Swift Driver Here

I was told by recruiter after 90 days i would be elligible for a dedicaited
run is this bs

 

You might be eligible, but the waiting list is around 1yr or so, depending on your location of course.

 

Dedicated runs seem to be a holy grail if you're OTR, Im hoping I'll get one, been looking at Jb Hunts job board for when I get some experience, haul coils 2100 miles for the week, 46 cents a mile. and home every weekend

But Im sure by a year of experience, I'll find something better I want to go after.

Thanks for the great posts Martman, leaving for Millington out of Gary in about a week here. Hope to see you on the road!

 

Marty, are you still with Swift now (summer 2009) If so
how are things there now? Are you still happy and how many miles per week do you average now? Any other advise about life at Swift would be appreciated.

Thanks
Stetson

 

Maybe it's that great safety program that puts drivers with only 6 months experience as drivers trainers that's responsible for that great record. as far as I'm concerned I don't think Swift knows the meaning of safety.

Just for the record you can't be a trainer with less than one year driving for Swift. The following is from there web site on this subject. I'm sure Swift has many points on which they can be justifiably beat up, but the six month trainer accusations are wrong.
"Mentor Programs
After you've been a Swift driver for at least a year, you'll have the opportunity to teach other drivers the ins and outs of professional driving. When you do, you'll be able to earn extra income for taking on this important role. "

"At Swift, the position of driver mentor is only open to those drivers who are the best of the best. Prospective mentors must complete an extensive mentor certification program. They must also be patient and possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills."

I haven't looked on Werner's site lately but unless their policy has recently changed you could become a trainer in 6 months at Werner.

If you want to see some very good companies then look at Chevron, BP, Con-way, Wal-mart, and even Schneider. I realize that a new driver could not get hired on with Chevron or BP and I don't know about Wal-mart but Schneider has taken new drivers. You can do much better if you just go out and do some leg work.[/quote]

Schneider, has discontinued their training program as has many of the former starter carriers. There are so many experienced drivers looking for work now coupled with drastically reduced freight base, that Schneider and many others have chosen to not run an expensive training program when their driver needs can now be met with experienced drivers.

I'm not out to offend or argue with anyone on this or any other subject. I don't think anybody on here wants to intentionally put out bad information. Don't take my word for it go to the company sites and read for yourself, if I'm wrong please show the correct information as I too do not wish to add to the volume of bad information already available.

With that being said, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you who contribute to this forum, as it has provided me and many others vast in sights into the trucking business.

 

I just got my CDL yesterday in Rocky Mount, N.C. and completed the Swift Driving Academy in Millington, Tn. just two weeks ago. I have read many posts on this site, and others like it, the negative comments on Swift Transportation regarding just about any issue from the school, to the drivers, and the administration of Swift. It's so easy to be critical, but there is really nothing that I might say or write to pursuade those that posture negative dispositions and attitudes about Swift, and or any and everything else! My only advice to any that may qualify as one of the aforementioned is, life is sure a lot more enjoyable when "you stop your ########!"

I am genuinely excited about working for Swift and getting back out on the road. I haven't driven in thirty years and decided it was in my best interest to go to a school and get the proper training than just to take the DMV and DOT exams and hit the road! I found the school in Millington to be very good, and if I had to rate it, on a 1 to 10, I would give it a 8.5. The only negatives about the school are the lodging arrangements (four guys to a room) and the fact that due to the economy, there were a number of guys that showed up taking advantage of the free transportation, without a dime in their pockets! Now that isn't Swift's doings or fault at all, but the number of grown men that showed up with the intention of pan handling off of the rest of the students really took away from the total experience.

The learning experience and the material at the academy was very good. The instructors were professional and most posessed a sincere demeanor in regards to the students best interests. If asked, I would recommend the Academy for those that are serious about learning to drive a tractor trailer. There were a number of students that were not happy and complained about any number of things that we were exposed to at the academy. However, I researched the company, the academy, and many other schools and companies before I chose Swift, and I was not surprised by anything that went on at the academy and everything was very much as disclosed by the recruiters and as I had expected.

For those that might be interested, I scored a perfect score on my pre-trip, a perfect score on my skills test, and received 1 point on my road test, and the examiner gave me that after he asked me an unrelated question as we drove over a marked bridge and then later asked me "what the weight limit was on that bridge back there was?" I told him that I felt it wasn't fair that he asked me that as he was talking to me when we passed over it, he laughed and said that "nobody gets a perfect score", but "you almost did!" Knowing that he set me up for that 1 point was really pretty cool and at the end of the day, the testing expedrience in Rocky Mount was great too!

I look forward to getting passed by many of you out on the road, and as you go by give this a thought; I'm not looking in my mirrors for the State Troopers to sneak up on me and write me a five-hundred dollar speeding ticket, you better bet that I'm singing my voice out to some good rock-n-roll and enjoying every mile as I take in the beauty of the landscape as I crawl by at 62 mph! It truley is not about getting from your point of origin to your destination as fast as you can, it's the experience of getting there that is the real quality of the drive! I honestly do know the difference, remeber when I said I haven't driven in thirty years, I used to drive over five-thousand miles a week solo and I wouldn't attempt that again for all of the tea in China!

Happy Trails,

Carolina Cowboy

 

I'm so glad there is someone out there having a good experience with Swift! I am playing phone tag with the recruiter. I want to start my new career as soon as possible. Keep posting its so good just to hear a new experience... Be safe out there

 

If you are dealing with the FL recruiter Gary Grayston, keep in mind he is lying
S.O.B. Swift would do well to get rid of his sorry ***.

 

Yup, ya'll only pass everybody else in the construction zones. Check back in 6 month intervals, we'll see how it goes!! Wishing you Good Luck........

 

Good to hear somthin good about these guys, anyone else goin on dec 14?