CR England or Swift for a new driver?

If those are the two choices, go Swift.

 

The main problem is that they’re often a nightmare to back a truck into.

 

Drive by a couple of Dollar General stores and look at the parking lot. Picture backing a sleeper truck pulling a 53' trailer in there. There's no docks either. Unload through a side door.

 

My daughter is Asst. Mgr. of a Dollar Tree store (similar set ups). USXpress serves them, and too often the drivers are new or nearly new. I’ve heard the stories of backing nightmares including foliage damage and destruction, traffic on the road stopped, etc. Not saying this is universal, but not exactly the right position for a relatively inexperienced operator.

In addition, there are stories of drivers arriving at orientation only to be told “Oh, that position is filled so we need to put you OTR…”.

For me, it’s a hard pass.

 

I actually spoke to a CRE driver on the Dollar General account as he finished unloading product in our town last week. He was making $96k doing it, been doing it for 3 years, and was going to finish out the year before branching out and actually buying his own truck (he's been stacking cash all this time).

The stores can be a pain to access, but with a little common sense, its not that bad of a job. Just don't follow google maps to the stores, get a real trucker GPS or follow the written directions to the store that you are provided.

 

@Kangshi -- Schneider veteran here....

now I haul fuel (hazmat tanker) in Florida, mostly (some Georgia). But NOT with Schneider.

Despite all the jokes and horror stories you may see and hear about Swift--it's definitely the pick of the 2 you originally mentioned in your posting.

If I had it to do all over again--Swift would be where I would start, very likely.

Those "Dollar store" accounts are new driver meat grinders. Yeah, the money is there--but the backing and parking are a serious challenge for new(er) drivers. Also--it's not just "drop and hook"--you have to unload that trailer, too!

And from what I've seen/heard at most "dollar" stores--don't expect any real help from the employees there, either.

The takeaway for you? There are MUCH BETTER dedicated accounts for new drivers (like you), than that.

--Lual