Hired 4 times and quit 4 times...they won't talk to me now!

scottied67 · Dec 25, 2015

Very important to protect your record. when you needed to tcall the load and fly overseas, don't tell them that, say there's been a personal emergency and I need to take a leave of absence immediately.

dog-c · Dec 25, 2015

He can instead be up front and say look I need time off. Give a 2 week notice and say hasta la vista

tech10171968 · Dec 26, 2015

VA CDL Holder said: ↑

For the past 3 years I've been hired, quit and rehired with Swift a total of 4 times. I only drive about 3 or 4 months at a time and then quit for 4 or 5 months, as I live overseas when I'm not driving. I have driven dry vans the first 2 times and flatbed the last 2 times, so I have the experience on my side.

I am planning on a February comeback and now the recruiter I have dealt with in the past will not even answer my emails. I even went so far as to ask her if I was "rehireable", as they probably check that immediately before they do anything else if you were a former driver.

I tried emailing my former flatbed DM in Phoenix and as soon as I send it, it gets returned within a few seconds, which indicates I'm blocked by him or he doesn't work there anymore.

The circumstances I quit under last time were less than desirable from the company point of view. I was under load on a Saturday, but the load did not deliver until Monday morning. I drove the unit to a terminal, delivery point was only 30 miles away, and unloaded my stuff, walked in and turned in the keys, called Uber up and went to the airport and caught a flight back overseas.

I'm thinking that they probably hit up my DAC with abandonment, but there is no way for me to check on that from where I'm at, as they don't have an online request their reports. My total experience over the nearly 3 years is at a year and 3 months. I suspect that another company would look at my employment gaps and dread hiring me, knowing that I would quit in 3 or 4 months.

I have shown loyalty to Swift, but my last time back, in the flatbed division, really was a pain. Lots of 700 miles trips that involved hours or chaining and tarps. It seems the long trips just didn't happen all that frequently as the time before and it wasn't just me, as other drivers in "the triangle" were saying the same thing if they were company drivers. Mileage was around 2200 - 2500 per week, with the short trips and all the non driving tasks that eat away at the clock.

I am willing to give Swift another try, but I'm not going to beg them if they don't at least have the guts to tell me I'm not rehirable. In my whole time at that company I have noticed that they are very non confrontational and are very careful in what they type in messages over the Qualcomm or what they say. It seems that saying nothing is easier than offending the driver all that much.

I will probably come back to the Phoenix area in February and try to get hired with another company that does dry van. I'm even open for refrigerated, but have no experience doing it. I was getting .46 per mile pulling flatbed for Swift. I checked Craigslist last week and I see that Swift is offering $2500 signing bonus' for exp. drivers. So why won't they talk to me?

Just thinking out loud here and I welcome your thoughts.
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So Swift won't rehire you? Heck, they might be doing you a favor...

Jonrulerofearth · Dec 26, 2015

Wow, this will sound mean, but......your not worth the trouble. You might want to look at being a 1099 type of drifter. That's still going to be hard to find decent employment.
Think about it. Would you sink company resources in to an employee who has a record of working about 160 days before he fly's the coup?
Nope, you wouldn't do it, so why should anyone else. Good luck.

w.h.o · Dec 26, 2015

You don't have 3 years experience, you have 0. You are still a student is the eyes of most megas companies. Only working 3-4 months, then gone for 6? You're employment gaps is hurting you. Are you a u.s citizen or working on a visa?

jbee · Dec 26, 2015

VA CDL Holder said: ↑

This is me
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VA CDL Holder · Dec 26, 2015

MidTennTrucker said: ↑

Wow. Not sure what to say here. You've quit Swift 4 times. Not sure how that shows loyalty. Did you have some prearrangement with them that you would only work a few months out of the year? They are probably tired of messing with rehiring you when they know you will just quit 4 or 5 months down the line.
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I never had any type of "arrangement" with them. Swift goes through drivers at a fast pace. In Phoenix they start a new academy class every Monday and graduate a new set of drivers every Friday, it runs on a continuous 21 day cycle. As a rehire, how much trouble could it possibly be for the paper pushers in driver development? Not much, as I'm already established there.

VA CDL Holder · Dec 26, 2015

xlsdraw said: ↑

Can you really blame them?
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I honestly cannot blame them, but I was a safe driver with no service failures. One door closes another opens up.

VA CDL Holder · Dec 26, 2015

brsims said: ↑

Your situation makes it very difficult for any large carrier to consider you as viable prospect for employment. Remember, it costs money for a carrier to hire you, and the carrier never actually gets to recoup that financial hit, as you leave again before six months.

Your best options would be to either:
A) Find a carrier that is willing to place your employment status in suspension during your time overseas.

B) Find a carrier that specializes in seasonal work that works during your time here.

C) Finally, perhaps find another profession where your work availability and travel needs blend better with possible employers' needs.

The fact is that the majority of trucking wouldn't work for your needs as I understand them. You wish to spend a great deal of time out of country. And most carriers need their drivers here and working throughout the year. If I were a trucking carrier owner, I wouldn't consider you a viable employee either. Sorry, but them's the facts.
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I pay for my own transportation costs to Phoenix, so it doesn't cost them all that much. They have a staff the conducts orientation every Monday, they have an on site DOT clinic for physicals and drug testing. All of those costs are just part of doing business. There are lots potential drivers who are sent home because they don't have their paperwork or they fail the physical. Swift pays the return ticket via Greyhound most of the time.

They hire me they have a driver ready to roll the next day.

VA CDL Holder · Dec 26, 2015

mpd240 said: ↑

Must have been a suprise that they wouldn't hire you back. Your the perfect driver for them.
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I'm only speculating that they would not hire me back. I do not know for sure until I get back to the USA and actually call up a recruiter and get the real picture. There is probably some kind of policy restricting what they can say in an email to a former driver. Like I mentioned, they are very careful what comes out of their mouth.

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