Does Swift really hire every student?

What a great post

 

Those weren't tampons... they were battle field dressings...
Skeet

 

Swift never pre-hired me. *sniff*
I feel like a part of my driving career is lacking because of it.

Oh and when I did apply when I needed work they gave me the ol "We're not hiring in FL" line. As if!

 

Actually they were "nose bleed stoppers"....

 

Okay, I was asked to look at this thread and comment. I'll get to the actual questions about spousal teams and spouse mentors in a moment but first I felt the need to respond to Rerun's posts. Why did I feel this need you might ask; because Rerun and I enjoy poking each other in the eye with sharp sticks. Well okay I don't enjoy HIM poking MY eye but I'm going to enjoy poking his.

Dear Rerun: You made a stern point to the OP that I've highlighted:

That comment of yours was made when the op responded to your first post to him where you responded with what you thought was the answer to his question. Your post:

Here's the problem Rerun, he didn't ask what you think he asked. He asked if they hire everyone who goes through Swift's program.

 

UMMMM...did i miss the Rerun poke in the eye?

I'm confused!

 

I think you've misunderstood what I said.

 

A distinct possibility!

Did you poke him good?

 

here is the thing on pre-hires. They dont mean jack. They are alot like.......no.......they are EXACTLY like those "you've been pre-approved for a Visa credit card with a credit limit up to $1,000,000,000 dollars". Then you notice the little astrisk, and read that it means that the base limit is $300, and depending on your credit, you'll get the trillion dollar limit. It'll also go on to say that there is a $75 first time charge, and that your $300 limit will actually start at $225.

gee....kinda sounds like a swift contract, eh? LOL

 

Okie Dokie like I said; I was asked to comment on this thread so here goes:

To Shoshi: Your original question was whether or not Swift hires everyone that goes through the Swift "program" meaning their Academy. Yes, if a student completes the Academy then they are hired by Swift and placed with a mentor, but during that time of mentoring they can still be released if they don't meet the requirements of training. If after the period of mentoring a driver meets all the requirements, then they're placed either in a solo truck or in a team truck. But what several people have tried to express is that there are no guarantees because a great deal of what happens is dependent upon the applicant/student/trainee. If a student doesn't master techniques he/she of course will not be hired and placed with a mentor. If a trainee doesn't master the skills required then he/she will not be placed in a solo or team truck. However, Swift makes every effort to ensure success for applicants/students/trainees. I personally saw applicants show up to school without required documents and Swift staff jumped through hoops trying to get those documents. I've also saw Swift send applicants home at Swift expense and bring them back the second time also at Swift expense when the applicant finally produced the documents they were told at day one they would need.

I've also watched students repeat weeks of school at no extra expense to them. I myself became ill and was unable to begin my road portion of school and instead of simply bumping me from the program they had me return as soon as I was physically able and repeat several days of range schooling so that I wouldn't have to begin the training again due to the urine test requirements. (If you drop out of training you must repeat the test and restart the program)

I know students who had poor mentors, those mentors were removed from the program and the student was placed with a new mentor and given several more weeks of training.

I've also seen Swift let drivers go who either were unable or unwilling to learn how to be a safe and capable driver. Frankly they needed to be let go, or else they needed to be drop kicked into an abyss somewhere. (Obviously I didn't care for those particular people or their horrible lack of skills and lack of responsibility.)


Secondly I'll address here the issue of spouses and spousal mentoring. Swift has a spouse program where the spouse of a Swift employee is trained for free. Swift does allow a driver to mentor their spouse. The driver must complete their own mentoring period and can then mentor their spouse. I personally think it's difficult being mentored no matter who does it. There's good and bad about each situation.
The issue of a driver not giving his spouse enough backing time is a situation that occurs so frequently during spousal mentoring that it's discussed and treated on many fleets as a not desired but accepted occurrence. Each couple must deal with it's strengths and weaknesses just as every other team must. I know that I've had to change as an individual and it's taken quite some time. I also know that because of my own past and things that have happened to me I would not have been able to go and live in that small of a space with a stranger. So I do support spousal mentoring depending upon the couple.


As for spouses attending the Academy at the same time, I believe that Swift now discourages that. Two years ago when I went it was allowed but I have been told by other drivers that Swift advises the second spouse attends later. You could check with a Swift recruiter for that.


Thirdly you asked about credit checks: Injun addressed your question about credit very well. Almost all companies have you sign and give them permission to check your background and currently that information will often include a credit check.


Next you asked about people being sent home at orientation: First off there are two times that people refer to as orientation. One is the first few days of the Academy and the second is the orientation after the Academy before placement with a mentor. This second time is when applicants come in that either have experience driving or were schooled elsewhere. An applicant entering the Academy would be sent home at the first not the second. But why would a person be sent home? There are several reasons and they all fall upon the applicant not Swift. It's an applicant's responsibility to make darn sure you have every document they may possibly need, every doctor's report, every employment record, every questionable issue's explanation. Cover your bases and you won't have the problem of being sent home.

You also asked if they would hire someone who has never had a job. Swift doesn't hire under the age of 23. It's very rare for someone to reach the age of 23 and never have a job. However it is possible and Otherhalf addressed that very well. Swift isn't looking for proof that you made money as much as they're looking for documentation of your life. Also, you're not hired at Swift until the end of the orientation when you're assigned a driver code and placed with a mentor.

I strongly suggest that you begin speaking with a recruiter. In fact I suggest you call and talk to more than one recruiter, make sure you ask the exact same questions and make sure their answers are the same. Before we made our choice to go with Swift, I spoke to Chuck about 10 times. After we decided I probably spoke to him another 10 times. Heck even after we were in training I talked to him and we still email even though he's retired. He's got a beautiful grandson now. LOL

I'm got the notice that you tried to pm me but my box was full. I'm bad about not cleaning it out. I'm also bad about not returning phone calls. Okay.........I'm just bad. Lol


Good luck and I hope this helps.


P.S. Teaming with a spouse is sometimes not the most wonderful moment of a person's life. It's a small space with no privacy and while I've considered killing my husband and leaving his body in the desert for the vultures to find I miss being on the truck currently and we've found we miss being with each other. We both look forward to when things get back to normal and we can be squished together in that sardine can on wheels.