Need some advise please...

Sam Sam Sam.... seriously! I started in the winter too. And spent lots of "weeks" down at a time in the early part of the calendar year. Well at least you will get your "winter driving" out of the way! Oh... and if you are dedicated, you must chain up And carry on. I wish you all the luck. If you are like the majority, you will get your training and move on. Most companies now require a minimum of 1 year's verifiable experience, unless you wanna work for the swift's/werner/schneiders of the world. I say go for it. Anyone can stomach Swift for a year... I think.... um.... well..... good luck sam!

 

Well misslori, I did say "almost 24/7" .

It's obvious that you have some conflict with Swift and that's a real shame. However I think it's good that both you and I have expressed our views of Swift so that two different views are given.

However, I tried to give a non emotional non partisan view of Swift. I believe I did just that.

 

I do agree with you, however you are not the majority. Once you've been around Swift long enough, you will find that out. I worked hard for them, was very dedicated, and never said a harsh word about them outside my truck to anyone. My issues with them is far deeper, borders on discrimation, lemon laws, multiple truck owners and lost revenue. Sure I have issues with Swift, but overall, I don't think they are any different than other companies of that size, well, except for UPS and FedEx. All trucking companies have problems. I agree. But when you go from January-June of 09 making 336,000 as multiple truck owners, and when they catch on... you lose all 5 teams and 4 trucks inside of 90 days... I'd say you would have emotional partisan options yourself. If you want to get a years experience on the road, then utilize their resourses, but don't bank on a lifetime career with them, it's unheard of. Read up on Jerry Moyes... you'll see what's going on.

 

options = opinions*

 

Did you know?... That as an owner operator for Swift, if you lease your truck through IEL (also owned by Jerry Moyes) and you default on your lease that you have to pay the full amount owed on your 3 year contract? Did you know that early in 2009 that the owner operators were "forced" to sign a contract between themselves and Swift stating that they will lose .02 per mile in fuel surcharges due to the economy, that they cannot leave Swift and drive for another company, and that they can govern their trucks to run the speed "Swift" deems necessary? Did you know that if you did not sign this contract, whether you believed in it's contents or not, as a lease operator that "Swift" threatened to take your freight from your truck/trucks until you do? Did you know that this contract is in direct conflict with the contract you sign when you lease a truck through IEL? It states that if you surrender your base plates, permits, fuel card and Swift "stickers" that you can haul freight for another carrier, yet the "Swift" contract says you can never do that again? Did you know that if you wanted to lease multiple trucks now, you must provide them with the following: A business plan. Answers to 21 questions that they are not legally allowed to ask of a subcontractor, 2 years bank statements showing that you have $5,000 in the bank to cover "whatever needs you might have". They want to see 2 years tax returns to show how you file your expenses...etc. You have to pay $5,000. down on all new trucks and 2500 down on all used trucks? Did you know that the "average" owner operator truck within Swift, team or solo is at this very moment averaging 2000 miles per week? And did you know that it takes on average about 1350 miles per week in an owner operator truck with Swift just to make "nothing"? These are all facts that I have experienced with Swift, and I know what i am talking about. When someone tells you one thing and then forces you to near homelessness in a matter of days, then I would say "emotional" is an understatement.

 

ps... the success rate within IEL for multiple truck owners is 8%. 92% failure rate, and they tell you this up front! What they forget to mention is that they see to it.

 

Thanks MissLori, I'm sure I will survive the swift/warner/schneiders of the world while I get some experience under this belt. And I'm not scared to chain up, just worried about all the other folks driving in crappy conditions and not knowing that the speed limit does NOT apply every day of the year.

- S.S.

 

The adjusted unemployment rate that I have been seeing is near 17%. If you have a day job already, hold on to it & get a night job even if just for the holidays to get some extra cash if need be.

 

Any time Sam. You have the right mindset for a trucker. You come by it honestly, as it appears. I too, come from a long line of truckers, and used to ride with my dad all the time until he went to work for Roadway, of which he's retired now. I love it. And that's the single most important thing you must always remember, Watch out for the other guy. Not just the 4wheelers but the other truckers too. You will get flack from the "old school" guys. They don't like newbies. They don't like Swift. And of course Swift's company trucks now go a whopping 62 miles per hour, so if you choose Swift, be sure not to pass anyone that isn't going 50! You will never make it. I was in Indianapolis a couple of days ago, when an elderly lady merged right in front of me. I was nearly maxed out on weight (78,000 lbs) and had my trailer brakes chattering, bouncing down the highway. She didn't have a clue as to what she just did, nor did my horn even wake her up! So ya gotta be on the lookout all the time! I think you will love it. I know I do! Good luck to you

 

the fact that you have a terminal nearby doesn't mean you'll have more home time. if you're long haul, you'll be gone weeks and weeks at a time. you most definitely won't make more money your first year. if you're lucky, you might make the same, and work TWICE as many hours for it. I notice swift doesn't publish their cents per mile - anyone know what their starting pay is? mabye 26 CPM? multiply that by 1,800 miles a week (yes, the recruiter will tell you 2,500-3,000.....EVERY recruiter will tell you that,) and that will give you an idea of what your W2 will look like. not quite what all the newspaper ads lead you to believe, huh?