I can't wait to work for Swift...

Why do student drivers even bother coming here? If you aren't going to heed the advice of people that have been there, whats the point? The people on this forum will be more honest with you than anybody else in the industry. I'm still fairly new, I don't by any stretch claim to know everything; but I know when to shut up and listen.

 

I would tend to agree with the others here.

Sure, I lack years of experience driving a truck - but in this case, that's not important. I *Do* have years of experience both as employee and as employer.

You'll see a lot of talk here and there about Swift drivers and safety, etc. Truth is, their safety record isn't all that bad- pretty much run of the mill. (referring only to reportable statistics)

Where Swift fails, in my - and other's - opinion, is in their treatment of their drivers. Face it, they are a newbie company. Sure, they have drivers who've been with them for a long time (I assume so, anyway. I can't say for certain). But when *ANY* company has a turnover rate well in excess of 100% per year, something is not right. IIRC, Swift's turnover rate is closer to 300% among drivers.

in other words, they make absolutely NO attempt to keep drivers.

I've talked to a dozen or so ex-Swift drivers. Not one of them lasted longer than 5 months with the company.

I will note, though, the OP didn't come in here asking for opinions or suggestions. Just said that he'd decided to go ahead with Swift on the grounds that.. well, there's nowhere to go but up. True enough, I suppose.. but why start in the basement if you can start on the ground floor?

 

Hey bro, do what you need to do period. Every trucking company has had someone say something bad about them on this site and many others. I have heard crete is the best and then the next day man they suck, like an old fart told me it 90% of this job is attitude. I have seen big companies with trucks on their side and i have seen some o/o's too. But because they are small they dont get noticed. Anyways good luck and keep us posted.

 

Congratulations on that Swift recruiting job.

 

I cannot say that the responses I've received have surprised me in the least.

The truth is, I've been reading on this board (not posting) for awhile now, and have found that over all - nobody is goo-goo about any trucking company.

For one positive post, there is a negative experience. And visa versa.

One man's junk another's treasure? I dunno.

All I can say is what my instructors have told me about companies in general: Get your 6 months, wherever that may be. Do a good job. Be safe, courteous, respectful even when it hurts.

Learn some ropes. Then other opportunities will come your way. Be patient. Sounds like life 101 doesn't it?

I do respect the guys on this board who have many years under their belt. I'm not gonna be stupid and pretend I know more. Your advice is valued!

 

What you have said is true. You do have a good attitude in that respect.

But when it comes to Swift, CR and others, one positive experience is outweighed by 1000 or more negative experiences. Not a good thing.

Crete used to be good, but I hear they're turning into yet another coolie carrier. Roehl? I've heard some bad things about them lately, but not enough to make me say they suck. Regardless, I'd go with the company I'd heard the least amount of bad reports about. Which leaves out Swift, Werner, JB, Covenant and CR.

If you have a choice, why not roll with the folks who are least likely to bend you over? Yes, every company is going to get ragged on through the Net. You can't please everyone. But when the majority of people posting say "this company sucks moist butt cheese," you'd do well to pay attention.

Just my opinion. Good luck.

 

Well said. And in all fairness, an intelligent decision makes sense from all aspects. Something about Swift makes it hard for me to believe that a company can exist in their large capacity, and be that much of total disaster.

Somebody's gotta be happy there... Maybe not?

If there were that many disgruntled employees at Swift, wouldn't large customers like Costco and so many others find new ways of receiving their goods, instead of tolerating 3 mo. old inexperienced idiots behind the wheel?

Maybe that's just the state of the industry that I'm gonna be involved in.

I've said since I've started this CDL program that in light of the economic situation this country is in, if this was a fantastically easy job - we wouldn't have people recruiting us to do it... Nuff said'?

 

These companies don't care who delivers the merchandise as long as it is on time and hauled cheap.

Many shippers and receivers won't let you into the plant, give you access to a break room, and in one case I know, would not let the drivers in to use the bathroom. After drivers started doing their business in the pine trees nest to the shipping dock they finally put a porta potty in. This is true, I saw it everyday first hand.

Drivers get zero respect from a great many shippers and receivers. Many drivers I have seen do not deserve any respect, and therefore, have made it bad for all drivers.

Reguarding your original post about Swift; putting up with their crap may be the least of your problems, for I have heard too many stories of them and the other bottom feeders ruining a drivers DAC because the driver had the nerve to stand up for himself, or made a simple mistake that any of us could make at any time.

After that you may be out of trucking for good through no real fault of you own, except that you went to a company that was known for this type behaviour, aganist the advice of many others.

I have not driven for Swift, so I can't give personal experience. But just the same, I have heard a rattlesnake can kill you, so I don't go out of my way to find one, whereas I will pick up a corn snake and return him to the woods. I don't need the firsthand experience of being bitten by the rattlesnake to know to keep away from one.

 

I get a kick out of the "it'll be different for me" or "how could they be that bad" crowd.

Have at it.