My Current Swift Experience

I have been through their training. There are four to a room using bunk beds that are provided by swift.

You do not get a continental breakfast in order to keep the costs of the contract between swift and the hotel down.

Swift is the same price as Schneider, however, Schneider tacks on 18% interest. Schneider's price includes the higher hotel rate that has continental breakfast, so in all actuality, the actual program is less.

During the three weeks of school, there would be a lot of rumors flying around from other students, a lot of which was not true. There were canopies out in the training yard for week 2 (week 1 is all classroom), but it was still hot. They are building permanent covers which are bigger, but in Phoenix it's still hot!

If for some reason you are not able to complete training as long as you made an effort by repeating a week, Swift will pay for your bus ticket home. If you were doing something stupid or got sent home because of inaccurate information on your application, or you have a positive drug screen, you get sent home at your expense.

The first two weeks out with a trainer were not bad, but there were things that I knew that he didn't and was supposed to know. They did work with me for coming home since my wife had a high chance of delivering our first child early which did happen.

There were some issues to start with. They did not have me coded as being with a trainer so I could not sign in to get paid. They fixed that. My Comdata card was blocked, they fixed that. I was unable to and still could not fuel using my comdata card so that still needs fixed, so my trainer had to take a log violation in order to log that we fueled with his card.

I told Swift that if there are things that happen frequently that would delay me and cause me to not make the money, I will look for work elsewhere, as I have a family to support and can not afford to be detained due to errors in the system.

I am just keeping everything cool though, so I can have a good report on my DAC. I would have been hired by Crete if I would have had the money to put myself through a community college to get my CDL, so I am definitally leaving that option open by not messing up at Swift, and giving them no reason to want to report something bad. I would hate to have to take the time to appeal, and then give them a bad report

I will follow this up after I get back from the rest of my six weeks of training (four weeks left). I leave Saturday, so I really do hope all goes well.

They have been cleaning house and hopefully the company and the rep will improve for everyones sake.

 

Thanks for the support and I will definitely keep everyone posted. I do hope everything goes well but also know there is the chance that things may not.

CarolElaine60 If you are training Phoenix, I can give you some tips to really save you money.

First, Sunblock is #1 (Not a money saver but really a necessity)

The hotel in Phoenix is right across the street from a Sam's club. The best way to make your money stretch is to go buy food from there and take a lunch with you. If someone has a vehicle, get a ride to Wal-Mart and do some shopping, but don't do anything until Thursday, when you know you made it through the paperwork and the physical.

For small items, just up the road from the Hotel less than 2 blocks is a K-Mart.

If it's not phoenix, the best I can say is the $150 they suggest for food for 3 weeks will last you about 1, unless you can get to a grocery store and take advantage of your fridge and microwave.

Greyound is at its best otherwise I would be on my way to Minnesota to meet up with my new trainer. He does everything legal, which is better than my old trainer.

For anyone that goes to any company and has to be with a mentor/trainer for any length of time, do not stay with someone you are uncomfortable with. Request to go back to the terminal where you can get a new trainer.