Swift Sucks

There aren't any driver managers here for any company, at least not that they would have any influence. A quick note: In the future DO NOT post identical posts in multiple threads.

 

I must be going blind. How did I miss this?

" would take 100% experencied drivers any day that I could, we call them Pro's and they are coveted. We work with what we have which is trainee's and a mix of experienced (mostly returning ex Swift drivers). Goal is to make everyone happy, of course we can not do this, but we try our hardest. That is why I am on this forum, to listen to and respond to complaints, and if I see something that I can make a change at my terminal, then I will. The best idea's have not even been thought of yet."

Here is the absolute BEST idea out there, and it's just for you, Wes, along with that snotty JB recruiter/DM/Whatever....

The best idea? Keep the drivers you already have. They're good enough to be hired on by you in the first place, as they pass your supposedly "rigid" hiring criteria. Both Swift and JB are idiotic for letting their experienced drivers walk away so easily. Oh, wait...somebody benefits when those guys walk away, and his wife gets to do lots of shopping because of that benefit. That somebody would never accept the driving jobs he pushes so hard, as he'd have to take an unacceptable pay cut. Good thing there is so much turnover at both JB and Swift. Now...if I only knew somebody well enough, maybe I could land a high-paying job as a JB or Swift recruiter.

Talk about great job security.

 

Thanks Tip, I am already doing a good job keeping my drivers this year. That is an idea I have always had. And some of the ones I lose usually come back again. We work hard to keep them happy, and we go above and beyond allot of the time. A good 2-3 yr experienced driver makes more then a recruiter, atleast at Swift. The crazy conspiracy theory that I want turnover at my terminal because I make money from new trainee's going through school still amazes me. I will see about opening a school at Area 51 for you. Tip your arguing an industry problem when it comes to turnover, some are better then others, but on average EVERYONE has high turnover. You read through these forums and see it, heck you even encourage turnover (Just keep changing companies until you find the one you like), then turn around and plead outrage that companies have high turnover. Some drivers wonder why some companies wont take them, when they have 5-6 different companies on their resume in 2 years. Back in the day, and maybe it still happens now, drivers would change companies on purpose to get a new hiring bonus each time. That practice may not be happening as much now since its easy to recognize the pattern of behavior on a resume. This may surprise you, but I do agree you need to find a company or job that will make you happy. I think that whatever company your at you should stick it out a while and learn the ropes, what is important to that company. What value's the company may or may not add to your life, and if you can contribute to that companies culture. What you do to help create the company you work for. Maybe I look at things differently, I personally feel that difficulties are a challenge, and I find a way to solve them. I don't quit because of them. I have had my fair share of obstacles at Swift, to the point of two car repos, almost a divorce, and bankruptcy. My own fault for taking a promotion to transfer to NY with only a 10% increase. I lived and learned from MY mistake, and worked hard to show what I am capable of, and to better myself. I dont expect anything to be handed to me.

Wes

 

I don't know where you get the idea that I encourage turnover. I encourage people to stay away from bad companies. That's not the same thing as encouraging job hopping. I tell folks to quit crappy companies and find permanent homes at the better companies. In no way do I encourage people to hop from job to job.

There are many signs one can use to spot a bad company, and I also key people into those. As far as telling people to be job-hoppers, I've never done that, at least not directly. I will say this much--if I were working for a company that suddenly had to advertise for help and had drivers quitting in droves, I'd go ahead and fly the coop myself. But that is just me. What my fellow driver would do under those circumstances is his own business.
The smart drivers will know what to look for anyway, both as employees and when looking for new companies to work for, and would make the smartest moves when making choices.

I'll have to call you on the use of "we" in your post, as I know "we" doesn't apply. Guys like you are trying at Swift, sure, and my hat is off to your small flock. However, most of those inside the locked doors and closed sliding glass windows at Swift don't give a rat's behind about drivers, and most of those involved in recruiting WANT turnover. The JB recruiter that comes here from time to time is more than just a JB recruiter. He's a "fill in the blank" guy, meaning his opinions can be transferred to just about any company recruiter out there, especially those at the biggest outfits. These guys love turnover, and they would have no jobs if there was no turnover. These people have no interest in keeping the drivers their respective companies already have. If you tell me you yourself are trying to keep your drivers at Swift, I'll believe it. If you tell me "we" are trying to retain "our" drivers at Swift, I'll know you're full of BS.

I'll pass on that job at Area 51, as I know I'm as right as rain. There are no consipracies. Only truths.

Anyway, it's good there are guys like you in the industry. I wish there were more guys like you in the industry. I may still be driving if that were the case.

 

These people have no interest in keeping the drivers their respective companies already have. If you tell me you yourself are trying to keep your drivers at Swift, I'll believe it. If you tell me "we" are trying to retain "our" drivers at Swift, I'll know you're full of BS.

How true. I have been hearing Swift co people say for years how they are trying to get better. Whats taking so long? there are plenty of good companies out there that they could emulate or even improve on but they profit off the misery of others so there is little motivation to do so by the decision makers at the top.

The Swift co employee who responded to my post with comparing OTR truck driving to working on a crab boat? Is typical of the head buried in the sand crowd at Swiftco. Comparing a 90+ hour a week year round job to a week of crabbing? See how they think? If this is the mentality of a person at Swiftco who wants change and improvement at Swift it will I suspect be decades away waiting.

They also seem to see nothing wrong with letting you rot on a dock for a couple of hour's or more unpaid to keep their customers happy. Or sitting around waiting for hours or days on end after you were ready to drive unpaid waiting for them to dispatch your truck. How about those many loads that were supposed to pu hrs or a day ago but they still want you to deliver on time since you could of slept all day after sleeping all nite and have hrs, right? Meanwhile they are tucked away in bed after their long 8hr day while you are sucking down red bulls trying stay awake and deliver the load on time so they won't starve you out for being late with there precious load of TP. Or do they care what kind of freaking hassle it is to get paid for things other then miles which by the way they short you on also. Since they will delay and delay paying you till you start cleaning out your truck. All the experience of my cousin who was a Swift employee for 2 months and 13days till she quit in disgust after being very happy working for M.S.C. for 3 years until Swift gutted it and put the drivers left in their meat grinder.

Maybe he/she should request Swift only pay them when the trucks are rolling and have them hang around for free when they are not on a 14hr clock. Or come to work several hours early but not start getting paid till several hours later and still put in their 14 hours before they go home. Maybe then you would see some improvement. After all the fair labor standards act which they work under is so unfair, right? Clueless is all I can say of these office types.

The biggest improvement to safety any OTR company could make is getting rid of mileage based pay which these companies keep erroneously claiming would hurt productivity. Bull, It would mean Swiftco and their shippers and receivers could no longer waste a drivers time free of charge and drivers could actually spend some time driving and doing it legal and still make a living. It would mean not having to log 15min at a shipper or receiver getting loaded or unloaded when they spent 4 or 5 hours there waiting to be called on the C.B. to get a dock assignment. Or 1hr driving thru LA or NYC on a Friday nite when it took 3 or 4 hours. Or log 53mph with chains on when you are going 25 or 30. It would mean they would not let a driver sit till just before it is time to pay layover, and then roll them to avoid paying layover. Or keep them hanging around the shop for days waiting for a truck to get fixed unpaid. All the experience of my cousin who was a Swift employee for 2 months and 13days till she quit in disgust after being very happy working for M.S.C. for 3 years until Swift gutted it and put the drivers left in their meat grinder.

Their was a profile on a OTR company in a trucking mag who switched to paying by the hour or salaried with incentives for productivity and their productivity and safety has gone up and their driver turnover down. If a driver is a slacker then like any employee they show them the door so saying it is not possible to pay by the hour doing OTR is bogus. It's already being done.

Companies like Swift and the rest of their buddies at the ATA want heavier and longer trucks and lax immigration laws not real safety and fairness. You don't need to go on a tour of the UN just go to a Swift terminal their running out of people to send thru the grinder from this country I suspect. Stand behind one of their drivers who does not comprehend English when the shipper tries to explain to them that Swift sent them to the wrong Quaker dock in Tracy Ca. What a joy that is. So much for claiming to adhere to a higher standard Swiftco are you serious? How do your drivers get CDL's and make it through orientation and training when they can hardly converse with anyone in english?

 

The training at swift is not the best in the world i was trained through schnider and then switched over to swift the mentors dont teach you a whole lot i had to request a new one a couple of times i have talked to people that have ditched tractors and loads and still driving for swift there must be more then what is told and those peps behind the glass dont care about us they just care about the loads i am going to get my time in and move on. and they will try to push you but you just gotta take easy and make it home. swift has a problem with running drivers into low bridges and unrestricted roads with their directions they give you.

 

Gee a truckers road atlas comes to mind, but that would be too easy

 

I find none of what said is surprising. I was with Swift from May 07 to Feb o8. Same type of training situation for me; except my trainer was a clean freak with OCD. Wierd, but not as bad as a billy goat. I'm 52 also, and from Michigan. I don't know what my DAC report looks like but I was terminated for a couple minor accidents, logging problems (dedicated tire delivery) and ONE ticket for their equipment. Overall, I would have spent most of my time having their truck in their shop than anything. Most of the equipment is good, but doesn't see the shop much. Or...try and run and do the job. Stuff happens out there, tickets, DOT scales, and such are just a part of doing business. Frankly, I felt the equipment was always borderline bad, and the assignments/dispatching was usually over the borderline when trying to accomplish it. You're not the only one to deal with Swift and come away used and disposed of.

 

ha ha ha ha ha ! that was freaking funny !!

 

'you sure that he was not already there and you were not watching your mirrors like you were suppose to be'

GET REAL MGASSEL! You can't say this has never happened to you. Driving along with a car so close up your b_tt that you can barely catch a shadow every once in a while, then you put your blinker on - give it a minute - then slowly start to move over and JAZAAAAMMMM here come this little car flying around you, you have to jerk back over and barely miss nailing the little sucker. Come on. . . I have almost nailed one doing this in my little straight truck! Can't imagine if I had of been dragging a 50 footer like you guys are doing. Probably would have knocked his diaper off his little car if I had been. Bottom line is we all know this one definately happens. And it is the 4 wheelers fault.