Swift is a good company

And seeing how modest Sonny is, here is the link to his thread http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...thing/111362-ill-get-lot-help-my-friends.html

 

Hello everybody. I worked for Swift several years ago, for about 1 1/2 years. I was out of the Phoenix terminal. I can tell you the good and the bad that I experienced when I was a driver for them. The bad: the miles varied from good to poor. I got a lot of California loads, but at least I was rolling. I was disrespected by many other drivers, but learned to do my best and carry on. I am a good backer in the docks, but many other drivers talked trash about that very thing. They assumed that when you work for Swift, you can't back up. Of course that's BS, but very prevalent in the trucking industry. They frequently dinged me on a "questionable speed violation", which was when I averaged over 63 mph, I believe. And you CAN do this in many western states other than Oregon and California. The only thing I found questionable, was their policy!

The good: I got good home time, and almost always, on time. I was treated well by my dispatcher(driver manager). They fixed the truck without much waiting or inconvenience. (on the road or in a terminal). A good percentage of the freight was drop and hook, especially if I was willing to do the California runs.
If I was willing to do a short, local run, they would reward me with a very good run afterward.
All in all, it wasn't a bad company to work for. I was a company driver though, can't speak for the owner ops.

 

I was thinking of going to work for Swift. What is the orientation like? What kind of drug test do they do? When I worked for J.B.Hunt they did a stupid hair test and left me with a bald spot for a couple months! I don't use drugs or even drink for that matter. just wondering. I've been out of trucking for 1 year due to a surgery but have 6 years experience. Do you think they will make me start over pay wise? Or even go with a trainer? Thanks in advance

 

Hi Schmidtrock, I'm too new so can't PM you yet. I'm looking at getting back into trucking and have read your posts. You seem like a good guy with great attitude and know what you're doing. Happy to use your name as a referral on the app so maybe you'll get a referral bonus if I go with Swift. Money's out there on the table so it may as well be you right? Let me know thx, Paul

 

Well, my 2nd question, i just answered myself. Was going ot ask if you were in a lease truck or a company...but you said you were a company. I will tell ya, you cannot average 63 in a company truck. You can't even average 62......you MIGHT be able to average 60...but thats NEVER stopping but maybe once in an 6-8 hr period for 30 min...AND if you're in the midwest. Once you start going up and down the hills, you will NEVER average 60....i don't care where you're at. Especially if you're based out of Phoenix. I've been thru PHX a few times, and its no different than going around Chicago from 6a - 9p. Why can't you average 62-63 in a company truck? If you drive thru ANY city, the speed drops anywhere from 25-55 mph. That ALONE will prevent you from averaging 62-63. Lets not forget fuel stops, meal breaks, or ANYTIME you slow down for curves, off ramps, weigh stations....you name it. It just can't be done. (if you were leasing a truck where the speed is governed at 68...say if you drove for DSW...but then you're not a company driver....you drive for someone else who leases on their trucks to swift)

now as far as the first highlighted statement....why would this even bother you? I could care less what other drivers think....even more so if they're with the same company. It just floors me when passing a company truck on the road leading in or out of a terminal.....and how many that cannot seem to waive back a 'hello'.

as far as the company goes....yeah....they get dinged ALOT in this industry. But who cares. The paychecks never bounce....the bennys (if you take advantage of them) are good, you keep rollin' and as long as you PROVE to your DM, s/he and the planners in your home terminal will notice. But when you're new, you do have to stand up for yourself with them, and let them know what you will and wont accept. (but in a professional way). If you see yourself getting 1300 mi a week, you cannot let that go for longer than a week or two before saying something. If you take that 70 mi run, and then get stiffed with a good backup......gotta let them know. I'm all for bustin' my butt, but i'm not for being taken advantage of.

 

Swift company trucks were governed at 65 when I first started with them in early 2007. In some western states, yes, it is possible to average over 63mph with that as long as you keep your left door closed.

I completely understand the jab taken at Shock. I get kind of tired of people looking for openings to b**** about Swift. Some people go out of their way to say something negative about this company. It gets tiresome after a while and a name on a message board does not give anyone leave to constantly look for excuses to badmouth any particular company. I have not, nor will I run back through all the posts to see what exactly was said. It doesn't matter anyway.

The fact is, Swift does have a fair number of accidents when you look at raw numbers. However, very few of these accidents are serious road-speed car crushers. The vast majority are rookie mistakes like backing and turning too sharp. Property damage only accidents. Half of the time, these accidents could have been prevented by the person who got backed into or the hood pulled off. If you'd park like you have a lick of sense and then offer a hand to someone who's obviously needing it rather than sit in your seat waiting for something to happen so you have something to b**** about, maybe a large percentage of these accidents would not happen.

But yes, I get tired of hearing it too. If you have 15,000 trucks on the road, the law of averages will eventually catch up with you and you will have an accident. Let's hope it's property damage only and does not involved either ambulances or hearses.

 

Never mind, I just realized I had misread the post.


Move along people nothing to see here!!

 

Anyone have an answer for my post please? Thanks

 

I didn't go to Swift's orientation as an experienced driver but there were experienced drivers in my orientation class. Basically, orientation is just a couple of days of log classes, safety classes, getting a driver "plugged in" to the Swift system. Drug test was a pee test. If they have you go out with a trainer, it'll probably be for only enough time to get Swift all warm and cozy about your driving ability. Pay....don't know but I doubt seriously that you'll start at rock bottom newbie pay.

 

I will agree with you on 'the law of averages'. Swift has a good number of trucks out there, and you could pull any one of them over, and the odds are pretty good you'll find the driver behind the wheel with 6 mo. or less experience driving solo. That being said, just because they have so little experience, don't make them 'the worst' driver on the road. Look at me...2 yrs...no accidents. The ones who end up with turning or backing crashes....are just lazy drivers, and should be fired. When swift keeps them on, its their own fault for the next series of crashes they have.

Now...as far as being able to average 62.....maybe in 2007 when the trucks were governed at 65....but you cant average 62 in a 62mph truck. you just cant do it. don't care where you are. I've got a load from Manteno, IL. to Ames, IA....and i'm leavin' in a bit. From 'door to door' thte load will run me 337 miles. So, if i average 62...i should be able to get there in 5 1/2 hrs...but i KNOW its going to take me closer to 6hrs...even if i drive 3 hrs, take 15 min. break...then drive another 3. I'll probably head to the Bosselman's there at exit 142 in Altoona, IA. I hear they got a mean breakfast menu. =) ... ill tell ya what i average, and how many times i've gotta slow for construction.

if you are going to claim you average 62....you going to tell me you never slow down for construction? what about when the speed drops to 55? what about when you get close to a major city, and the traffic slows to 35...you going to tell me you run the emergency lane, so you never slow down? you just cannot average 62 mph in a 62 mph truck. even if you drive 5-6 straight hours and its all interstate...you are BOUND to run into construction probably 2-3x along the way. Lest not forget....driving 5-6 straight hours is not a good idea anyway. gotta get the blood circulating.....