Another One Of These Confused Wannabe Topics

Check Swift carefully. They used to have a minimum age of 23 unless prior military (insurance issue). Make sure you point out your age to the recruiter and that they can take you at 21.

Otherwise, check out the swift forum. Lot's of guys have recently went thru the schools, got jobs and are turning the rubber. I was a regional with them in the "extended weight limit" division (Heavy Haul) here in the Pac NW, and did pretty well. Just shy of 2 years later, I landed a great local job that suits a family man better. The best thing about Swift is they are into almost all aspects of trucking (execpt tanker, logging, etc). You can change fleets for better cash and experience. Reefers, dry, flatbed, doubles, intermodal are all available depending on your location.

If you have trouble with your age, you may have luck using a local CC to get your CDL and going to a fueling company for exp. Also, look at dump trucks, cement hauler, etc. That heavy equipment can help alot if you are ever looking for a state job (road crew, water companyies, etc).

Good luck.
Pal

 

The companies that are worth driving for are going to be the ones that are harder to get into. Patience and perserverence is going to be what pays off. Also the sqeaky wheel gets the greese! Try for the smaller mom and pop companies and I think you will have much better luck! If you are thinking of making this a career this will be your better option anyway. Good luck, welcome to the forum.

 

You are right about that! It might be tough getting one of those regional runs right off the bat. A lot of drivers are waiting to get those. Not impossible, you just have to put in your time.

If you are contemplating concrete driving I would hold out on going through school. That is a lot of money to spend to drive a Class B truck for $8.00 an hour. Good luck to you!

 

$8.00 an hour driving a mixer truck? They must payy you cheap down in Florida. I was offered a mixer truck at $13.00 an hour last year... But turned it down!

 

There are some regional fleets that take newbies (Sumner HH, for example). Your area will differ, but check out all options.

Now about that "dedicated" run in 6 months? Take that with a salt lick, cause the grain of salt ain't gonna cut it. At 6 months, you are eligible for a dedicated run/fleet, if you keep your nose clean which is easy to say, but can be hard to do. You could pull my bonehead maneuver and drive past an open (usually closed) scale house.... Even if you're eligible, it doesn't mean there's an opening, or that the fleet manager's wifes 2nd cousin 4 times removed isn't gonna get the slot. Also, please remember that the recruiter wants your hiney in a seat. After that, he don't care if you're happy.

All companies are like cheap restaurants. They may have nice sized hunks of meat for your plate. What you need to look out for are the bone chips from bad butchering or spoilage due to improper cooking.

PS: don't try the scalehouse thing. It gets pricey.....

 

i called swift in the middle of june when i was looking for a school to attend. they wouldn't accept me when i was 21. they said i had to be 23 but they haven't updated the website yet.

 

Chompi is not saying Prime is better.....