My Time With Swift

Thanks Dodg,, glad to hear it.. take care of yourself and take the time you need to recoop. Well basicly I am trying to go through another training company other than swift However,.. Swift is still on the plate I guess but Im not sure yet.. Right now Im studying for my permit then planning on school or a company school in June after my son grads from high school...dont want to miss that you know!
I have read and reread hundreds of threads on here.. There are sooooo many opinions out there.. But in the end.. I know where Im headed..One way or another Ill get it done!! Nothing can hold me down when I have something set in my brain.
Once again ... get well soon and best wishes!

 

I trained thru Swift 3 years ago, Unless the policy has changed, Drive for Swift for 1 year to pay for schooling. Drive 2 years and you will get it back. Granted it's only a week at a time, but I never had to contact any one it was automatic. One last thing the payback started at the beginning of the 2nd year not the end. Good Luck and GODS speed.

 

I guess if your only 1.5 hrs away, they could drive you home at least. Maybe I'm negative; or, on the other hand, have higher expectations. I'm glad you're happy for your sake, but I'm not sure accepting what the greedy bosses gives you helps the other drivers who expect to make trucking a lasting, noble career. I think it further degrades the career and the quality of people that degraded career can attract. As for myself, I left the truckload companies and went into LTL a few years back. It's interesting to get on here and see the same problems going on; nothing chainged. As for being negative about many OTR companies, and never accepting scraps, I now have a pretty good life that I'm proud to claim. Good luck living on the road.

 

Its funny how many posts are about bashing life in your truck..But did you ever think for one moment that SOME people actually thrieve on that lifestyle??.. Just because some drivers find it NOT to be the life for them and they are just putting up with it to get a paycheck,, doesnt mean that the next person wont find it rewarding and challenging.. All I can say is this.. Not everyone SHOULD do this job..NOT everyone should do an office job or a factory job.. Find what fits your personality the best.. and roll with that..enjoy that!! ..
We work to way to LONG AND TOOO HARD to be STUCK in a careers you absolutely cant stand.. Do something you love!! THATS BEEN SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN!!

I HATE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO RAIN ON MY PARADE..JUST CUZ THIER MISERABLE THEMSELVES!!

 

The problem with that is now it is too hard to get into this job. You have to buy your way in. Either by selling your soul to a company or paying out the wazoo for a school. By then most are hooked in and have nothing left and are taking it one day at a time.

 

That maybe the case.. But ARE you not paying out of the wazoo to have other careers too? Are you not selling your soul to them in order not to lose your job also? The only difference is with driving you have a choice. You have a choice to get up in the morning, look out your windshield and decide what path to take and how to make it easier..No corporate ladders to climb..no backstabbing, no body dictating when or when you can’t go to the bathroom or when you can smoke that cigarette? No docked pay or occurrences because you showed up 2 mins late..or a supervisor that constantly rides your ### and makes your life miserable for 8 hours..
I understand the complaints in the trucking industry and those who are making them.. Like any job you will always have problems..issues. But at least for the most part the issues you have while on the road you can call your own.. the choice is yours to either ##### about them or change them.
If pay is an issue..find more. If the company is the issue find another.. If its family time, issues at home or you just can’t handle the JOB DESCRIPTION of trucking... get out!!! But unlike a regular job.. The choice still remains the same..Yours!!

I will always be a advocate for your own destiny and happiness.. until I can’t make that choice for myself.

Money isn’t everything..but when you make it your everything then nothing is going to make you happy!

 

As for me I am glad it's getting a little harder. Because now only those who really wish for the opportunity will persue it.
Another point I never once felt I sold my soul. Trucking is what it is, and just like anything else has it's good days and bad days.
I for one have heard enough about what's wrong. We know it already, being reminded of it from drivers who are unhappy with thier choices, or lack of them. That they seem to have this need to let the whole world know.
Truck driving was not on my list of things to do in life. But when my comfortable so called secure job started to go south, I was 47 with very few options. I'm from Michigan, Home to the BIG 3. The economy fell here first. Alot of truck companies were'nt and still are'nt hiring from this state.
I trained thru Swift at the Millington Acadamy. Two yrs before the investigation into the DMV of Tennessee. Consequently needed to retest, for my CDL in my home state all over again.
I have always gotten paid what I had coming, got decent miles, and the list goes on. Swift has never cheated me. Yes I've had my share of problems with weekend support. Still believe Swift is the most solid.. and I've been all over the internet and phone for the last month, in an effort find out differently, Some come close but have'nt found one that in my opinion passes them.

I could find 1000 threads with info about who got screwed how why and when. But we only have one side then don't we.

 

I couldnt agree with what you guys wrote more.. if I told my story on here more than likely I would be laughed off this board.. By drivers that feel the industry has slighted them in some form or another. Yes it is low pay in the begining.. yes you are a slave to the company for the first year or so, expecially if you got training through a mega company..BUT THINK ABOUT IT!! YOU GOT TRAINING THRU THEM!! Why shouldnt you be running and learning for them! It is like any other job out there.. Low man on the totem pole until you pay your dues...I dont know of any job where that isnt so.
I am taking a pay cut to go back on the road.. but I am gaining freedom in a way a driver could never comprehend unless he/she worked for a cut throat company. I love talking about this subject.. I think more newbes deserve to be encouraged on how to drive right and safe, how to make the most money out of an already diminishing paycheck, how to get the right loads instead of being ridiculed for picking a big mega company which is giving them a chance for a new career..a new lifestyle.. a new start.
I am a single, 45yr old female.. so I am sure I will see plenty of crap thrown my way... all I can say is bring it on!! Nobody..NOBODY is going to bully me or scare me out of something I have loved for over 20yrs!!