New drivers come together!

It's not MY opinion that Swift is unpopular, it seems to be the opinion of a large number of posters. I have no experience personally with any company so far. Swift also has a pretty large number of negative videos posted on Youtube as well. Those to me are alarming. Having said that, if Swift offered me a job, I would be foolish not to at least talk to them, but I would have a heads up from reading the posts here. This place is extremely valuable to me.

Lease companies are out PERIOD!! I think it's a HUGE no no for any rookie driver to sign his or her life away not knowing for sure if trucking is for them. Where I work now you cannot be an O/O without at least one year experience.

 

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Sorry I wasn't trying to say that was your opinion, but just what I read was portraying them as negative.
What I meant by it, was to talk to drivers out there. When it comes down to getting in or not, then I would go with Swift too. But I was able to have other options and am going elsewhere. I found a lot a positive feedback on the youtube tho sometimes it seems as if they were recruiting. Then again why would they. They get paid for referring new drivers.
Check out BigCat on youtube. Seems to be a pretty happy Swift driver. Seem pretty realistic too. Like many of the guys and gals I've met here the main thing is keeping things in perspective and staying positive on a job where no matter who you are with its gonna have some lows to it.

 

Hey Bulldog-Good for you and keep up the positive attitude!! No matter where you go or what you do there will always be a few that gripe and grump or have a bad time or experience. I think positive attitude is 1/2 the battle and williness to learn and do a good job the other half!~!
Sounds like everything is going well and good for you on the dedicated runs! Hubby was not so thrilled at first when he got his ( his trainer was doing this run so I pretty much think that is why he got it-they needed someone and he was ''sorta''trained) but now that he is into it some I think being home weekends (most) he apprechiates that. Just make sure you ask about home time. Hubby has to ask or remind so they schedule his loads around home as the DC is about 300+ miles from our home. He also has to unload his truck-which depending on the store employees -can make or break but that is no different than the dock workers. The unloading is tough work though and he has had many a box fall on him (um sir you loaded heavy stuff on top of a box of bread??? duh.....) The miles are less but he makes up for some of that for unload pay.
Keep us posted when you get out there what you are driving etc -Have a safe safe Memorial day weekend and to all those driving BEWARE-- all the idiot 4 wheelers are on their 3 days weekends and not thinking!!!

 

Welcome to the REAL world of trucking! I sometimes thought the dock workers must have lain awake at night just to figure out HOW BADLY they could screw up the load!

 

I'm with ya!
I have seen some of BigCats video blogs. It seems to me that Swift works well for him, as it does for countless others.

The trend I am starting to recognize is that it is all based on perception and attitude. Any trucking company is going to have pros/cons. Heck, what business doesn't. Someone is always a victim, or backstabbed, or fired for no good reason. Upon closer inspection however, some things start to reveal themselves. Likely as not probably half of all bad reviews about any particular company are posted by disgruntled employees who thought they were either untouchables, or bucking the system.

 

Good for you Bulldog! Great to hear you still are alive and kicking!!

 

Wow, that was an extermely long home time he had. LOL!

Hubby made it home that time and a few others. And they all have been great so far. I've just been super busy with work, taking care of the house, MIL, and critters that is why I haven't been on in awhile.

Still trying to reach 50...Dang nab it!

 

JMHO about Swift. Hubby is driving for them and they seem to be good. His DM seems pretty awesome, and his mentor was good (he loved my cookies, etc., that I baked for hubby). Hmmm...Never thought to ask his mentor if he was on TTR....

He did have to take another DOT Physical, and a road test during orientation. Oh, and the hotel they stashed him in was HORRIBLE. I think there was some serious illegal activity going on in that hotel with the stories he told me.... It sounded like a party every night I talked to him.

But just like another poster said your going to have your good and bad with any trucking company. Your just going to have to weigh the pros and cons and decided what is best for you.