Questions for current Swift drivers

Do you have a link to the ruling?

 

I agree with YankTex47 What you guys are doing is not what this thread is about. If you want to have your own thread go and get your own and let the guy find the info he wants.

 

To answer your questions, hometime is no problem. They get me home when i need to be. Swift is hurting now and as a result, they have cut back a bit.

They give you 1 day for every 7 out and you must be out for 4 weeks to go home for 4 days, otherwise you have to clean out your truck and wait to get reassigned to a new one, so unless it's some sort of emergency, don't plan on being home longer than what they give you without giving up your truck.

Drivers are taking a .01 cpm pay cut starting April 27th and this will be in effect for two months and bonuses will be halted temporarily. Even office personnel are required to furlough for a week without pay. Towels are no longer provided at the terminals and the shower reimbursement program has been cut for a while.

Miles are good and bad right now depending on where you are. If I averaged out my miles for the entire time I've been with Swift, probably in the range of 1500 miles per. I usually ran around 2000 mpw and occasionally close to 3k until November of 2k8 that's when the #### hit the fan in this indutry, though it has been a little slower than normal from what I understand since mid 2007.

I had a great tour last time out and ran very well, but I went home for a while taking a couple vacation days and had to clean the truck out. Not too bad though since I'm in a new International.

Not the greatest time to start out in the industry no doubt, but they are forecasting an increase in the 3rd quarter so July should be good.

I can say one thing about Swift after having driven for them for almost a year and a half, they are generally fair. That's all you can really ask of any company is fairness.

The equipment is kept up well except for the occasional POS trailer. Most of the equipment out here is great. My last two trucks were in great shape and this International is outstanding (except for my high SWR issue)!

As a newb you can expect to bring home around $400 per week depending on how long you stay out, and that is as long as you don't get stuck somewhere, but they will pay layover when it meets their criteria and that means you have to have been available to run for a minimum of 24 hrs.

So if you set your PTA for 4/16 0800 and you don't get offered a load until 4/17 0815 then you're due $50. Same for breakdown pay and they will put you in a motel if necessary. Just make sure to get a PO number from your dm for any expense (minus tolls) over $20.00.

I usually stay out for three weeks and home for 3. Just recently, I was staying out for 2 weeks and going home for 4 days using my vacation days but they recently decided not to allow you to split up vacation days.


As for the Millington, TN issue, Swift doesn't issue CDL's that would be the state of TN. The third party testers are licensed by TN and if Swift was doing anything wrong, TN is at least part of the blame.

Hope that helps.

 

Yep. Miles above JB Hunt and Schneider drivers, whos income goes toward fixing those piano crates they like to call a truck, cause the company they work for is too cheap to fix them for the drivers.

 

1) Do you feel the training was sufficient to let you out solo?
Honestly at first no but as I built confidence and reflected back on my training its been good. I feel they can only teach you so much, Most you will learn by doing. Training is hit and miss. My last mentor thank god took his job seriously and taught me more in two weeks than I learned in four from my previous.

2) How many miles are you averaging per week?
between 1500 and 2000.

3) What are your net take home pays averaging per week?
Id rather not say! Yes its not alot but it is what it is.

4) How long are you usually out before heading home?
5 to 6 days.

5) Have they been cooperative in getting you home when you want?
Absolutly! I have a great DM.

6) What do you like about the company?
Everyone is pretty friendly. New equipment, They fix my tractor when broke. Ive been getting better miles lately. No one asks me to run illegal or pushes me too. If i'm not comfortable about something thats that.

7) What do you hate about the company?
I feel hate is a pretty strong word, So I'm going to use dislikes. We all have different experiances due to us being different people. Over all my dislikes are minamal and not worth even mentioning.

Are you happy with the equipment and how well do they take care of the equipment?
Well thats a big 10-4. They take care of my equipment exceptionally. If I have a problem they fix it. If its a bigger job but isnt going to sacrifice the truck or motor and they are busy. I will run it still than bring it back in when they have more time. I have never been asked or told to run my truck by anyone at Swift with a major problem.....

9) Do they let you install an inverter?
I have no opinion on the matter because I dont care. Its not a necessity. Last I heard a plug in one under 200 was ok!