Input please, good and bad!

Swift is good, and bad - like all large companies, I guess. But the small ones are just as likely to hose you.
It all depends on how you work, and how you can work the system.

I've been with Swift for nearly 3 years, and I'll be staying for now.
Mainly because, the grass is not always greener on the other side.

I know the system and can work with it. And for the most part, it is a good system.
The same can not be said, perhaps, if I moved on.

 

I've been with Swift just about 9 years. I did all 48 the first 6 months, then did a dedicated fleet for about 7 years. I was home every weekend and a couple of nights during the week, but that is not the norm. The DC I was pulling out of was only 19 miles from my front door. I looked at several other companies but they couldn't match what Swift was doing for me with pay, benefits, and home time all combined. Sure, there was more money out there, but then the other items were lacking, so I continued with Swift.

For the last 2 years I have been doing what we call "the shuttle". I take a loaded trailer to swap with a driver who brings me a trailer from the Memphis terminal. We meet halfway and then return to where we came from. I get nearly 3000 miles each week working 6 days.

It's easy and I don't regret at all staying on with Swift.

 

It doesn't get better girlfriend you just look back and think 2 years later wow what a great Single Mom I am. That said my Hubby hates being gone and being single just as much as his family does. But if you wanted to hear me rant you'd read many of my replies in the Ladies Room. The major shift in getting hometime and good pay was when my Swifty became a L/O. I get good money and see my man so much more then before but I can go and expect to go 4 weeks or more without seeing him. Take December after Turkey Day he will run run hard and run until the 23rd. Fingers crossed I get him for 10 hours as he passes thru. That said ignore the "do your time and get a local job" but man if that was so easy everyone would have local jobs, plan to start applying and praying but in this economy the cushy jobs get the best drivers with the longest experience even mine after 2 years hasn't gotten a nibble.
I have said controversially that polygamy maybe the answer I'd love to have another wife or husband to help and keep me company, so keep in mind your support system not only family but friends and if you could find another truckers wife in your area who understands it would be even better. I also worry about pay and take care of my kids with another source of income, the trucking pay just making life nicer. Divorce is too expensive and deep down I just want him, so he's screwed and has to keep me even if he doesn't want to. PM me, I am one of the few reg wives on the Swift pages.

 

Nik81, my hubby started with Swift in August and the hardest part was while he was with his mentor. he was gone 6 weeks before he finally got to come home. After that he could decide how long he wanted to be out; 2, 3, 4 weeks or longer. The first time he was out solo in his own truck he was only out 2 weeks. Since then he's out 4 weeks, home 4 days. Yes, it does take time to get used to them being gone but for us the hardest part was the training phase. It's still hard because you have those bad days where you really need him home but it does get easier. We don't have kids yet though and I imagine it's a lot harder with little ones and he's already said he wouldn't be able to do it once we have a kid.

As far as the hometime, he has only been late once. His DM is really good about getting him home. The DM first tried having him leave early from hometime and he refused. He's out 4 weeks, he takes 4 FULL days home. He doesn't count the day going home as a hometime day.

Starting out solo he had some low miles and it's been a little bumpy with crappy paychecks because he's had to get an advance just so he could eat.
Swift is a decent company and hubby likes his job although he'd take a local job if he could find one. Unfortunately jobs of any kind are scarce and the local jobs here require 2 years. Join us in the Ladies Room, lots of trucker's wives there who give great advice and understand what you're going through