Relevance of having a company terminal location close to home?

That's right. I left Swift last year and have been driving for Schneider since. I milked cows in my youth; hence, my screen name.

 

I haven't driven over the road for Schneider, and that's mostly what I did with Swift, so I can't compare directly a lot of things, such as length of haul, pay rates, breakdown response, and other things you'd be interested in, but I can make a couple of comments about the two companies in general.

Both are large carriers, and haul similar freight in similar trucks with similar options. Schneider is probably more regional- and dedicated account-oriented, while Swift is more over the road. From my experience, Schneider has a better reputation among drivers, though that has a lot to do with the number of experienced drivers they employ (Swift has a high percentage of first-year drivers). A bad driver will be hired sooner and retained longer by Swift, though that's probably dictated by the insurance people. The bottom line for me is that although both Schneider and Swift are known as training companies, Schneider is a much better place to be for experienced drivers.

I know that's a pretty general response, but I hope it helps. If I were you, I'd look at as many companies as possible.

 

No problem, John. I'm a regional intermodal driver, but our region is basically NY State, with a rare trip to PA. Making the move from Swift to Schneider has been a positive for me, and I have no regrets for doing what I did. Like I said before, I have no experience with Schneider's training program nor OTR division, so I really can't compare the two companies in those areas. I enjoyed most of my time at Swift: made some money, got some experience, and visited all 48 lower states and a lot of Canada. I left mainly to be home more and make more money, and I'm satisfied with what I'm doing now.

I understand your desire for a stable company, and for that reason, I would recommend Schneider over Swift; however, you have several companies to choose from that have a presence in this area, and I would also take a good look at the Wadhams companies (Earl T. Wadhams, ARG, and RIST), DOT Foods, and all of the local LTL companies. Even if companies advertise as only hiring experienced drivers, some will make exceptions for good new drivers with initiative and a strong work ethic. Good luck to you. Hope that helps.