swift rates for students

I wouldn't get hung up on the CPM. There are other things to consider. A dollar per mile means nothing if you don't get any miles, the company doesn't have a lot of freight or whatever, or you drive a POS thats always in the shop. As far as Swift is concerned, equipment is usually good and they have lots of freight. If you don't get the miles, its more than likely your fault. There are so many little things to learn to maximize your time and miles (like using the Qualcomm properly or making yourself someone the planners and DM's want to work with, for starters), you need to make this a priority to master. The .26 cpm goes up after your three months and you can be at the higher rates after 1 year, as high as .52 cpm depending on LOH. They have also started a safety bonus that can be as much as .06 cpm, paid quarterly. The bottom line is the bottom line. Regardless of all other factors, what will your pay check be at any given carrier. Thats the million dollar question and you can only answer that by driving for each one.

 

Hello, can you tell me how much the CPM fluctuates on DH runs?

 

Hey cdl67 Do what I have done. Go out to a local truck stop and find a driver who works for the company you are thinking about working for. These guys will tell you like it is and wont blow smoke up your shorts. They live this stuff. I have talked to several drivers. You will want to find one in the cab and I always keep my hands in plain sight. I don't want them thinking I am going to attack them and I don't want to get attacked either. They are the best source of info you will ever get!!!

 

Driver pay rates have NOT been affected.

 

Maybe not since you have been here. Several years ago they took a penny per mile from us that was supposed to be restored. To this point they have not.

 

Thanks for the info, I like to be correct. My point was responding to the poster that said the rates that another poster put up were incorrect. They were not.

 

We may have not gotten that penny back, but we are now getting the short haul pay. more than makes up for the penny.

 

The only ones getting the short haul pay are the OTR drivers...none of the dedicated, regional, or local drivers get it and there are alot of drivers that fall into those categories. The penny is missed by many many more than you may be aware of.

Also the above mentioned drivers do not get the bonus pay recently implemented. They work just the same as OTR having to be away from home and all except for the local guys of course, but they want their penny back too.

 

It seems like when you reach the first year is time to move from Swift.

 

And how do you know this?

I know that the less experienced make up the bulk of Swift drivers, but most of the guys I know have been here at Swift for well over 5 years, some as much as 15.

How do you explain the drivers that leave and then come back after some time at other companies? I know there will be smart assed comments made, but the fact is Swift has lots of opportunities for different types of work and work schedules that it is a natural fit for some.

Sure, you can go elsewhere and make more money right now, run paper logs, and go faster, but what are you giving up in benefits?

It doesn't matter where you work, you have to have an eye looking to the future.