Some Questions? Starting Swift Orientation @ Ocala, FL 10/23/12

What method is Swift having drivers submand trip reports (BOL) in for pay? TripPak, Transflo, etc...

And what day do the trip reports have to be in for pay on the following pay period? I understand payday is Tuesday - weekly?

Are Swift trucks mostly 10-speeds?

Looking forward to get back on the road. Appreciate your feedback on the above questions.

 

Transflo
Mostly 9 Speeds, it is my understanding the new ones are 10s

 

Paychecks (direct deposit) is weekly on Tuesday. The cutoff is the previous Wednesday night/Thursday morning, but I don't know exactly what time that is . When you first start, after 20 consecutive trip bols scanned on time (within 7-8 days, I believe), you become eligible for accelerated pay. This just means that you get paid for the trip based on your empty call. If you're ever late to turn in paperwork, accelerated pay is suspended until that trip bol is scanned.

Like Balakov100 said, sleeper trucks are pretty much just 9-speeds, with a few autos mixed in, and every day cab I've driven has been a 10-speed.

 

IF you ALREADY KNOW how to drive a truck, going to the academy is a good idea... otherwise you are better off getting a student loan and going to a Good truck school because YOU ARE IN for not enough trucks to students ratio and if you do not pass the skills you could go home owing 4000 and no job and it DOES HAPPEN.
OH, IF PHOENIX IS THE MODEL... as soon as you have ANY DIFFICULTY YOU BECOME PART OF THE GROUP that the instructors yell at and put more people to a truck...
This comes from someone who PASSED the skills by the way, but I would NOT RECOMMEND the academy...

 

Thanks for the response. yes, already been to school in past, drove for Werner, got off road due to a family issue, and now looking to get back out there. Swift is the restarting point to to gain more experience until I can afford to move up and onward. Again thanks.

 

Getting the Trips scanned shouldn't be a problem anymore.

Used to have to send in the Envelopes.

Transflo made it easier, then the PFJ Merger.
So now Transflo can be done at Loves or any PFJ.

Are they still doing the Auto Pay after the first 13 or whatever?

 

I read that auto pay is now after 20 with no issues.

 

What is autopay?

 

Then Swift Academy might work for you great, its an interest free loan and a short course and you know you have a job... flatbed people get more miles and they also get the dry van loads when there is no flat bed freight and now they split the mentoring so you are not stuck waiting for a mentor if you want to go that route....

 

No, I do not need to attend another school. I have attended 2 truck driving schools (1992 Bradford Union Vo-Tech and 2010 Roadmaster of Jacksonville) previously. Drove for Silver Eagle Transport 1992 and Werner 2010. Choosing Swift, as they will accept my limited experience of 10-months in last 3 years. Thanks though for your input.