New Swift Driver Questions

Discussion in 'Swift' started by Ryyus, Mar 20, 2011.

  1. Ryyus

    Ryyus Bobtail Member

    13
    10
    Sep 23, 2010
    3rd Rock from the Sun
    0
    Hello, I have been reading over the Swift Forums here (just recently discovered this site) and have a few questions.

    1) Do you go on the payroll after the orientation physical OR not until you are assigned a mentor? I ask this because I have read a few posts that some students experienced a long wait time until they got a mentor (weeks). So it could be weeks before receiving any pay. Or is that not the norm?

    2) It appears that most (or all?) of the Swift Fleet do NOT have APU's - and I have read some about drivers getting fines for extended idle times? What do you do if it is hot or really cold as we do travel into some areas of extreme weather? Just suffer - lol?

    3) I was told (by Swift recruiter) that the training is 240hrs. This is my driving time, correct? So it could take longer than 4 weeks if you don't get enough seat time, due to short haul loads and dead time waiting to be dispatched?

    4) Does training with mentor also require all zones of the US, certain number of bumping docks, certain number of mountain passes, required number of miles, etc etc



    Just wondering before I travel to orientation, like many I suppose just starting out, money is extremely tight and I need to plan expenses if it could be a week or more before I get assigned a mentor.

    Thanks in advance for your assistance, I appreciate it! :biggrin_25515:
     
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  3. Time

    Time Light Load Member

    75
    74
    Jan 17, 2011
    Vancouver, WA
    0
    This post answers questions 1 and 3:

    http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr.../139292-want-know-what-new-trucker-makes.html

    2 is a variable. If your idle is out of whack with your fleet, someone may look into it and make recommendations but there are no fines. Stay comfortable but don't dump buckets of company money out the window.

    4 is going to depend on what fleet your mentor runs . . if it's dedicated or regional, you'll get experience accordingly. I wanted OTR from day 1. My first trainer was NW dedicated and ran heavy haul in a very narrow I-5 corridor. He was good and we had a good relationship but, after about 3 weeks, trip planning was non existent. I asked for and got a second trainer who ran heavy haul throughout WA, OR, ID, MT, UT and Canada or inter-mountain. Between the two, I got off to a strong start and have run strong since.

    Your location is a little vague so I can't recommend fleets to pursue or avoid.
     
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  4. DC CAB

    DC CAB Medium Load Member

    You are not officially hired until you receive your driver code. You will not be "coded" until the third (final) day of orientation. In some instances, you may not be coded that day. That does not mean you're not hired. It just means they are waiting on some paperwork to be completed. You can be hired/on payroll and still get paid due to not having a mentor. So no, you will not get paid because you are not working. But you will be payroll.

    I don't know about fines, but they do let you know if you're idling too much.

    I've heard this as well. I trained under the old 6 week deal. So do what you can to get the hours under your belt. Safely, of course.

    You don't have to train over all 48. My mentor was on a Costco dedicated. I was home every night and off weekends. The only requirement I remember having to entertain was backing up. I had to do a certain amount of back ups to get through training.

    If it were to come that you would have a wait time for a mentor, then you would be sent home and the assigned mentor would basically come get you (meet you near your home). Good luck and (if you're inked into orientation) welcome to Swift.
     
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  5. Ryyus

    Ryyus Bobtail Member

    13
    10
    Sep 23, 2010
    3rd Rock from the Sun
    0
    Understood, always into saving money, even if it is not mine - feel it is a two-way street: if I look out for the company (like not wasting money), it helps me too. Just was wondering based on some of the posts here about idle times.

    re: location - I will be relocating to California, scheduled to attend Fontana location at this point. I am looking for a regional route, but understand based on recruiter that it is usually 6-months before you can request that (subject to availability I'm sure)
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2011
  6. Ryyus

    Ryyus Bobtail Member

    13
    10
    Sep 23, 2010
    3rd Rock from the Sun
    0
    I'm confused - on payroll but still get paid, but don't get paid because I am not working...

    Understand, never want to waste company money, not a good thing, but was wondering about it since I have read comments here and some states have no-idle laws.

    Ok, I will drive as much as my mentor allows, safely, and of course within my HOS.

    Cool. I am looking for a regional route but understand that I will need to have 6-months with company before I can request/get assigned one - subject to availability of course.

    Makes sense, just checking since I am basically relocating at this point and everyday without income while waiting will kill me. I have a date for orientation but not sure if that means I am "inked in" or still in pencil - lol
     
  7. Injun

    Injun Road Train Member

    8,501
    9,491
    May 15, 2010
    West o' the Big Crick
    0
    You can be coded and on payroll and not receive a check. You don't get paid for not working, whether waiting for a mentor or not. You aren't producing anything (miles) when you're not assigned to a truck. The difference between training time and getting your own truck is while you are on your mentor's truck, you get a specified amount of money each week regardless of productivity. When you get your own truck, your pay is directly affected by your productivity.

    You will get your driver code and if there is a mentor ready for you, you will get paid (prorated) at the next pay period. If you are coded but not assigned to a mentor's truck and there is a wait time, you don't get paid to wait. I don't know of any company that pays you to wait for a trainer after orientation.
     
  8. DC CAB

    DC CAB Medium Load Member

    Right. Basically, orientation is a 3 day interview. You're not officially hired until you have received your driver code. Once you're hired, you're on payroll. But until you reach your mentor's truck, you will not be getting paid. Once you're assigned and got on and rolling with that mentor, you will then start receiving a check for a set amount each week that you are on that truck. One way this will cease while still in training is if you and your mentor can't get along and you get off his truck, you will revert back to no checks until you climb aboard another mentor's truck.

    If you have a date for orientation, then you're in.
     
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