New Swift Academy graduate, ok to take a job elsewhere?

Seems odd to me that Dr. Pepper would be interviewing you with no miles under your belt. You may want to stick with swift. Because when you go that interview. They may say o we thought you had miles under your belt.

GET THE HELL OUT OF MY OFFICE NEWBIE LMAO....

By the way I graduated from lewiston idaho last year. Swift Academy was a good school. I had perfecto... He had a few million miles under his belt when he trained me. I heard he retired now though.

Swift Training, puts absolutely nothing on your DAC report. Now if you leave with a mentor and something happens. Then yes something will go on your DAC report. Like: REHIRE NO...

Usually you have entered into a 1 year contract with SWIFT. Did you pay CASH for your training there?

I would call Dr. Pepper and ask them how many miles or months you need to drive for them. Unless there going to stick your RIGHT SEAT. If they stick you RIGHT SEAT you will be the guy that does all the #### work and never gets to drive.

 

Since you went through the training with Swift they will expect you to work for them. If you do go to Dr Pepper Swift will be sending you a bill for your training.

I not sure if I would want a job with DP, that can be more than you expect.

 

Just curious... I don't understand... You were graduated from Swift... doesn't that mean that you have some sort of commitment with them? What happens if you don't work for them? Wouldn't they want you to "pay" for your training? Just asking for I have no idea how that works. I got my CDL from a community college. In any case, nothing impedes you from going to interview with Dr. Pepper.... If you do go to their interview, be forthcoming and tell them about your graduation from Swift. All the best to you.

 

any of these beverage companies
don't guarantee full time work
seniority gets the best runs
and it is a lot of work humping cases of soda

 

My advice is the same as what the guys above said. Just ask Dr. Pepper a crap load of questions before you make the decision.

How long do I get to drive? What loads will I be doing? Where would I be driving? How many miles do I get drive?

They do a crap load of stop and go. So, you might drive 20 miles, unload for 30 minutes. Then drive another 20 miles to unload for another 30 minutes. Then drive another 20 miles to unload for 30 minutes.

All N All, you only get like 200 miles a day. If that. Maybe only 120 miles a day.

Ok now think, as a OTR driver you can make 100,000 miles in 251 days.

Working for Dr. Pepper. It will take you 10 years to make 100,000 miles.

Its probably not to that extreme but you get the point.

The goal to truck driving is to get above 100,000 miles as fast as you can to switch to a high paying driving job. Besides driving for these training companies.

Every where looks at 100,000 miles as 1 year of experience.

 

$31,500.00 is very low pay for a truck driver. Plus, that low pay with a beverage company that ruins your back & the jerks you will have to deal with at grocery stores, etc. it's not worth it.

$31,500.00 for a drivers first year is common, but after that first year, if you have all the endorsements, is extremely low pay. With proper planning you should be making at least $50K after around 18 months and many motivated drivers are in the $60K plus pay range. It can be done if you're a hard charging motivated driver. It just depends on what standard of living one is content with.