Swift Academy Repayment?

@Six9GS

 

I went in 2019. Prices were a bit different but I forget how much exactly. I think it was a total of $7700 at that time. Also, the details on mine were a bit different because I'm a Veteran and they had a Veterans program that made it all alittle easier and simpler. But, work for them for a year or pay back the tuition was still a thing for me.
Anyway, I didn't have any trouble staying a year. I've never heard or even any rumors of letting a driver go right before like you mention. They do let drivers go. Easiest way I know of to get fired by Swift is have, what they consider, unsafe driving habits and be unwilling to improve and change them. Bottom line is Swift is pretty much always short of drivers to cover their loads. They do not lightly let go of a driver. But, they will let one go.. The $8000 tuition thing is not much of a liability in the scheme of things. Also, there are different bean counters that deal with the tuition stuff than deal with the drivers making money running loads. So, one doesn't bleed over into the other.
Anyway, some companies, at least used to, buy out your tuition expenses if you leave before the year is up with Swift and go with them. Had 1 driver from my class switch to Knight and Knight paid off his tuition. Another gal went to Werner and they did the same thing. I'm unsure of what financial arrangements those 2 driver made with their new companies about paying them back for their Swift tuition fees. But, the new companies paid off what they owed Swift when they went to work for them.
All that said, Swift isn't a bad place to get that first year anyway. At least it wasn't for me. And, still with them after 2 & 1/2 years.
I definitely understand why drivers don't stay with Swift long term. But, for a starter company and to get that first year, I honestly think Swift is one of the better choices unless you are able and want to go through a community College or similar. Even then, you get the CDL but still have to find a starter company. Due to insurance expenses for brand new drivers, there are many trucking companies that frown on hiring a new and completely inexperienced driver. It's just an expensive insurance liability to them and then having to train a driver on how to do the job. So, even if you go the community College route, you'll have limited options.

 

Yeah, you do seem alittle paranoid about it. I had 2 preventables during my first year and 1 overweight ticket. I've turned down loads without reprisal. And, my safety scores were not perfect. Also, I've stopped LOTS of times for weather conditions that I was uncomfortable driving in. In many cases causing the load to be late. Never had any hint of coercion to get me back on the road, never had any retaliation for it and it is actual my number 1 thing about working for Swift. I've got an unrepraoched authority to shut down if I think it is unsafe to drive. I've actually shut down twice because my mental and emotional condition at the time were such that it was not safe for me to be on the road. Swift handled both of those situations with humanity and kindness. I felt bad about it, but my reality was I simply wasn't safe to be driving, so I shut down.
With a 65 mph governed truck, you can still get a speeding ticket, although in many places you simply don't have to worry about it.
What you have to worry about is not being a safe driver and then not changing to improve your safety.
And, NO, it is NOT in their financial interest to let a driver go so they can recoup their training fee. It IS in their interest to have a driver running loads and making money.
Good luck to you. No matter where you go and what you do, you'll be taking and chance and risk is involved. However, Swift is geared for taking driver with no experience and developing them into profession, proficient, and safe drivers. They will put diligent effort into developing a driver toward that. Only those that refuse to change bad habits or are simply incompetent and can't be improved are let go. So, if you honestly think you have enough willingness and humility to develop new and different driving habits, those needed to be a safe driver, you very most likely never have to worry about Swift letting you go. I'd bet good money their training program loses them money and that they simply factor that loss into it all. In the long run, if they can develop a driver and keep them running loads, they make money. They've been doing this for a long time. They know what their doing. Even though they give many who should never consider being a driver a chance and end up with bad results. Those are the ones who tend to show up on the Swiftie dumb driver videos.
Go into this with 3 priorities, importantly in this order: 1. Be safe. 2. Be legal. 3. Get the load delivered on time. Never compromise about being safe and legal to get a load delivered on time.

 

I remember one driver that went for 5 years and still was fearful and paranoid about a trucking career. I asked him about the other students that were in his class at cdl school. I said, those other classmates are 5 years closer to retirement than you are. He said, yeah, but the reviews frighten me and I don't want to make a mistake. So, he was letting drivers he had never met in person and stuff he read online, keep him unemployed. One company sent a plane ticket and two others sent bus tickets to go to orientation, and he still stayed home and didn't even call the companies to let them know he wouldn't be there for orientation. He finally stopped posting on here.
Note: Swift/Knight have 23,000 trucks on the road; very successful company. Didn't become so successful by having policies of mistreating drivers.
I haven't worked for Swift, but have worked for several companies. Every one of them I was warned and told I would regret it and would be mistreated. That made me even more bullheaded to take the jobs. I refused to let some whiner truck driver run my life and make decisions for me.

 

Rule #2.
If you are fearful of trucking to the point of complete paralysis, then, trucking is not for you.

 

Rule #1:
Life is what you make of it.

 

One crazy rumor that's been going around for years, is that trucking companies make lots of money by hiring drivers, then spend thousands of dollars training them, then fire them, then the Federal Government rewards them by giving the trucking company a big check; the government is paying companies to fire drivers.....lol.
So, trucks sitting empty, not hauling freight because the real money is in being paid to fire drivers.