Coastal Transport

To get back to driving again, I signed on with Swift in Apr. They didn't require me to go back thru a school or take a refresher, just go out with a trainer for 6 weeks, since it had been so long since I had driven.

One thing I've found, if I want better info about a given company, ask the drivers when you see them out there. I've gotten more info about CT that way than is on this forum.

So far, I've talked to 7 CT drivers. All were satisfied to happy driving for them. Some of them told me that, yes, in mid '08, things got really tight, loads (and miles) dropped off. They stopped hiring for a while, to keep existing drivers rolling, and they asked drivers to stay out on weekends more, if they got loads that payed good. That lasted into '09, but things have gotten much better, lately, according to those I spoke with. Avg. miles are about 2300, there was a small pay increase, with another due later this year, and they've started trading in older trucks and getting new ones, again.

Everyone's experience with a company will be different, and I've definitely learned to take the complaining on this forum with large doses of salt.

Anyway, I'm sending in my app to CT, as they are at the top of my list of fb companies.

Their website is:
CT Transportation - A Comcar Industries Subsidiary

Not a lot of info on it, better to talk to a recruiter, and their drivers.

 

JIM F,
so how did you like swift? I havent driven since 2007 and need a company to go with. I was thinking about jb hunt, swift, or covenant? who would you choose? Are the miles good with swift? were you team or solo? thanks in advance any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

J-money, answered you a bit on the Swift thread, but I'll give you a bit more here. You'll run into the same thing, that you've been out of a truck too long. So your choices will a company school, a private school (for either a full course or a refresher) or just go out with a trainer. Different companies have different requirements. I chose the latter, with Swift. 6 weeks out with a trainer (they call them Mentors).

Orientation isn't paid (2 1/2 days Mon - Wed.) but training is. If you do flatbed, you'll stay at the terminal for a additional 2 days. Then, you'll go out with a Mentor. Right now, they are having a problem with that due to a shortage of flatbed Mentors. So you might have to wait. You can do the 6 weeks with a van Mentor, but I think you'd then have to do a additional 2 weeks with a fb Mentor.

I had a real good Mentor, we got along great and had a good time.

Pay for the time with the Mentor is $400 per week for weeks 1 thru 4, then $450. for weeks 5 & 6. It's actually broken down to per day, and it's up to you to do a Qualcom macro each day so you get paid for that day, and get credit for that day as a training one. I had a few Sundays off, away from the truck, while my Mentor was home, but he was good about doing the macro for me, so I didn't lose a day's pay or credit.

At the end of the 6 weeks, you return to your home terminal and get you 6 days home time. When you come back from home time, you test out and then get assigned a truck.

I'm out of the Greer SC terminal, but tested out in Phoenix, as a favor to my Mentor. So I ran for 2 weeks before getting my home time. I got in 3800 miles for those 2 weeks, which also included a 24 hour breakdown and a 34 hour restart.

I came back from home time last Friday, got a load of steel from SC to Iawo, total miles 1400, delivered Monday. Had a preplan for another 1400 mile trip right away, except I'm sitting broke down again.

So I can't really give you my averages, but other fb drivers I talk to say about 2300 - 2500 miles per week is average. I talked to one driver, he averages about 2700 - 2900 miles per week, but he stays out 4 weeks at a time.

As far a JB Hunt and Covenant, I have no personal info on them. I will say that I've been warned off JB by lots of drivers (JB ones included) but don't have specific reasons why, and I hear Covenant is one of those companies that watch your every move. I haven't found that at Swift, at least not yet.

 

Thanks for the info but I hope to do van being that i am 5'3 126lb female...lol
I will check into them some more and hope that van offers the same miles...thanks so much and keep posting your experience with swift.