Swift Transportation Company, Inc. - Phoenix, Az.

Just an FYI to anyone that cares. I saw today on the news John McCain walking down the stairs from his 737 and noticed SWIFT and SWIFTS LOGO decalled on the nose wheel well. Again, this is just
for anyone that cares to know this.

DRIVE SAFE

 

As a former Swift driver, who also works local now. At Swift and my current co, you never say it is your fault, not even to a cop. You just wait for the police, take pictures at all angles, and that is it. When the police arrives you give your statement, call you DM, then leave when it is all said and done...You can bet he had to be brought into the nearest terminal for a briefing with safety, and a pee test..

 

That is what I'm trying to say, this site is more like a sounding board.
Depending on how the company treats their drivers is what people talk about.

Good, bad or indifference not every company has all good things or all bad things to say about any company.

If a driver tells about their experience at least it is a forewarned, so all in all in comes down to if the driver decides to go with the company that does have drivers talking about them. Sometimes the company surprises the one they hire and have a good experience with that company.

 

In regards to this accident- It should be under the "TRUCK ACCIDENT" area. This type of accident can happen to any trucker not just SWIFT. We being drivers have all seen a four-wheeler get between the curb and the trailer on a right hand turn. Four-wheelers think that we can turn like them and we all know that is not true, we need to be farther away then the cars so we can make that right hand turn.

The driver just happen to be pulling a SWIFT trailer. The only problem is that this driver stated it was the fault of the driver, not knowing that anyone that drives truck is ALWAYS at fault.

This is an accident of the industry not just SWIFT.

 

I for one agree with you. This is how all accidents should be reported no matter who you drive for.

 

Swift is one of the largest and recruits new drivers, obviously your gonna have more accidents. I for one went to Swift for 6 months and learned all I could then moved on to a better paying OTR job. But I still have friends who drive for them (dedicated and regional) who are still happy. Personaly I think Swift is just a big company that cant keep everyone happy (too big for there britches). DRIVE SAFE

 

I have to question the criteria Swift uses for trainers...

No, (for those of you who don't know me) I don't,never have,and never will drive for Swift.

Item 1) At a shipper, I observed a trainer/trainee sliding the trailer tandems. That is, the trainer did it while the trainee stood back and watched. I don't know anything about that trainee, but that strikes me as something the trainee should be doing from the outset.

Worse, from overhearing a bit of their conversation, the trainee (not student) wasn't even being allowed in the driver's seat.

2) Just tonight, in Council Bluffs,IA (I-80, west bound, Exit 3, about 19:30 local time). Swift truck was in left hand lane (of two). I was behind him. We'd both moved over to accommodate merging traffic from exit.. um.. 5,I think.

Swifty suddenly jammed on the brakes and dove for the exit. From the hammer lane. I'm assuming it was a trainer/trainee instead of a team. God helpus all if that was a team. Trainer should NOT have allowed that kind of maneuver. Should have had trainee continue up highway to next exit and use that to double-back.

No, no accidents, but not from lack of effort. Several cars hit the shoulder to avoid damage to their paint. Me, I keep sufficient distance (as best I can) to prevent bending my bumper.

 

As you all know, my hubby and I don't drive a truck yet. We are waiting for the "baby" who is 16 to graduate and then we want to team.

In August we unfortunately had to come to Las Vegas, from Virginia, and drive to Salt Lake City for a funeral. We rented a car and drove 6 hours up on a Thursday and 8 days later on Friday we drove back down to Vegas.

We saw more Swift trucks than any others on I-15 on those two trips. NOT once did I see a Swift driver do anything stupid or unsafe. In fact, I saw other trucks driving like maniacs, but not one problem with a Swift.

I'm sure that Swift does have some unsafe drivers as do all companies, but I also know that there are some good drivers there just like at other companies.

Please don't think I am being a cheerleader for Swift. At this point I am a more than casual observer of ALL big trucks on the road.

Baseball Sweetheart

 

For one I don't think there is a problem with a trainer teaching a trainee how to slide the tandems at least one (no offense lurch) Second if the trainer didn't let the trainee into the driver seat, then what was the reason?

I have seen lots of Swift drivers when I drove for them do stupid stuff, but also saw many other drivers from other companies, do the same. Example one winter heading west on I-20 in Texas heading to Arizona, I saw so many trucks on their side or jack-knifed why because they thought they were good, and did not need to drive as weather permitted..

 

When I was a "mentor" I would show the trainee how to adjust the tandems after that first time we would trade off releasing the tandems and seating in the drivers seat.

I know a few trainers (mostly o/o, l/o) that want to get to know the trainee for a couple of days before giving them the keys. I my self would have the newbie drive 2 to 3 hours their first day and increase from there.

I have also seen a Swifty do the same thing, I have also seen other companies do same. I once seen an Independant flatbed on the NB 605 in LA go from the hammer lane to the right lane to head EB on the 210. I was the one cut off but I have also seen many other such acts at this junction both 4 wheelers and big trucks.