Swift.......as a starting company.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by FlaSwampRat, Jun 3, 2019.

  1. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

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    My only regret about the two years I put in with Swift was that I didn't go flatbed right from the start. By the time I told my driver development manager I wanted to go flatbed she said I would have to start all over again training. I would have liked to go through securement training. Instead I waited until after I left Swift, got a job flatbedding, and cringe to think of some of my early loads...

    I know there's plenty of Swift bashing on this forum and elsewhere, some is much deserved. But of the four companies I visited in Fontana, CA as I made my choice, Swift was the only one that was totally "open kimono". I talked with the recruiter and was invited to wander the yard unattended and hang out in the driver's lounge. Other companies weren't nearly as inviting, one almost Jack booted me off the property.

    All that being said, I encourage the OP to do some meet and greets at companies near you. I found my latest gig, a gem of a company, by doing a Google Maps search for "trucking companies flatbed" or something like that.
     
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  3. dieselpowered

    dieselpowered Heavy Load Member

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    Driver manager good one can mean the difference from a good company experience to a bad one. The driver managers from alberquque,nm mostly all former drivers even there fleet manager is former driver. You should consider asking for them if I ever do for whatever reason go back I will only do OTR and them as my driver manager. Sadly the likely hood slim I make it a habit never ever go back to a employer for any reason for attempt of repercussions or waste of time to have a repeat.

    I left because I went local and manager would cancel runs on bad weather,no loads, and pay checks varied weekly from 300$ to 800$ take home when you have bills that require no less then 700 weekly you have to move on. As for there intermodal I can say from the local ones told me there a lot downtime there from what the other drivers told me I never asked if they were hourly if thats the case maybe that be good gig but who knows. I know schiender does .28 cpm plus 30$ per stop.

    Would I recommend them yes, only if you plan do OTR and stay away from lancaster staff, mechanics included. there nice people there but some don't like to do there job if they gonna make my job harder theres no reason for me say they a good worker because they are not. The lancaster mechanics your better off fixing the issue yourself and would be better job.
     
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  4. GBL_Trucking

    GBL_Trucking Bobtail Member

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    I heard good and bad about swift. If your looking for a company to start with just to get the new miles and experience its not bad at all. I have friends that still are with them after years.
     
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  5. MGE Dawn

    MGE Dawn Road Train Member

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    Swift's not TERRIBLE, but it's also not your best choice. CRST is definitely a worse option from what I've heard, and just from looking around I can see a few considerably better options including the likes of ShipEx (not sure if they hire brand new drivers or not, though). Basically what everyone else has said so far: definitely take a good look around before up and committing
     
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  6. Craig List

    Craig List Light Load Member

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    That is pretty of Swift to do that. Lets you know if you are making the right choice or not.
    WHo/why almost kicked you out of the year?
     
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  7. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

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    Schneider threw the hissy fit. Go figure, with all the "We hire mirror foggers!" signs...
     
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  8. Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    Almost went to SWIFT. They promised me dedicated Proctor and Gamble out of Oxnard CA to Costco,,
    Monday morning about (just after the road test) 10am sitting in orientation in Jurupa Valley, get this text message stating they had decided to pull me off P&G that I would have to run 48 states because thats where they need drivers....Well I was real happy I took my own ride to Orientation, By the time I got home they were leaving me messages about where are you ???
    I reminded them I was only there for P&G dedicated and I had earkier stated I would not run over the road 48, and the truck had to come home with me, Now they offer to put me back on P&G, I just kind of laughed at her... Why would I go back to someone who could not keep an agreement for a whole day...
    Anyone going there good luck, they have more monitors it those trucks than you can count, plus dual facing cameras. So no matter what they tell youthey are watching everything you do.
     
  9. FlaSwampRat

    FlaSwampRat Road Train Member

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    Thanks for the input, getting pulled from that route and then promised it again when you left doesn't make them sound too great. As far as cameras and monitoring devices none of that bothers me. UPS invented big brother in trucks, I had a GPS in the board on my belt and one in the truck 15 years ago so they could make sure you weren't jumping out the driver door into traffic lol, they started putting driver facing cameras on the rear camera monitors about 10 years ago, also about ten years ago they started electronically stalking the trucks with seat belt monitor, bulkhead door monitor, harping on idle time etc. I think that's just they way the industry is gonna go and it is creepy but if you are doing everything perfectly (like everyone always does lol) you have nothing to worry about.
     
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  10. MGE Dawn

    MGE Dawn Road Train Member

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    Dual facing cameras is a false statement. Driver facing lense on the camera is disabled
     
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  11. Craig List

    Craig List Light Load Member

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    You've verified?
     
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