Swift Is Good

Really? Hadn't heard about that one. And I have heard through the grapevine they are idling the crap out of the trucks in Phoenix...

I even called them to find out what the deal was with the Internationals and no opti-idle, ICON, or Wabastos. They just told me to do what I had to do. But usually when they whine, I point out the error of thier ways and they shut up...lol But I have a good office staff to so that helps allot.

 

I have been accepted into Swift's school in a few weeks. Trying to decide if I am going to go or not, as there seem to be lots of opinions about Swift...

How is total idle time deternined, exactly? I am new to trucking....

 

Its 25% not 16%

 

How long does it take for one to get home time for swift? I am located in Central FL and this determines everything.

Kinghunter

 

That can depend on a few things like location, what time frame you give.

A little advice if your coming into this industry worried about when you will get home. Then you wont do well at all espcialy starting out.

 

You can believe what you wish, amigo. I can't prevent you from doing that. However, I most certainly told them I wanted a mid-roof truck because I go into Chicago almost daily and was tired of having to zig-zag around to get places due to low bridges. There are too many other flatbed companies that have flats and mids to deal with that aggravation, honestly. I also told them I wanted a Volvo because I pull no major hills in my route, it's all flat ground. I wanted a Volvo due to the comfort factor. Quiet and smooth. I got exactly what I asked for.

 

Nah, I have a Volvo. They're a little on the small side but I'm only in the thing 4.5 days a week. I'm more concerned with the ride and noise inside the cab than anything. Volvo's trump all in those two categories. A nice smooth ride and extremely quiet inside. If I were OTR, however, I'd never drive the thing. Too little space inside the cab.

 

smooth but the dash rattling to pieces. sometimes I think its coming off the firewall. Pa and Nj roads mostly.

 

My husband worked for swift for two years. This all happended when they bought out MS Carries. My daughter became very ill, they were hooking her up to a heart monitor and ending up at All Childrens Hospital. Needles to say when my husband called his dispatcher to get home ASAP she said she couldn't do it, well after a comment of leaving the truck on the side of the road and requesting her supervisor he was dispatched towards home immediately. There were also problems that happend before that, they wanted him to doctor his logs. He went to school and was the only out of his class hired by Swift, he ended up as a Trainer and made good money doing so. I'm not sure how they are now but one of the questions he asks and he makes sure he writes down who it talks to is if one of his children a sick enough to where he needs to come home and it has to be serious if they will get him home ASAP. He just started trucking with CRST and in my opinion they are a lot worst then SWIFT but he only went with this company because his brother decided to work there.

 

Regarding over the DM head, I find that I have to do that with a lot of companies (non-trucking). I call in with a problem on a credit card account and the people at the low level are not given a whole lot of authority to do much. That is often the case with DM's. Thanksfully, when I drove for Swift my DM would do everything he could do and if he wasn't in a position to do it, he would go to the Terminal Manager to work it out.

Regarding "doctoring" logs, I had night dispatch people try to get me to do that, too, but the driver is the captain of that truck. After a couple of times telling them that I would only run 100% legal and further suggestions to do otherwise would be passed on to safety, that problem ended.