Swift Transportation Company, Inc. - Phoenix, Az.

Thank you Allikatzpop, your story touched me deep in the heart. That's the life of a true trucker. I don't care what anyone says...that's just the way it goes. There are times too when I am out driving in my car and the sound of that jake brake gives me chills but also makes me yearn for the road once more. I may not be a driver no longer..but I still give all the respect for the ones that do still haul. I give them the all the room they need on the freeways and highways. They deserve it!
I still find myself on long trips stopping at the Petro or Flying J to eat or get a drink just so I can smell that diesel fuel once more. If you ask me if I miss the road and driving...I cannot begin to tell you how much I do! It wasn't just the money that I loved..it was the freedom to run the highways...get out there and stretch my wings and ride. The power that I felt being behind the wheel of that huge rig..but also the smiles of the children in the backseat of a car that would wave at me when they passed by and wanting me to blow my horn.
Today..I have got many friends that I know out of dead end jobs working minimum wage and out there driving. I worked with them with the DMV tests and taught them the tricks of the trade. Thanks to the internet, I also keep in touch with them to see where they are at and can say..hey..I know your location...been there too.
When people tell me..hey..we went on vacation to this state and went there, I like being able to say...I've been there also..so many times.
I miss the road, I miss driving, I miss everything about truck driving. Maybe when my husbands health returns, I too will return to the highway.
Blessings and safe trips to all you out there!

 

3 out of the 4 carriers you listed have ISS-D scores in the 90s (i.e. INSPECT). The remaining carrier has an ISS-D score below 40 (i.e. PASS). To learn more, go here: https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov

 

As a fat guy and a professional driver with no accidents, no service failures, no tickets, etc I take exception to that comment. I've lost about 70 pounds with much more to go, but my weight has not affected my work ethic or the ability to do the job.

I've noticed my share of skinny as a rail drivers taking BS shortcuts and not getting the job done properly.

Don't make me sit on you RP.

 

...and more importantly, bigmike quotes a great American at the end!

And I need to lose about 90 pounds, and will put my record up against anyone, though I too need to drop it before it gets too difficult (I turn 50 later this year...ugh!!)

 

48Packerd, I understand. I came into trucking after 30 years in a radio studio at age 49. Not a real physically challenging field. I started lower carbs during the week and enjoying some breads, pastas etc on the weekend. I've dropped over 70 and have another 50 or so to go. I feel much better and while the job requirements are easier for me to do now that I've dropped some tonage, I still do them with the excellence I did when I was bigger.

Best of luck to you with the weight loss. It's well worth the effort.

 

Don't tell me you were a DJ too? I was from '81 until '94 when I got out of radio all together. Radio isn't the same anymore...personality radio is almost a thing of the past, exclusive of the morning shows, and even they're starting to sound alike.

 

Hello, I hope any existing driver or especially new student reads this.
I went thru swifts school to get my cdl back after giving it up in the 1990's, it is the only way I could get back in trucking after fifteen years. The school is good and I went to work with swift. I completed all their requirements and went solo for four months. In that time I recieved weekly evaluation reports as to on time pick-ups and deliveries(100%), no service failures, no tickets, and no accidents.
In that time because of their planners and dispatch the largest paycheck I ever came home with was $385.00 and that was the largest. They make you take their little 80 mile runs in order to get a 500 mile run and after having to go another location to pick-up an empty trailer they keep you running out of service hours so you can never accumulate any millage to actually pay your bills. I stayed out 6 weeks at a time and had to fight every time to get a couple days home time. They purposely would not route me with a load that would send me within a 150 miles of my home.
As for breakdowns they refused to pay me breakdown pay even after being broke down for 4 days in indiana and wanted me to stay in my truck on a volvo dealerships yard with no bathroom, food or water so it would not cost them any money.
Please do yourself a favor and tell your friends NOT to consider swift for employment.

 

What did you expect from swift?

Mark

 

I didn't expect anything. Didn't know what to expect.

I couldn't be happier with them after 3 years employment there.

 

The sad fact is...there's an unlimited supply of steering wheel holders out there. Homeless? No skills? No problem! They'll put you in a cheap hotel, send you to their 'training academy,' and you're good to go!