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Warning: SWIFT sign on bonuses are a scam

Discussion in 'Swift' started by Driver#3141592, Oct 17, 2020.

Page 1 of 8
  1. Oct 17, 2020 #1
    Driver#3141592

    Driver#3141592 Light Load Member

    54
    92
    Jun 26, 2020
    0
    I quit my job at SWIFT this week. I had been driving OTR for a little over 3 months. Here's why.

    When I applied with SWIFT they were offering a $2,000 sign on bonus. I got that bonus months ago as promised. When I got my most recent check it was supposed to have an extra $1,500 on it for my quarterly bonus. That money wasn't there. I called payroll to see what happened and was informed that any driver who receives a sign-on bonus is ineligible for the next two quarterly bonuses (around $3,000) because they received a sign on bonus. I tried contacting several different people at SWIFT and they all confirmed that this was the case.

    This was not mentioned or communicated to me at any point. In fact, the bonus program was explained in great detail and nothing was ever mentioned about not being eligible if you received a sign on bonus. I was given multiple documents explaining the program (which I still have) and none of them mention it either. I was even monitoring my status on the SWIFT driver website every week and it shows me as being on track to get that bonus with Platinum status.

    Under this system, I received a $2,000 "sign on bonus" but they withheld $1,500 from this check and told me they plan on withholding my January bonus as well because of this policy. This means that the sign on bonus is actually NEGATIVE $1,000. Seems like something they should have to disclose, doesn't it? If they're recouping the money they paid you in your bonus (plus extra) then it's not a real bonus, is it?

    Since none of this was disclosed to me I believe I am entitled to my full bonus amount. I already did the work and now they need to pay me. I tried contacting several different people including my driver leader and terminal manager. They all told me I'm SOL.

    I quit today and I'll be filing a complaint with the department of labor and trying to recoup my money that way. If that doesn't work, I might try small claims court.
     
    Driver#3141592, Oct 17, 2020
    Driver#3141592, Oct 17, 2020
    #1
    TokyoJoe, JOHNQPUBLIC, truckdriver31 and 6 others Thank this.
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  3. Oct 17, 2020 #2
    ZVar

    ZVar Road Train Member

    10,911
    23,805
    Sep 10, 2010
    Flint, MI
    0
    If it's in Swift's employee handbook, which it was 8 years ago when I was there, it's a waste of time and money to sue. Even the labor department isn't going to be much help.

    Next company read the handbook from front to back as most companies will try and screw you out of what they promised..
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2020
    ZVar, Oct 17, 2020
    ZVar, Oct 17, 2020
    #2
    bzinger, Western flyer, truckdriver31 and 2 others Thank this.
  4. Oct 17, 2020 #3
    Driver#3141592

    Driver#3141592 Light Load Member

    54
    92
    Jun 26, 2020
    0
    I still have my handbook. I still have all of my paperwork I was given. It is NOT mentioned in any of it.

    I know someone who had a very similar situation with JB Hunt. They went through the labor department and got their back pay. That was around $1,200 if I remember correctly. I think my odds of recovering this money are pretty great. It's pretty clear that they really owe me that pay and I've kept records of everything. I'm mainly just posting here as a warning to others.
     
    Driver#3141592, Oct 17, 2020
    Driver#3141592, Oct 17, 2020
    #3
    truckdriver31, LtlAnonymous, magoo68 and 3 others Thank this.
  5. Oct 17, 2020 #4
    Dave_in_AZ

    Dave_in_AZ Road Train Member

    49,799
    315,524
    May 4, 2015
    0
    Why am I not surprised?
     
    Dave_in_AZ, Oct 17, 2020
    Dave_in_AZ, Oct 17, 2020
    #4
    Vic Firth, bzinger, baha and 7 others Thank this.
  7. Oct 17, 2020 #5
    poppapump1332

    poppapump1332 Road Train Member

    2,987
    2,462
    Jan 2, 2010
    birdsboro,pa
    0
    Working for swift is a scam!
     
    poppapump1332, Oct 17, 2020
    poppapump1332, Oct 17, 2020
    #5
    baha, 4mer trucker, truckdriver31 and 4 others Thank this.
  8. Oct 17, 2020 #6
    JC1971

    JC1971 Road Train Member

    2,392
    8,188
    Jul 29, 2013
    L.A.
    0
    d0477154f69f9f745f2a92508ffae5f7.jpg
     
    JC1971, Oct 17, 2020
    JC1971, Oct 17, 2020
    #6
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  9. Oct 17, 2020 #7
    TheLoadOut

    TheLoadOut Road Train Member

    1,829
    8,243
    Nov 6, 2019
    0
    I'm on your side, I hope you get your money. I say if you have the time, energy, and resources to fight for it, do it, because that's exactly what they expect you NOT to do.
     
    TheLoadOut, Oct 17, 2020
    TheLoadOut, Oct 17, 2020
    #7
    truckdriver31, LtlAnonymous, ZVar and 2 others Thank this.
  10. Oct 17, 2020 #8
    Cattleman84

    Cattleman84 Road Train Member

    9,602
    67,009
    Nov 1, 2017
    The Sticks, Idaho
    0
    The word "bonus"... Good luck in sueing for them not giving you "bonus" pay. Bonus pay is at the discretion of the employer.
     
    Cattleman84, Oct 17, 2020
    Cattleman84, Oct 17, 2020
    #8
    Crude Truckin', bryan21384, '88K100 and 6 others Thank this.
  11. Oct 17, 2020 #9
    truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

    6,988
    8,343
    Sep 18, 2013
    0
    i would have been thankful i drove safe for 3 months
     
    truckdriver31, Oct 17, 2020
    truckdriver31, Oct 17, 2020
    #9
    bryan21384, LoSt_AgAiN, TheLoadOut and 2 others Thank this.
  12. Oct 17, 2020 #10
    Western flyer

    Western flyer Road Train Member

    2,807
    6,785
    Mar 13, 2014
    0
    Stop it, just stop it.
    You guys chasing these gimmick bonuses,
    And deciding who to work for because of them.
    You got played, move on.

    Only a bad job has to pay you to come work for them.
    Good jobs don't have to sucker you in with a
    Sign on bonus scam.
    There pay,reputation and respect from other drivers
    Is the bonus.

    A 100 thousand trucking companies and you
    Choose swift for a measly 2000 dollar sign on
    Bonus. Really.
    A good job you could make that in a week.

    You got conned by a mega.
    They do it every day,year after year to thousands
    Of drivers.
    You think swift didn't run this through their
    Million dollar lawyers beforehand to cover their ###.


    Nobody cares that you quit.
    Write it off as a learning lesson.
    Next time you look for a job and get stars in
    Your eyes looking at those sucker sign on bonuses.

    Ask yourself why they have to give that bonus to have you come Work there.
    Because they suck, and they know if they told
    You the truth, you would never apply.

    Forget any sign on bonuses and get a real job this time.
    I'm all for mega's sticking to drivers any way they can.
    I enjoy it.

    Because there's no excuse with google,
    Facebook, the internet, trucking groups and all the
    Other information available now to avoid this.

    25 years ago we got screwed the same way.
    But we had no way of knowing anything about
    A company until we walked through their doors.
    A little info from a few other drivers was all you had.

    That's not the case anymore.
    All companies reviews, and information are available
    On your cell phone.
    You can get answers to all these questions before
    Ever calling the company themselves.

    Don't go work for another mega.
    They all the same.
     
    Western flyer, Oct 17, 2020
    Western flyer, Oct 17, 2020
    #10
    TokyoJoe, ACO476, firemedic2816 and 11 others Thank this.
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