Swift is a good company

After a couple of months at Swift I realize they have flaws but over all a fair company for a starting driver. Most of their flaws are self induced ... they are not the most organized bunch and treat issues with a board brush instead of addressing individuals. Most likely I will find another company after a 1-2 years ...

A couple of examples:

>>> No real system for drivers to get into trucks ... if you need a truck lets see what is available at their lot ... a newbie could drive away with a new truck and a vet will get a tractor with 280k miles. How hard would it be to place the newbie in the mentors truck and give the mentor the new tractor?

>>> Governors on Trucks is suppose to increase the gas milage and make it safer to drive (decreasing Swifts liability) ... but in reality it positions the drivers in tough spots were the are in trucks that are under powered fighting heavy loads up hill and slowing down traffic ... also puts pressure on drivers to work longer hours to make up time lost due to governor ...

 

After reading the posts regarding axle weights, and adjusting them, it seems that all of the theories on how to adjust gross weight are moot-null and void in this particular case. Why? Simply because in Florida, you can't have the tandems all the way to the back, they will at some weigh stations, shut you down. I know what "truckers wife" is trying to relate, and I've tried it without much success. However, all of that theory is not going to help when you're pulling a trailer in Florida with their kingpin to axle law parameters. Period. As far as Swift goes, I've worked many jobs in trucking during the past 6 years, and I've worked for Swift 2 years ago. I must say that they were always respectful. ALWAYS. I cannot say that about several companies I've worked for(including the one I work for now). Also, they were very good at getting me home on time. Most companies out there are not! They actually appeared to appreciate decent drivers. The inevitable question will now be; "why aren't you still working for them". Because their miles varied from good to poor, and I need more consistent miles. To all you newbies; work hard, run hard, run safely, and run as legally as you possible can! It will be your hind end that gets fined or disqualified if you get caught outlaw running. The company I work for now continually tries to get me to take loads that will put me over on my HOS regs. I stand fast and say NO.

 

If you dont know when to back out of the throttle, to give yourself some 'power' when you need it, maybe its time you go buy your own truck without a govenor. I run a truck that is governed at 63, and i'm making 6.8mpg. some loads, mid 7s.

And 'forcing' drivers to run longer to make up for lost time? If you're doing a proper pre-trip plan, you shouldnt be figuring average mph more than 50. if i wanted, i can run 630+mi in 11 hours. But it is hardly 'forced' on me.

 

Seriously you are only getting 7 +? I average high 8s to low 9s and that is with a Cummings 400 hp.

The steep grades kill ya when you don't get a running start ... most of the trucks try to hit a steep grade doing 70 plus but a Swift driver can only go low 60s ... when one vehicle is slower then the others approaching a grade that spells trouble (especially coming from a steep down grade). I am sure you understand.

btw: I average mid 50s mph ... if you travel 11 hours at 50 mph you can only cover 550 miles ... not 630 miles plus legally like you stated. You need to average 57 mph to get 630 miles in 11 hours.

 

Yeah, there's nothing safe about an 80,000 lb rolling road block! Don't know when these companies are gonna realize that, and their insurance companies!

 

What if it's over 100 and the truck in front of you has no reefer on it and is full of cheese. . You bump into it (safely! NO INJURIES NOW) and it pops like a can of cheez whiz, would it still not be fun?

 

a Cummings? is that different than a Cummins? I'm calling B.S. on the 8s and 9s. i drive a mid roof with a 400hp CUMMINS, and i downshift when i need, and dont hardly ever get over-revs. Unless you are only doing loads of 4,000lbs, or you just got a brand new truck that was driven from the east coast to Phoenix terminal, with an MT trailer, then your dash will show high 7s. when i got my new truck, had little over 2000 mi. it had 7.9 for mpg, but that was because they ran the truck MT most the way from the east coast to phoenix.

and the guy in charge of our log book class at my home terminal, i about wanted to witch slap, because he tells us that there is 'no way' to average 60mph, so dont try to log 600 miles and you've only driven 10 hours. Actually, you CAN average 60 easily...when there is little to no road construction, no congested traffic that makes you slow down to 45 in a 65...and 95% of your route is all interstate.

and if you want to run up around 70 in a governed truck, be my guest, and get an excessive or flagrant overspeed. just dont look suprised when asked to turn your truck keys in. I get on myself when i get just a regular 'overspeed', i've had two excessive overspeeds.

Please explain to me how you're getting 8s and 9s mpg? i'm finding that impossible, unless you deliver your loads bob-tail and you're carrying the load in your side compartments. =)

 

Some people love swift been here for 7 to 15 years. But... some of us hate it also. Just depends on who you know. If your driver manager takes care of you or you are on a dedicated account it seems to be pretty good. Great insurance I pay $90 a week for family with everything they offer,life dental, vision, cancer, disability you name it. But I dont know anyone to take care of me so my paychecks are very small and going 62 miles an hour really sucks......

 

Thats funny I dont care where your from thats funny.. and I drive a 62mph 2007 volvo 400 cummins average lod is 40000lbs. my qualcomm says avg mpg is 8.2

 

A question for those of you who actually CURRENTLY work for Swift. How is your home time looking? Are you routinely getting shafted and staying out longer than you want, or are they making reasonable accommodations to get you home in a timely manor?