Swift Transportation Company, Inc. - Phoenix, Az.

I moved this subject from the favorite trucking company section to this one, which is much more appropriate.

Swift has amassed a tremendous amount of discussion over the years, and I thought that it might be a good idea to link to some of the more pointed discussions and other information that is out there for public viewing. The LAST link in this list is the one that has digested the safety record in concise and easy to understand terms and explains the ISS-2 system of determining the need for inspections at scale locations for unsafe carriers. If you read nothing else, please see this link for sure if you are even considering Swift as a place to work for.



http://www.hagens-berman.com/swift_transportation_lawsuit

http://www.aboutmyjob.com/main.php3?action=displayarticle&artid=1464

http://fleetowner.com/news/fleet_freightliner_swift_transportation/

http://www.teamster.org/04news/nr_041013_1.htm

http://www.trucksafety.org/default.asp?contentID=576

http://www.eeoc.gov/press/12-7-00-b.html

http://www.ooida.com/legal_action/Swift/swift_index.html

http://www.4lawschool.com/civil/pavon.shtml

http://www.ooida.com/legal_action/Swift/SwiftMotionforPrelimInj.PDF


This are merely the high points. Who in their right mind would work for a company that has a track record like this? Oh...sure...some of what is read can be explained as vengeful people with spite on their mind. You continuously hear phrases like "all trucking companies treat drivers badly". If this was true, then why is Swift the number one topic and most often discussed on the boards that are geared toward the discussion of the trucking industry? Why do you rarely read anything of a negative nature on so many other companies?

When you hear one bad thing, it's easy to overlook it. When you read repeated bad testimonials, it's a little harder to ignore.

I have a collection of testimonials that have been related to me under more private circumstances, that paint an even more sordid picture of Swift Transporation, but I do not have permission from most of these people to publish their remarks in a public forum, so I can only refer to them in general terms.

Swift is in dire need of a wake-up call, and until they demonstrate that they desire to clean up their act, and begin to treat people like humans, rather than economic slaves, then they deserve to go down in flames, and I wouldn't offer so much as to urinate on their ashes.

Don't be lured into giving them any benefit of the doubt, because there is too much out there in the form of information that should override any inclination to even pick up the phone in response to their slick advertisements and deceptive ways of doing business.

Don't get me wrong. Swift is hardly the only pile of dung that needs to be swept off the sidewalk. They just happen to be the biggest and smell the worst at the moment.

Unions once had their place in America, and the powers that be will not allow the formation of groups of people that have the power to hold America hostage again. So be it. This is why the average American must be their own delegate, and refuse to be victimized by employers, regardless of what occupation they work in. They must be smarter and take the time to do their own form of background checks on whom they consider working for. It's the easiest way to head of a disaster BEFORE it becomes one.

 

I place most of the blame on the company. The drivers are just trying to make a living, and the word "ignorant" is as harsh a word as I can use to describe the people that work for Swift.

The people who find their way into one of their trucks are not aware of what they are walking into, and are for the most part, simply trying to enter the industry of trucking, which does provide an attractive way to make living outside of the normal 9 to 5 job arena.

Because trucking is largely ignored by the governmental bodies that protect workers from abuse by unscrupulous employers, and because the economy of this nation depends on the most cost effective means in which to move the supplies this nation depends upon on a daily basis, this company is allowed to thrive like ####roaches.

Quite honestly, it's going to take one of these trucks mowing down the President's motorcade until the Government will step in and shut the doors on the place.

 

You've brought up an interesting subject, and one that is worthy of discussion.

Carriers like Swift, that thrive and prosper while offering less than desireable working conditions for a few reasons. They haven't been given any reason to change the way they do things...yet.

As may have been mentioned elsewhere, drivering a truck is not rocket science, and it doesn't require an extensive education in order to qualify for the position. This is not to say that there are not educated drivers, because there are. In fact, the industry has drawn more educated people into it, than has ever been the case. I've personally run across former Doctors, Lawyers, and other people of other former career professions.

The job offers an attractive lifestyle, on the surface, and is an alternative to the "nine-to-five" work life. It's not always as depicted in the movies though. It's a tough and demanding job, complete with stressful working conditions that aren't so glamorous. Still, it's been a career that has always agreed with me and many others.

Competition is the number one reason why drivers are treated by so many carriers as a secondary concern. Customers come first. Without them, nobody has a job. In many parts of the country, there can be ten trucks for every load of freight that is available at a given moment. Carriers will do whatever it takes sometimes, to keep customers, including making the driver a sacrificial lamb, if need be.

Bigger is not necessarily better. The larger the carrier, the less likely that they have the time or staff to address the reasonable needs of a driver. Oftentime, the people that a driver is supervised by, are not well versed in the day-to-day conditions that a driver is subjected to, or just flat doesn't care. They are clock watchers. They will do their shift, and pass it on to someone else when it's over.

Pay for most drivers is production oriented, and when a driver is delayed, he ultimately makes less. The same is true for the carrier as well. They don't make money when the truck sits either. This concept is lost on people that are on the clock. They may be aware of it, but then....why break a sweat over it? "My check is safe and sound".

Another big problem is that in many cases, the people that could and would address these type of problems either choose to make themselves unavailable to drivers with valid complaints, or are screened by those in lower level positions, as a means to save their own skin and job. Thus...drivers often move on to another job, rather than try to solve difficulties.

A couple of carriers came to see this, and did something about it. Without sounding like I am endorsing them, I'll not name them. They created a department to field these types of complaints, and solved problems by putting the drivers in touch with the appropriate people that COULD solve the problem. It worked too. One carrier slashed their turnover rates in half, and in less than a year.

I have always found it strange, that so many carriers don't endorse the concept of all employees being part of a "team". With so many, the driver is the lowest regarded link in the chain, falling sometimes in line behind the truck that they drive. I can remember many years ago, sitting in the owner's office of a carrier I spent many years with, explaining to him that there was one thing I would not stand for. "If I feel for one second that you think that truck is more human than I am, then you had better find a way to get it to drive itself." Thankfully, the point was made and never had to be repeated again.

Another big problem is....recruiters. In many cases, a recruiter is paid to perform. His entire pay structure may be based upon production, or the number of warm bodies that he gets into the seat of a truck. This leads to an environment of dishonesty. They will be lead to misrepresent answers to key questions that would give a prospective driver to decline the job.

And lastly, there is the problem of people being ignorant to what the game is all about. In their previous career, ethics were apparent. In this one, it's the pits. Dishonesty and exploitation are a standard that many have come to expect. This has to change.

This is why I absolutely drive into people's heads, that they have to be suspicious of everyone and everything. They have to check out a carrier, just as they are being checked out. To do anything less...is just plain...well...stupid.

The tide is going to turn, and only the best carriers are going to survive. The word "best" will describe both the efficient, and the ones that offer the best working conditions too. We are not too far away from the time when a REAL driver shortage is going to choke this industry.

Look around at the drivers of trucks these days. We're getting old. Younger drivers are not coming into the industry like they used to. One of the most telling indicators of this fact is that advertisements by the BEST carriers are hitting the rags. The LTL carriers are starting to advertise both in the industry rags and local newspapers. These are companies that have almost NEVER had to do so.

To any driver reading this, I have a few choice words of advice for you. Keep your nose clean, and keep your work and safety record clean as a whistle. In a few short years, those drivers that do so will practically be able to name their own price...that is, unless they are successful in importing economic slaves from the south, which is being watched VERY closely at the moment by many. So far...it's not panning out.

 

Rock Salt, how nice of you to join the discussion. Rock Salt is employed by Swift, and apparently is quite content with them.

Secondly, MTT is the ONLY other discussion board in which I have discussed Swift to any great degree, and you are the only person who has EVER defended them in that forum with any sincerity.

The reason I departed MTT had nothing to do with any conversation about Swift with you, nor with anyone else. So why would you state such a lie? I chose to leave MTT because of the perpetual arguments over silly issues, and of course...the trolls.

Third...I have never worked for Swift, nor have I ever applied to work for Swift, nor would I. I have known for quite some time what the story is on that company.

The links that I have offered in this thread and forum in regard to Rip-Off report entries can most certainly be determined to be "claims" and evaluated on that basis, however, other information I offered, such as court case references, statistical data, SaferSystem reports, etc. are totally credible sources of information that cannot be refuted, even by you.

As I have told you in the past, I am quite happy for you, in that you have found Swift to be great in your eyes and experiences. You are an exception to the rule. For sure, if everyone but yourself did not stay there for any length of time, they wouldn't be in business. The fact remains that they are without doubt, the worst abuser of drivers in the industry, and they exploit newbies for profit potential.

I cannot imagine what constitutes the term "good driver" as it applies to Swift, but in this industry, there are plenty of good drivers out there and Swift is not on their radar screen. They are keenly aware of the numerous landings and take-offs that occur in that company, and those that in charge of the control tower leave too much to be desired.

 

If anyone has the time, and desires to read a well written account of how a driver was treated and paid by Swift, then here is one man's story....from day one until his last.

Just in case anyone has a little trouble navigating the site, scroll down to the "next" button to flip page to page.

http://home.mia.net/~detailer/Diary/home.htm