Questions, Expectations, Advice.....Swift Bound

Good day all, hope everyone is being safe.

Headed to Millington on Nov 15th, after 7mts of research and reviewing carriers. In doing so I have some questions pertaining mostly to those familiar with Swift, but if anyone else is able to touch on anything or enlighten me at all, I would appreciate that as well. Being new to the industry, i'm going in with an attitude of I don't know jack, am here to shut up, listen and learn, not expecting a cake walk, hardly ever expecting things to go my way and putting my best foot forward to do the best job possible so that i'm able to place myself into a better situation. I know better than listening to everything that I hear as everyone won't steer you in the right direction, but with that said I do appreciate any and everyones input. So far, you've all been great in assisting me with any questions, thanks again!


1. In heading to Millington on Nov 15th, just before Thanksgiving of course. Given the time of year, should I expect anything special such as class size, course delays or anything else? Just as hometime (no home) or Vacation isn't important to me, neither is beggining my career just before a Holiday. It seems like their pushing for people to go the 15th, but they didn't have to push hard for me at all.

2. How drastic of a change from a drivers aspect should I expect to takeplace in the spring business wise, in which I imagine I'll just be getting use to being solo. I understand I'm entering the business during the "busy" season, but would just like to know what to possibly expect.

3. WHAT CAN I DO TO BEGIN PREPARING MYSELF IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS BEFORE HEADING TO TRAINING? If anyone knows the Swift Pre-Trip, and anything else that would give me a slight edge by knowing upon arrival in Millington, I would appreciate it VERY much.

4. How can I stay on my dispatcher's good side, given the fact that i'm not always going to like everything that they do? Should I accept evey load offer regardless of the miles? I wan't to be as helpful as possible and do everything I can to be in their good graces so that I get better loads, but at the same time I don't want to be taken advantage of.

5. What is Swift's stance on chains on tires and driver's decision to proceed in bad weather? I originally looked at Stevens and they do not allow chains and also leave it up to the drivers as far as pulling over in unsafe conditions.

6. With no experience driving a manual transmission, is there any recommendations to tools (other than youtube) that may help me become somewhat accustomed to the basics before I arrive at training?

7. Does Swift have designated truck stops, and places to fuel? Or is it the drivers determination?

8. About how often can I expect to be sitting at a truck stop waiting on a load? I don't expect to deliver one load and have another one to pick up ALL the time, and I won't be surprised when to be sitting at a truck stop for days waiting for a load.

9. Is starting off making $30-40k a year with Swift a realistic expectation? "No money in trucking" seems to be a never ending debate but I see it as, to each and all their own. I hear "you can make more delivering pizza's" alot, but to me that's fine because driving a truck instead of delivering pizza's take's away the fact of me having to pay a mortgage, car note and utility bills in which its actually not the same as delivering pizza's but in fact more. I tend to think that with dedication & sacrafice, its totally realistic for me to consider walking away from OTR after 3 years with around 90k saved up in the bank, and looking to get on with a local company. (then I'll buy a home and complain that there is no money in trucking).

10. If you could go back to your training, is there anything you would've payed more attention to, or questions that you should have asked in which a newbie such as myself may be overlooking?

Thank you very much again for any and all input in addressing some of my questions and concerns. I've seen answers to alot of these questions in bits and pieces of other threads, but I understand that alot of them are particular to specific companies. I plan on starting a thread documenting my entire expirence from the application process, to training, to driving once I ship off. Thanks again everyone, appreciate it.