No truck- just an FYI

Discussion in 'Swift' started by 1nonly, Jun 10, 2011.

  1. 1nonly

    1nonly tease-y-ness

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    Hmmm mm....... I didn't post this to whine, or to try to change the rule. I knew it would happen sooner or later. I posted to let other drivers and wannabes know that this happens so they can be aware of it when making their decisions. That was my sole purpose- to inform others.
     
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  3. Shooter81

    Shooter81 Bobtail Member

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    1nonly
    You've been with Swift for a long time and probably have the expertise that the noobies could only dream about.
    Any particular reason you don't lease??
    I haven't been leasing with Swift for very long but for me it's well worth it, might be for you to if you plan on sticking around for a bit.(Making a career out of it instead of just thinking of it as a job)
    It also offers a lot more freedoms....
     
  4. 1nonly

    1nonly tease-y-ness

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    I don't think of my few years as a long time. I'm still a bit green around the edges. And I'm not interested in leasing. I won't try to discourage anyone else from doing it- to each their own, ya know? But I personally will never lease a truck, or buy one either. Being a company driver has it's freedoms, too. Freedom from insurance bills, fuel bills, taxes, maintenance costs, etc, etc.
     
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  5. The Challenger

    The Challenger Kinghunter

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    This is a terrible policy making drivers take just a 34 and no more than three days off. You have my deepest sympathies in regards to not getting another truck. I will say you have experience to gain better employment than Swift. Use Swift as a stepping stone to get better employment with another carrier that will treat you right. Just my .02 on the situation.

    KH
     
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  6. fangirlbob

    fangirlbob Bobtail Member

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    Well, here is one student with Swift as an option who is thanking you for your post. This is one of the questions I wanted to ask a real, current Swift driver. There is too much "don't work for insert company name here" talk from people without the facts that gave them that attitude; and not just on message boards, that stuff found it's way to my school and the one my friend attended. Real experiences, good and bad, help a lot.

    It didn't even cross my mind that as a company driver I might have to share a truck, until I saw the phrase slip seat on a recruiting web site. It sounds like a punishment for drivers that don't want to work to me; "you're grounded, now you have to move your bedding and gamble on the cleanliness of the person who drives before you." hehehehe I have seen worse policies than this though.

    In my little newbie opinion, a company willing to take a chance on new drivers deserves a little forgiveness now and then. After a few years of not taking their investment of time and running off to a new company, maybe a driver should get a little perk though. As long as the truck is on the road the same number of days it would have been if the driver had done the three weeks-three days off thing, does it make a big difference. Now a proven, experienced driver is sitting instead of a truck, seems to me that might cost just as much. Then again, I'm just a student. hehehe
     
  7. Meltom

    Meltom Road Train Member

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    So I'm sitting here thinking about this. If you go home every weekend and take 2 days off the company looses more money than if you run 6 weeks and take 5 days off. Why would you want to have a policy like this? I just don't get it.

    this is why I will never work for Swift, and the fact that I don't live anywhere near a Swift office and I'm not going to move.
     
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  8. REDD

    REDD The Legend

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    I can verify this.
     
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  9. AZS

    AZS Honk if anything falls off

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    lol. It's just a truck, she will get another one. Maybe better than the old one even.
     
  10. ronin

    ronin Road Train Member

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    The reason I didn't start with Swift when I was going to solo, wait for my to finish school (Swift's) then run as a team is because I went to orientation (Harrisburg, PA).. got all done, expected to get a truck number from my DM, throw my stuff in and go... and was told it would be 6-8 weeks to get a truck.

    6-8 weeks?? Are you kidding me? I asked "what am I supposed to do for 6-8 weeks?". I was told that many people get a job at McDonalds or whatever... but remember, you need to be ready and packed for whenever you get the call.

    For better or worse, I started at Covenant the next week, and got a truck the afternoon orientation was over.
     
  11. inkeper

    inkeper Road Train Member

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    I wonder, if you file for unemployment, will a truck suddenly come available?
     
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