Pros and Cons of SWIFT

Well, If things go for me as planned, I hope to start with SWIFT and getting my cdl at their academy (in Millington,TN I presume), sometime in Feb/Mar 2011.

I have read posts in the SWIFT forum, but to get a more current feel of the company from a driver's perspective, I am asking all you current or recent company drivers what in your opinions are the Pro's of working at Swift, and the Cons? What you like about them, what you can't stand about them, or wish they would change.
Also, since SWIFT doesn't allow invertors, how do you get around that and what do you do for cooking, cold food storage, electronic/tv toys, and such. I am sure most are 12 volt gear, and if so, your recommendations for what you have found as most durable or performance.
I'd like to know what I can expect (pro and con remember?) about both the cdl program and as a company driver. Try to keep the comments and or criticism professional. If you are going to tell me: "Dude, Swift sucks!", at least tell me in a constructive manner why you think they "suck." Feel free to PM me with your uncensored comments.
I appreciate all comments and say "thank you" in advance.

 

Well, like any trucking company, Swift has it's warts. But the thing is, what bugs me, might not bother you. For example: Swift neuters the HP of most of the rigs. I like having all the ponies available to climb a hill, but I don't speed (who needs to pay $160 for a ticket?) so that bugged the heck out of me. I am adult enough to obey the danged limit, but they are dealing with a ton of drivers so they set to the problem children.

One positive was I was never hassled on paying for scale tickets at the CAT scales. Pop out a quick macro requesting the cash (even before scaling) and the money was on my card in 10 minutes.

One negative was some clown giving me two fuel stops (50 gallons here, 100 there) on a 400 mile run. Yes, I know it save money for the company but it eats my clock.

I had some terrible dispatchers (Sumner, WA). You may have great dispatchers where you are. My (1st) DM thought my rig should go home for even 10 hr breaks; My 2nd DM wouldn't let me bobtail out of the gate for a burger.

I had a great shop, yours might stink like an old outhouse. That's one reason using the same terminal daily came in handy; I quickly became friends with lot's of the grease monkeys and got great service.

My point is that Swift is a huge company with large variances from terminal to terminal or fleet to fleet.

On the 12V side, I used 2 coolers, 1 large for food (mini fridge, $100) and a small one for drinks ($30, TS). Cooking was done in a "lunchbox oven" ($25 TS) with lots of soups and canned foods. A 12v frypan can be used for eggs and such. A buddy carried a 1 burner propane camp stove that he used on the back deck.

Entertainment was a laptop with DVD (TV show seasons), books (electronic ones are cool) and XM radio. Oh and you can have a small inverter if it plugs into the cig lighter. Good enough to charge electronics but not cook.

 

I have started gravitating towards Swift as well. My recruiter says you can ask to have an inverter installed by the shop, but you can't install it yourself. Don't know if that is true or not...

Also, she says that the engines are not neutered...they are only top speed governed. They have full power until you hit 60MPH.

 

Yeah, but that's gonna kill you pulling a grade.

 

I was told the same thing when I started almost 4 years ago. Then when I went into the shop to ask them to put it in, I was told they can only put an inverter in the truck if the driver has a note from a doctor. I guess that's for CPAPs.

Some recruiters lie, some simply have no idea what they're talking about. Swift does not allow inverters that wire directly to the batteries in the company trucks.

 

So, only the 1000W plug in ones?

 

I'm with inonly on this.....I don't care what the recruiter says, there are no hardwired inverters allowed except for medical reasons.

Palazon's post was excellent.

 

Does Swift have APU's in their trucks?