A Different Swift?

First of all, I would like to compliment you on your posting on this forum. I'm sure that you have read some pretty awful things here about your company, and would like to contribute your thoughts and feelings. That's great, but as a word of advice, don't attack the members personally. That is the same as name calling, and some get real defensive about it, as you can see. To the posters who attacked you personally, that too was wrong. I respect anyone who is loyal to their employer, after all, that is who puts food on the table for his family. Everyone has the right to their own opinions, and the right to voice them, in a civil manner, otherwise, nothing is learned. Remember, there are two sides to every story, and I think it is healthy, no matter what we know, or feel we know, to listen to other's thoughts on the matter. By doing this, we all can win. Who knows, what we discuss here may end up back in his office at Swift, and by him sharing driver's concerns with others around him, maybe a change could be made, or him being able to share his experiences with us, may make us better drivers. I don't know what all a DM for any company does, but I know enough to know that it is not an easy task. I don't feel that this site was set up to bash anyone, or their company, only to share our thoughts and concerns, and would hope that what is said here makes a difference, even if it is a minute seed planted into someone else's head, that could one day grow into a tree of knowledge for others in the industry. If you truly want your voices heard, and for improvements to be made, act like true, mature, professionals, whether one pushes a pencil, or pulls a trailer, and let's work together for a resolution. Personally, from what has taken place in this thread, on both sides, I wouldn't communicate with either the DM or the drivers, because both were acting like children. Let's all pull together for the greater cause. I get tired of this "us against them" attitude. All of our jobs are to move freight. We can do it, or do it smarter. The choice is our's.

He who angers you, controls you.

That's all I've got to say about that.
John

 

A word of advise when talking to drivers for any company. If at the end of your conversation and asking of questions, they give you their name and tell you to mention them on the application or to the recruiter, they are getting something out of it so be cautious. If they answer your questions, and don't ask for you to mention their name, chances are they are being straightforward with you. Just a word of advise from someone who has been messed over a few times.

 

some how i'm thinking swift still isn't a company i'd want to strt my carreer with. day three of cdl school, the first recuriter we see is from swift. made it sound like a wonderful place, how to make 40 grand the first year with them, guarenteed 2500 miles a week, bonuses, etc. nice shiney brouchure, smooth presentation, and all that. and we have one student that is supposed to already be hired by swift. sounded real good to me, and 30 years ago i might have fallen for it all.

my instructor, being a nice guy and this being his first calss, indicated to me that he wasn't a fan of swift. but can't say one way or another. so have they changec enough for me to chance them? nope. some peoople will be able to make it with them, some will do great i'm sure. most people that start with them tho, i don't think will be happy and may wind up leaving the industry because of things they experiance with swift.

one more thought here, the one swity we have for a student, imho, has an attitude problem, and won't take advice, one of them don't confuse me i got my mind made up things.

 

I'm a Swift driver..been one for 1.5 years..been driving 13+ years...after reading all the negative thrreads regarding Swift i have to say something....i'm not gonna say Swift is the best compny out there,and i'm not gonna try to recruit you, but they certainly arent as bad as what i've been reading..lemme clear a few things up....i just finished my first calender year with Swift.....income was over $70k...(i am a trainer, but not all the time)...averged 3200 miles a week....never hassled about taking more than the alloted 1 day off in 6...was assigned a new truck after oreintation, and i'm still driving that truck,even with 5-7 days home time...i made $2000 in extra pay (DETENTION etc)...yes, you do get detention pay with Swift, sometimes even when i dont expect it.....i got more in dentention pay in 1 year with Swift than i did in the previous 12 years...and that doesnt mean that i sit a lot, it means i get paid when i do sit...i'm known in my home terminal by the fleet manager and several driver managers...if i feel i'm being ignored or am sitting to long, i get on the phone and talk to somebody!!!i dont chain up, and have not been pressured to do so....a majority of my loads are drop and hook...current load is 2000 miles, 1 hour load and drop whenever i get there....get home when i want to..i had to be home a certain date to pick relatives up at the airport, kept in touch with DM and was home the day before...is everything rosy here??? of course not..getting truck serviced is a chore sometimes, but not as bad as other companies i've worked for..(Heartland Express an example)...currently have a payroll issued trying to get resolved...lost paperwork...300 miles load.....took away $10 trailer sweep pay as of 010107, but every other company i've worked for did'nt pay it.....Swift is the first company i've worked for that pays for showers...that can be quite an expense.....pick up a lot of ####ty trailers, but dont have significant downtime because of it....i could go on and on...all u drivers who are crying about Swift i say to you.....WAAAHHHH!!!!!!.....quit crying, be a professional and do your job, treat your coworkers with respect...lets see what happens................finally, i can handle all the remarks i hear about Swift on the CB, i've got more experience than the average, but let me leave you with one thought....when i drove for Prime i was 'respected'as a driver..(at 19 CPM) at Swift i may not be 'respected' as a driver, but i'll take the 42 cents

 

Thanks rzrbak, for for sharing your thoughts on maintaining one's civility on this site, and in our lives. I'm on this site 24/7 lately, (sad but true) and read with great curiosity as some of the threads unravel into personal wars between people who have never even met. The "subject" of the thread all but evaporates as it's replaced with suspision and degradation. Pointless? Sure, but it is to be expected as it is part of the human condition. "Bad news can run around the world before good news can get it's boots on!" and all that. It makes good theatre though, and draws alot of attention. The GOOD news is that the vast majority of conversation on here on TTR is civil, informative/helpfull and occasionally...entertaining! I appreciate having a window into the world of truck driving, even if I have to use the wipers occasionally. But yeah, your insight and advice is as true as it is timeless. I have anger issues at times, and am considering tatooing your quote,..."who angers you, controls you." to the back of my hand!.... Once again, thanks for the "fresh air".

 

Whatever, where I work/travel along I saw 3 swift trucks only a few blocks from each other park at their homes. All of them are VOLVO type of vehicles. sad park. In a bad section of town. hmm,. I wonder.

 

Talk to the drivers. However, don't volunteer to them what you've read. Yet, let them set the conversational tone. Ask honest questions, and you will probably get honest answers. Most of the time, good people don't want to see others make the same mistakes they did. Good luck on choosing.

 

well tell me why Swift said they would rehire me a few years ago and now they will not and will not release info as to why. So i could retify any problems from preventing from rehire.

 

i'm not here to recruit drivers, i could'nt care less about drivers coming over to Swift, but a lot of bad things i'm reading are not true, or at least they did'nt happen to me...I've got 13 years OTR experience, and have been with Swift for a little less than 2 years...I've driven for CRST, Prime Transport, JB Hunt, Crete and Heartland express..Swift is no better or worse than any of them..i drive for Swift because i live near one of their terminals, i get .42 cpm, home when i want, and i get paid for Dentention( $16 per hour up to 8 hours) and i get paid that dentention whether or not Swift does.,reimbursements for showers..thats is the absolute truth, my Driver manager and Fleet manager know me by name...i made over $75 k last year and i can back everything up with stats (but its gonna cost u $20 for all u non believers to see, double ur money back if i'm wrong)i was also assigned a brand new truck when i was hired...the only problem with driving for Swift is all the abuse i get on the road by other drivers who assume i dont know what i'm doing....i laugh especially when those Prime drivers make fun of me...i know what they make!!!...anyhow, my advice for new drivers is...talk to as many "current" drivers as u can of whatever company ur interested in, not former ones...also, get that company to pay for ur schooling, instead of you paying up front

 

It seems to me the hatred the drivers are getting from being a "swift" driver is un called for. If you hate the company, then hate the company. If you needed help and all there was is a swift driver you wouldn't ask him for help? Be real man hate the company if you wish just dont hate your fellow man.