Why do drivers that have 3-4-5 million miles continue to drive for Swift? Why not drive for a higher

How do you know what they're getting paid?

 

I suppose some don’t jump ship if they are happy where they are at and how things are running. Many positions that pay a good amount require more effort. Unloading, local pick up delivery, or hazardous work. Not all want that or can complete those tasks.

 

I never worked for Swift. I strongly suspect almost none of those 3-4 million mile SWIFT drivers are doing OTR. My guess a few drive OTR because there really are some people that have to keep moving. I also guess many of the million-milers are working on dedicated accounts and making substantially more than OTR CPM.

But, either way, MANY people like me prefer to have more control and comfort in our schedule or customers or route or whatever and the difference in pay is not as important as the other stuff. I stayed at a company for 18 years. I knew I was giving up some money every week but I worked 10 hours per day, slept in my own bed, had weekends, holidays off. I picked my route/customers, start-time, truck, etc. I also had 2 10-day "vacations" per year, Christmas & Thanksgiving off and drove new trucks and had a great shop making them reliable. MONEY isn't the only benefit. For some people, most people, NO JOB will ever pay enough because they spend 110-150% of whatever they make and it applies if they make $25k or $250k per year. My highest paying year would not impress anyone here but I was able to get out of debt and retire early because I spent like every paycheck was my last paycheck.

 

Schneider has some million milers also even though it's the worst paying company on the planet. @Chi Town Steers and @lual can and have verified that.
Only decent division at Schneider is tanker division.

 

Always wondered the same myself. Who knows. Different strokes for different folks. Sometimes the grass ain't always greener. Actually most times it's not. Atleast they are out there putting in an honest days work.

 

While trucking is famously notorious for job hoppers, under the radar are plenty of kool-aid drinkers. Not all, but I'd bet a fair percentage of those long-timers, are so ingrained in the Swifty way that working for another company is unimaginable.

 

I’ve got 13 years in with my current employer, about 1.5 million, they certainly don’t have a great reputation of being a high paying job, I know there’s more money out there for the job I do, but it works for me, and that’s the only person I worry about, me. With that said they’re starting to get out of hand with safety stuff, cameras, every bell and whistle on the new truck I drive, which is making it harder and harder to deal with. Some guys/gals are content with the way things are, I jumped around a lot in my 20’s and early 30’s, perspective in life changes the older you get.

 

@Moosetek13

 

We only hear about starting pay at the megas. I work for a midsize company (350 trucks) and I definitely make more money now than when I started with them six years ago. Why should it be any different with the big boys?