Swift

He is otr

 

How much do they take out for insurance? I'm considering them when I retire from current gig in a year, or so. I already have insurance that will last until I'm 65, and won't need to buy theirs.

 

Alright. Now that is funny.

 

You were out 12 months.....are you sure it’s your baby?

Reminds me, years ago a co-worker went to the boss and said, “I have to get home, my wife is going to have a baby nine months from now”.

The boss laughed and sent him home.

 

Hey drivers, I'm new here and thought I would give my 2 cents, tho it was many years ago. I was driving for M.S. Carriers out of Memphis for about 9 months when Swift bought them out. I ended up staying on another 2 years or so. Honestly I never really had any problems, my insurance was really good 90/10, I got home most of the time when I wanted and I also made good money and drove new equipment. I occasionally dealt with a turd from time to time but had the same DM the entire couple years. I couldn't tell you anything about them currently, but now that I have over 2 million accident and ticket free miles. I can tell you I hear the same stuff/complaints about them I did in 2000-2002. No freight, bad trucks, slow trucks, bad dispatch, no money etc. I do not have a lot of experience with a bunch of companies, I've only driven for 3 companies full time and twice I came off otr for a period and drove part-time for 2 other companies. Since 2005 I have not had a year I was OTR that I did not year 65k plus. While many of you complain about slow trucks I can tell you as a company driver get in your truck and keep the doors shut and stay out of truck stops you will make money and do just fine. I don't stop to eat or potty numerous times a day either, pre-trip and let's roll. If you want to make money keep your truck rolling when possible and get several years experience and don't be a job hopper. Then when you have an excellent record those 75-85k jobs getting home every week or so will be there. Good luck drivers and be safe out there.

 

Poverty is exactly where Swift and the other mega fleets want you. They want you 2000 miles from home with no way to get back but through their say so and their arrangements.

That’s one of the tactics this type of scum utilizes to try and keep you in the seat that extra day, week, month, or however long it takes the driver to wise up and leave.

Then, they sucker another unknowing mope into the same vicious cycle.

 

Man, not making enough to even cover benefits is tough. I was only OTR for 4 months (3 weeks was training) back in 2010 with Roehl. I was regional and got home every 7-9 days. Once it was 12 days but they rewarded me with 4 days of hometime.

Now I wasn’t OTR that long, but I only ever had one tiny check (like $220 gross), and that was because I missed sending in 2 completed trips, so I just got a large check the following week. I had a few $500-$550 gross paydays as well. Only sat once for half a day waiting on a load. Other than that, I always got my next load before I finished the one I currently had.

Again, this was 2010, and was only really 14 weeks solo. So, small sample size. I hated OTR as it was, I couldn’t imagine how I would’ve felt if $200-$500 Checks were the norm. I honestly thought Swift was getting better though, I know they’ve raised Pay significantly over the last few years. What, 37 cpm for a newbie? Which isn’t terrible. But, if you are never home and only get 1,400 miles per week, that’s just depressing..

 

That is the exception and not the rule for any major company, people make good livings with most of the major big companies. If someone has little or no experience Swift or any of the others are not bad places to start. If you're looking for a career change and you are considering trucking you probably don't have a very good job, to begin with anyways. It has been nearly 20 years since I worked with them thru the buyout from MS Carriers I made good money both years I was there. Once again more then likely anyone looking at the big company's like Swift, Snieder, Werner, JB Hunt and US Express and maybe a few others are most likely not experienced drivers. They can still make 50-60 k their first year, go work for one of them for a couple years and get some time with one company and some good exp. Like most careers/jobs people want to jump into the best situation right away and in the real world, it isn't like that in 2018.

 

Yes got this off their web page and this is what they want customers to read : Committed to a Culture of High Quality Standards
SAFETY From day one, safety has been the highest priority at Swift Transportation. Safety for our employees, customers and motoring public will always remain our primary focus in all the policies, procedures and programs that govern our business. We believe safety is the responsibility of every level of management, beginning with the Chief Executive Officer. It is the responsibility of all managers to:

• Maintain high standards in employee selection
• Provide a safe working environment
• Provide initial and ongoing safety training
• Eliminate unsafe acts through corrective action
• Abide by Company safety policies and procedures

 

You have to be very proactive when working for the larger outfits. Companies like Swift tell their new drivers that they're part of a team. In reality your a hired hand being paid a piece rate to move trailers from A to B.. The more miles you run the more money you make. So why do anything in a team effort that does not put miles on the truck & money in your wallet?.
If you show weakness & don't stand up for yourself at companies like Swift, The employees on the clock will put you in the poor house for making it easy on them.
If you can run without hand holding & blow up the phone lines in OP's when your not getting planned. Most will get the msg & keep you rolling just to avoid dealing with their management that you have on speed dial
You have no co-workers at a OTR outfit, you have only competitors trying to fill their wallet with your production .
Big companies like Swift will always have the have & have not's.