Swift is a good company

I am a new driver and plan on starting my career with Swift. I was wondering if you trained at the TN facility? Or could tell me how soon you became a solo driver. Plus you said you did not make much ... how many miles were you given in a typical week?

Thanks in advance

 

Truth be told I don't think a lot of people at this company are even averaging 2k a week. Swift has been giving me loads that requires 4-7 hrs of total driving (which means you can deliver the same say) that delivers 1.5-2days later. I must have been pissing the planners off cause I keep getting those loads and have been delivering waaaay early! Remember you do not get paid to babysit company equipment and cargo. You get paid to drive.

 

Just completed a three week stint and am home for a few days. I left on Dec. 27 with a load to Fort Worth from Prewitt, NM. While unloading in Fort W#orth was given one load I couldn't take because of HOS and was given another load within 30 minutes from Garland, TX to Pueblo, CO. Problem with this load is the shipper changed the shipping date to two days later. After sitting for a couple of hours while customer service sorted it out, the load was taken off and I headed for Lancaster. Shortly after arriving in Lancaster I was given a load going to San Angelo. Left with it the next morning and halfway there was told to deadhead to Amarillo for a load going to Indiana. I asked for a t-call as it was 1,014 loaded miles and 5.5 days to run it. Was given t-call in Edwardsville. Picked the load up the next morning and headed for Kansas. I arrived in Kansas on New Year's day and t-called the load and was told (as I expected) "No freight today." I had a little hangup here as I was hit by a rock coming out of Amarillo and developed an OOS length crack in the windshield which did not get repaired until Saturday. Was given a load out of Edwardsville on Sunday to Duncan, OK. Delivered late at night and by mid-morning the next day I was on my way to OKC to pick up a load going to Hurricane, UT. This allowed me an overnight at home enroute. About 6 hours from Hurricane I was preplanned on a load from Cedar City to Pueblo, CO. It wasn't set for p/u until late the next day so I didn't go far that day. Delivered the load this past Monday in Pueblo and was given a load from Pueblo to Kansas City which I delivered on the 13th. Before I got near Kansas City I was preplanned on a load going from Kansas City to California that I was to t-call in Albuquerque. I picked that load up that evening and headed towards Albuquerque. I dropped that load yesterday and made it home on time.

While picking that last load up a Swift O/O told me that Memphis said they were seeing an increase in freight. Hopefully it will begin to pick up because with all that I listed above I am only at 3,700 miles and we are half way through the month of January. I have read that some economists now believe the economy may begin an upswing by the beginning of the third quarter. That will bode well for everyone's miles.

 

thanks for the detailed post ... it is appreciated

 

Hay pawpaw Thank you for the update. I will be in school Monday in Tenn.

 

Macho I am a week or two behind you ... any info yoiu can share about your experience woudl be appreicated

 

I got my CDL from a independent school. 6 weeks with a trainer, before I became a solo driver.. Miles were on average 1500, to 2500 a week. I did have some that were around 3000, but like I said most of the lost miles could be traced back to me as I was new and did not understand all the ropes. If and when I decide to go back otr Swift will be my first choice..

 

I will try to do updates. I just don't know if they have internet at the hotel. Is there anybody that can tell me if they had internet in the hotel. I'm thinking of taking my laptop but I don't want to take it if I can't get connected. Any info will be appreciated

 

I don't know about any swift sponsored hotels having internet but some to of the terminals do offer internet. Just bring your self a network cable in cause they don't have wifi.

 

Thanks for the quick response