running all 48

If the question is run all 48 or western. There is more freight to be had on the east cost. Some pay more money there too.

Tucking is a little easier on the west side. Easier to find the places and parking and that makes a difference. The roads are newer and built with large trucks in mind same with the shippers, receivers, and docks.

I say if your confident with your skills suck it up and make some money on the east side. If you are doubting you skills run the western as it is less likely to get you in trouble.

Either way check in here to find out how trucking companies actually work you can learn a lot.

I am from the west side but I like trucking on the east for the challenge and the money. But that is me. Many others request the west as the situation is easier.

 

Sorry, do not know what happened with this double post. Read prior and following.

 

I would write off Swift. There are better options for the worst drivers than Swift right now. Anyway Swift will likely push you into all 48. They cannot get drivers to run on the east cost without wrecking trucks! Unless you are somebody they will tell you they do not have a western division. That is not true. It is just one of the many lies Swift will have in store for you. The other is that they have frieght.

 

Check these that hire new CDL grads; they all do even if the website has "experience required."

CTL Transportation
Schneider Bulk
Superior Carriers
Trimac
Airgas
SVTN
Tidewater Transit

 

TMB, you sound like a jealous CR England driver. Not one thing you said about Swift is true.

Yes, by default, Swift does start everyone out in the National fleet, running the 48 states. The reason for that is simple; the company has the most flexibility in dispatching you. If you're in this business to make money, you don't want to limit yourself to one area. Most of the freight in the US is east of I-35 and north of I-40. As in, something like 2/3 of it. If you want to be limited to one of the regions, talk to your driver manager.

And if Swift doesn't have freight, then why am I taking a 34 every week with less than 5 hours left on my 70, and 2500+ miles on my paycheck? And why do I see Swift trailers on non-Swift tractors, such as UPS? The reason is that Swift has more freight than they have drivers to pull it.

Swift is the largest truckload company in the USA. They don't get that way by "wrecking trucks".

 

Everything I said about Swift is true. If you like Swift don't take it personal you are not Swift. I will tell the smack about CRE as well.

That is not necessarily true. If you are the right profile swift will move you right in a cherry dedicated account as a new driver. Seen it done countless times. They used to let you chose western but they cannot keep drivers in the east.

Swift makes all its money on dedicated accounts. OTR is just a place to screw drivers over in anticipation of the seasonal surge.

Good for you. That is not the average Swift driver.
1700 is a high average milage for a Swift.

Swift leases trailers out to UPS by the thousands. The freight is UPS's not Swifts. If it was Swift's it would be pulled at a cheaper price by a cheap Swift driver and truck. You do not see anyone leaving UPS to work for Swift.

Swift has less freight than drivers. Thats why their driver turnover is above 100%. UPS has less then 5%. Swift only has freight around the christmas seasonal surge. Most of Swifts drivers are there to cover that surge. January and February those drivers will be looking for other jobs after Swift fires them and clocks their DAC.

Sure did. Cheap drivers pulling cheap freight wrecking cheap trucks. Nothing personal remember you are not Swift.

 

How long have you worked for Swift?

 

Well technical fed ex is the largest but hay who is counting. Swift is what you make of it. Sounds like you worked for them and didnt really like it.

 

Well, technically FedEx is an LTL carrier...