Swift Trans

Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by BarberTrucker, Dec 29, 2017.

  1. BarberTrucker

    BarberTrucker Bobtail Member

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    So I have been seeing lots of talk about swift all across this forum. So I just want to give an update on swift as I have just completed orientation today and I am waiting for my mentor.

    Because of the holiday schedule my orientation was Wednesday thru Friday vs the normal Monday thru Wednesday.

    Oreientation consist of mainly videos, some paper work, company policies, and the do’s and dont’s of trucking. We also had the driver development team, safety, and a few other departments come in and speak to us.

    Anyone attending orientation after December 31, 2017 will get given a hair follicle test. I am just warning you now. Swift policy is not different from any other company. Just make sure you are clean. Personally if you are that worried fork over about $80 and have a test done yourself so you would know if you will pass it or not.

    You will not officially become an employee of swift until you drug test come back. Since t was the holiday period when I attended orientation it was only a handful in my class.

    They put you into a hotel for 3 nights during orientation. The hotel provides breakfast and swift provides lunch. Dinner is your own expense. Swift only ensure that you get to the hotel and terminal only. So you can either drive your car to the orientation or do like I did and utilize uber and/or lyft.

    There were individuals in my class who came on little to almost no money. Just know if you come to orientation with no money you are not wise. You get paid on Fridays but you won’t be paid until the Friday the week after your orientation. Example our orientation ended today ( a regular orientation would of ended on Wednesday). We will not be paid anything until next Friday on January 5, 2018.

    I have not started driving yet so I can not answer too many questions at the present time as I may not have all of the answers you are looking for but I will if I can.

    The woman over our orientation said that swift knows that they have a bad reputation in the trucking industry and they are in the process of getting rid of bad apples and the company is doing the best they can to improve the company over all.

    As far as pay I forgot how much it was for orientation, but once you get in the truck with your mentor the pay is $500 per wk min on the east and $550 per em min on the west.
    I stated min as any hours over 40hrs of driving you will be paid at your state minimum wage for any hour over 40 in that pay period.

    That is all I can really think of to give at the moment. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

    So far in my honest opinion after talking to drivers, yes swift is a starter company but people do a lot of of dumb things which we seen in videos and drivers have also said to be fired. It’s not hard
     
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  3. Justrucking2

    Justrucking2 Road Train Member

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    Well, that is cool they are paying you over 40. And yes, incredibly bad reputation. Sad thing, that gross will be about your net take home pay for all of the work involved when you get in your own truck. Around what I was making 30 years ago as a driver. Good luck, and Happy Motoring!
     
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  4. Smut

    Smut Light Load Member

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    Good luck. I started with Swift and had a good experience over all. Hope you have a good experience too.
     
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  5. Ribeye

    Ribeye Light Load Member

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    Everybody starts somewhere, you just have to make the most of it, ask and learn from others. You get out what you put into it. It is a big adjustment if you have a wife and kids - megas tend to keep you out on road, biggest reason guys quit within a few months of starting. Get your experience in and you can move on later, or get a local driving job. Good luck.
     
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  6. Justrucking2

    Justrucking2 Road Train Member

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    We as an industry are grossly underpaid. Sad.
     
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  7. BarberTrucker

    BarberTrucker Bobtail Member

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    I don’t mind staying on the road tbh. That’s what I wanted to do
     
  8. BarberTrucker

    BarberTrucker Bobtail Member

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    I doubt that as I have talked to company drivers here at the terminal who says they get good miles on a regular. It’s all about how you apply yourself
     
  9. BarberTrucker

    BarberTrucker Bobtail Member

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    Thank you and I believe I will too
     
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  10. Justrucking2

    Justrucking2 Road Train Member

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    Miles are not the answer, I can run a guy 3,000 miles a week.... I could have, but never did my drivers that dirty. Work smarter, not harder, and throw the 3,000 mile benchmark out the window. You want to drive 1000 miles a week for four times the pay you get at Swift. And, it is out there. ;-)
     
  11. BarberTrucker

    BarberTrucker Bobtail Member

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    I do believe the trucking industry is underpaid. I only agree because in order to make the most money you pretty much have to stay out on the road. Also many carrier do not allow you to stack your off time when you are OTR
     
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