Going with SWIFT...

I am not yet a trucker, but the whole call out time really bothers me. While it is the company's fault... My brother in law is a diesel/trailer mech for a local company. The company has 50+ trucks and he is the only mechanic. So when a trucker has a dead battery, he may still have 5trailers to pm before he can leave. Obviously he is going to finish an then come help. Same kinda thing when your truck breaks down and you ##### to the mech about how you don't make money if you aren't rolling. You have to deal with your truck, he has to deal with every truck driver and their truck. Just a view from the other side. I seriously doubt they take a 3hour lunch grab a battery and stop for ice cream on the way.

 

We have had dealings with swift as well. I was a rider while my better drove. We were actually o/o leased to them. There were only a few terminals that we like. Also we were put on a "pod" team. Which stands for pleasing our drivers. Which as far as we know it is only at the home terminal of Phx. The only thing that we liked about that was that we got a quiker respons either by phone or quallcom. We were approved for all of our home time. Usally was home the day before. But unlike company drivers we could take our tuck home. I have heard that if company drivers take more than 3 days off hometime you better take all your stuff out of that truck because you will be reassigned another truck. The truck that you were in will be assinged to another student driver after there training. If you plan to take your truck to the Phoenix terminal be prepared to sit for a few days atleast. They are always 1-2 days behind. Also you never know if it will get fixed right the first time. The one that we liked the most that had good planners was Edwardsville, Ks. Laredo, Tx. Denver, Co. (when freight is good) Gary, In. is alright. Also what we didn't like that all the terminals also have there own rules as well. Like El Paso, Dallas and Phoenix if you are pulling in with an empty better expect to drop it. They pre plan you empty trls to you before shortly after your pre plan. Dallas is the only terminal that does not have any sign to tell drivers of this policy. Most of the other terminals will tell you to go look for one and good luck if you find one. In the begining of our lease with them everything was fine. But they ended up treating my better half like he was a company driver when he was a contract driver. Also that they treated him like he didn't know what he was doing. Ok he didn't know what he was doing eventhough he was driving for 10 years when we started. He is 3rd generation driver. Eventhough that i was a rider I am 3rd generation as well. I think that we have been playing the trucking game for more than years. I know that freight can be good and bad at time. But I would get more info about Swift before you actually start with them.

 

I got screwed by swift. I was in the yard getting ready for a load and got called into the office and was told there was a problem with backround and MVR report. I have never been in trouble with the law nor got any tickets. I signed on with the company 2 weeks out of CDL school and then proceeded to drive for 3mo with them no issues. I would not have been hired nor drove if there was any issues b4 hand. I am not sure what went on but since then i am still not able to be hired with them. I contacted HR in PHX and they were no help. I did write a written request to see what happened and that came back as nothing wrong. So now I did my own homework on my DAC report and MVR and backround and there is still nothing wrong. IDK I am signing on with a different company so here we go again.

 

We were out of the Phx terminal when we were with them. I hated to call in for anything because dispatch and planners were always on different pages. Eventhough that we were o/o leased to them they would always lie to me. Well it got to the point that some of the dispacters would not talk to me anymore on the phone because I called there bluff on several issues that were not stated in our contract. They also tried to do the samething with one of our friends when he was an o/o for them as well. He was also vocal about his contract if they were in the wrong.

 

Maybe you lie on your app...There gotta be more to the story,if there was something mess up they should have got it while you where at orientation,but again I have read on here the same thing,one guy was let go within few days after he got on the truck with his trainer.

 

Keep us posted,I'm heading to Harrisburg PA on Sunday for Monday oreintation.

 

For orientation at swift or any start company for that matter, send you to the closest terminal for orientation or is there only certain location terminals that do orientation?