I know , I've heard the good and bad about Swift. The school is free due to i'm a vet. I have my class B lic, drove a super 10 for the last 5 years hauled around 81,000 to 82,000 local.. just looking for advise and someone who has recently gone through their training to get a heads up what to expect.
Good for you, that's exciting. I am sure you'll do well. And, from one vet to another.....thank you for your service. Pete
I was with swift for two years before recently leaving for another company. They treated me well, would have stayed but another opportunity opened up and I had to take the new job. Training is not difficult. Just make sure you read your cdl manual, learn the pre trip, they focus alot on this. And also learn to read a map and learn to control the backing and all maneuvers. Coming in to trucking I didn't know anything about a truck. Not one ounce except that they were big and I thought it would be cool to drive one. Two years later I don't regret it. Also in school absorb everything the instructors are informing you. In my class we had a full blown know it all and a semi sized know it all and it was the most annoying thing in the world when these two opened their mouths. All due respect. It's not bad and if you been out here for 5 years you know the basics. You hear all kinds of stuff about swift but let it roll off your back and get your job done. The pay is low but for two years I survived on it. Although I'm single and do not have children. That may come into play if you do. Best I can say to anyone is prepare before moving because life does happen and being prepared makes it more easier to make it through the iffy moments. Good luck! And thanks for your service.
Expect: A company that does not give a #### about you. They will throw you to the wolves at the slightest hint of a show humanity. They will try to control every second of your existance and try to bully you into working for free. They will watch your every move and record everything you say. You will have someone watching you when you least expect it. Even in your bunk during your "me time". I hope you had a good driving career cause Swift is about to destroy yours.
After the rear end crab today Swifts first action was to send a fleet wide message demonizing the poor driver and disclosing personal information and records they had no business telling the rest of us. Their first action was to throw degrade the poor guy before his coworkers. They didn't even know who got hurt but they sure knew how horrible this man was and thought they should let everyone know it. I am not saying the driver was in the right or wrong. Heck he could have been the worst driver in the fleet and should be booted. But swift had no business telling the rest of us he had two over speeds, a critical event, and a citation. They couldn't just say "we are waiting for all the facts before we make any sort of statement.
millis a lot of the guys average over 3000 miles- kudos to them but that's working pretty hard, unless it's drop and hook, not spending long time at docks sometimes.
ive been with Swift 3 years now as a Co driver and have not found a single thing you say to be true. I have a good DM, get solid miles every week, my last 3 trucks have been brand new, very rarely don't get home on the day I request, on a first name basis with everyone at my terminal, if I ask for something I get it, I hardly ever take home less than $850 a week and often I make more. It could be worse. Swift is what you make of it. Not every day is perfect and not every load is the best but that's the nature of the beast. i didn't get the message about this rear end incident you refer to either.
