Just Got Signed Up For School - Swift Transportation

umm you have experience in this? Safety has always been breathing down my back to do things by the book, they have never pushed me to run illegal and if I did anything....well safety was there to yell at me.

 

Sure do. Just remember Swift is a big company and not every driver has the same experience with Swift.

If you felt 'safety' is a bunch of 'hard arses' (and they are) you have to consider why that is; they have to overcompensate for the errors and actions that have happened in the past and continue today. If they did not push hard on some drivers their safety record would be off the chart.

 

I didn't go to the Swift school for my refresher CDL. I chose a private school near my home, so I don't know exactly what's up there now. They are training, for sure. I drove for them for 13 months. I did fine, even though a couple of times I had to insist on repairs to equipment that was not conforming to DOT rules. I averaged 2,800miles/month, got to $.30/mile with a $.04/mile bonus (easy) in 6 months, didn't wreck any trucks or miss any pickups or deliveries. IMHO, all truck companies are not going to hold your hand, they're pretty much all about business, but it's the driver's responsibility to inspect and maintain his equipment. A driver who takes equipment out on the road in violation of DOT specs is not a good driver. It's like Nancy Reagan once said so brilliantly: "Just say no." I don't mean to say all trucking companies are the same, but they do have a lot in common. "Common Carriers," is how they're known. My personal experience with Swift, 2012-2013, was positive and I got what I wanted from them - a start, a steady income, and valuable experience. I took a step after that first year, double the income, now I own a truck and notched up another click. Go for it, gotta start somewhere and Swift will provide steady miles which will give you that experience. I hear so much negative stuff - from guys who never worked there. You don't hear as much positive feedback from drivers, but there's plenty of blame - nearly always "The Company," or "that guy.." Go for it, drive your loads, you'll be fine.

 

could be, I know otr I ran legal, on my dedicated fleet we all run legal. We also have a DM and site manager who is tough on safety and being legal.

 

yep you get what you put into it, if your not willing to do the effort then your not going to get anywhere. Most issues are driver related but they blame the company.
Swifts otr rates suck but if you can get into dedicated asap then you will do pretty decent. OTR I got to 30cpm but then jumped into a dedicated after a few months and started averaging 44cpm. During the slow time I still make $800+ average, a good week I make over $1k, my top week as a company driver was $1293 so its possible to do well, you just have to be willing to work. If it doesnt work out then you got experience to move on, you will hear the negative about every company since people take the time out for a negative review but not many actually take the time out to give a positive review, its just the way humans are and its the same for any product in life. 90% will post badly but maybe 1% will post when happy.

 

So how does safety know which drivers are supposed to be "forced to run illegal and which ones are supposed to get their butts chewed for violating policy?

Been here going on 4 years. I've met and chatted with over a half dozen terminal managers and had a one on one sit down with a VP in Phoenix ... no inkling of pushing drivers to run illegal or even if they feel uncomfortable, has ever manifested itself. Quite the contrary.

Besides, Swift is on EOBRs ... how the hell do you run "illegal" on an EOBR?

 

So - Swift conferes with you before ever pushing on a driver? 21000 drivers and before anyone makes a move they check in with MysticHZ.

And after they do, they spill the beans in a sit down with a unrelated driver? Right.

Swift has been on OBRS forever? Even with EOBRs, Swift collects a lot of HOS violations: http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/Data/BASICs.aspx?enc=mU6TEypmmKNOc7faawhuVA==

HOS is the only way a driver can be in violation or pushed?

 

Just figured I'd provide an update on my situation. I went to get my DOT Physical done so I could get my learner's permit early. Everything on the physical was perfect except for my blood pressure. It was a little high. My doctor took the lowest of the readings and put it on my long form and basically told me I'm certified for three months and after three months I'll need to get re-examined. I've already got an appointment arranged with my doctor to get this taken care of. But my doctor said I can proceed with school and getting my CDL.

My question is, when I go in for my first day of trucking school are they going to do another DOT Physical, or will they just go with the one I have?

 

I once dropped my blood pressure from 145+ (top number) to 122 in exactly 5 days. My problem though was sodium i was not overweight. So i stopped all sodium did hard cardio 1- 1 1/2 hours a days and ate nothing but lean meat whole grains and overwhelmed my body with excessive amounts of disgusting fruit and veggie smoothies + #### load of water.

Again dont know your situation but if youre like me and just eat junk follow this formula or something similar and watch 1 week 2 tops then take physical again transform it to a 3 month to 2 year physical.

 

Swift requires a one year card.