, lets get that guy, and give him $0.40". I want to get two years experience, be debt free, buy my dream car, take care of friends/family that are having a hard time. All this by 2011.

August 13th.....it will be tomorrow before i know it.

 

Holy Crap!
.26 cents a mile? Thats what you get to start here in the US?

 

rag, are you related to TimmyTruck? Tell me where should I go fresh out of school, no experience, and make more than 30 cents a mile? please let me know ..... i am interested.

 

I was out of the Phoenix terminal and did not like the Fleet manager so I switched to the Gary, IN terminal. It does not really matter what terminal you are out of. That is just where you call and talk to. Flatbed is only out of three terminals. As for living in Oxnard. In flatbed it does not matter. They would deadhead me to oxnard from LA and then when it was time to load they would deadhead me anywhere in socal there was a load, sometimes 150+ miles. You will learn to beg to stay the hell away from California unless you are ready for hometime. Doubles would help you if you want to live in Salt Lake or the one in Washington they have a heavy haul out of these. Lathrop was one crazy terminal when I worked for swift. That was the most crowded terminal with broken down trailers I had ever seen. From what I remember the DMs were better than Fontana though. If you go flatbed you would be out of Phoenix. Take care out there bro.

 

Are there enough flatbed openings in PHX?