Swift Is Good

This is one of my major gripes about the big companies... the driver mills... they do this to screw with you, and it's like having a gun held to your head. This is just one of many common practices used and again... in the long term, can hurt or ruin the career of a driver. Just Not right. Good luck to you... not much out there. Schneider is hiring on the west coast. So is Crete. Some better companies but they are on the east coast.

 

This is not meant to be an attack on you, but I see you post in the Union boards about knowing what you want is a Union job, and then posting here under Swift saying they are a good company, because they are the only company that will take you, based upon what you have posted elsewhere.
Why do you think that is?

If I were you, I would make very sure they will indeed take you before coming all the way to their terminal for training. And there is a reason they are the ONLY one that will take you... they are a driver mill. If you honestly believe you will make $1000 a week with them, I can't change that. But knowing that you see the benefits of Union companies and jobs... and knowing that YOU know there is alot better out there than driver mill jobs, means you are listening whether you want to admit it or not, and I know you are questioning yourself as well. Good luck to you.

 

Swift academy is run by an outside Co. my particular class had 4 students enrolled that were paying cash because of exactly what you stated above.
The CDL course that many community colleges and other driving schools offer cant even come close to offering you the hours you get actually behind the wheel and then get paid for it . The cash payers are not locked into a year long contract to pay back tuition and can leave after their mentor-ship is up.

 

That's correct. I also paid cash at AIT, Phx.

 

I paid cash as well.. Forget that mess of owing anyone anything..

 

darn it ... i hate it when i get called out on the carpet like that. yeah, you're right. 3 tickets that are 3+ years old and a susp of the same age. so it's all about swifty right now. i'd like to get into the business but need a company that will take me. after a year or two, abf or ups is where i plan on heading out to.

let me ask you a question, since you want to help me see the light: how can i get a straight answer out of them as to whether or not they'll take me?

 

hmm I thought I posted this earlier, but if you are stuck in traffic, and you got a Qualcomm at Swift(you do ok) You can input a code, or call your DM and explain your situation before hand, such as stuck in traffic, or there was a wreck, an unexpected detour that was not YOUR fault, and you can get by with being late and not recieve a service failure.
Yes they dont teach you this stuff at school, or most often in the truck, my mom had to learn the hard way, she got a service failure for something similair, her DM told her what to do AFTER the fact. Point being keep in contact with you DM at all times, and figure out how to make the system work for you.

Its a big company, I had to do the same at a much much much smaller company, we only had about 200 employees in the plant. You have to think of the big picture, do they really have time to think of everything 1 driver is going through? No, unfortunatly. So take things in to your own hands as much as possible and things will go much more smoothly

 

I explained the situation to my DM when I told him I'd be late. Then he SFed me. I (foolishly) assumed they wouldn't give me an impossible schedule when I got the load or I would have raised the issue sooner. It was my load home, so I just got loaded and hauled ### without looking too hard.

My latest gripe's this: I got delayed at a shipper for 14 hours. I send in the late macro and give them a new ETA of 9/12 at 10 am. so they reschedule the delivery for 8 am. I *might* make it. Grr.

 

That sucks :/ Good luck making it

 

Hah! I want to see the light... the only thing I keep getting hit with is a train at the end of the tunnel.

I honestly do not know how you will know if you are getting a straight answer other than to ask (and record?) very pointed questions and request the answers to be provided by email so you have a paper trail... something to go back to.

Ask specific questions such as what would keep them from hiring you? Letr them tell you why they would NOT hire you. If they say for example... well if you have "x" number of tickets in the recent past... have them define "recent past"... 3 years? 5 years? Once you ahve this information state, "I have "x" number of infractions which I faxed/sent you and I want a specific answer from Safety before I get involved.

Maybe others who have dealt with Swift have ideas as well. The problem is, of course, they lie about everything.

I too realize I may have to work for one of these driver mills again. I have checked out numerous local jobs and due to insurance they all require at least 1 year experience, though not necessarily OTR. But I have also had some luck finding jobs on Craigs List. I was offered a position driving team.. out 2 weeks and home 3 days... all drop and hook... running overloads for Estes and Fed Ex. Kind of a back up for them if they don't have drivers available. The owner (he has 4 trucks) stated we would avg. 6000 miles a week # .40 mile split 2 ways. That's $1200 a week. No benefits. Just drive. I could take this, but it sounds too good, and I just have a bad feelign about this job. I also have enough work with my business to get me another 2 months or so... so I want to make sure I do what I want and will be happy at, even if just for a year. I have inquired about others but not heard back from them yet except one... getting a P endorsement and driving a 60 passenger high end tour bus around the southwestern US. No idea what it pays and know nothing about it... not exactly driving a rig...lol. But if it pays well... lol.

To be honest, with your tickets you may be #### out of luck until they disappear... local jobs seem to be even stricter regarding tickets than the OTR companies. Many here allow zero. I have a speeding ticket on my bike from last year that isn't a concern with any OTR company I spoke with, but the locals... no deal. If you get lucky maybe you can get a local job (Pepsi or something like that... or a small company...) then go OTR when the tickets are gone.