SWIFT

I didn't wait 5 months. After 1 month when my paychecks weren't what I was hoping for, I talked a bit to my DM. He said he'd do what he could, but freight was slow and I was a new driver. I heard that for the next 4 months. Also heard it from the FM, and the TM. Now I don't have a problem with "paying your dues" but when you get promised a long run to make up for several short runs and never get them you kind of get burnt out. At no time did I whine, cry or get pissy. I was calm and explained that I needed to make a decent check to provide for my son and girlfriend so she could stay at home with him and not have to work. Still got the same run around.

I am. I will be starting with Paul Miller Trucking this Thursday. I'm hoping they are the type of company I am looking for. The problem with the companies that work like I described is that they are smaller, and because they are better, don't hire as much. So it's tougher to get on with them, especially if you don't have 5+ years experience.

And I'm not sure what you are referring to by "well is isn't MY job." My experience with Swift was they threw loads at you and expected you to run them. That was the end of most of the teamwork. Now my DM was decent about working with me on my HOS. We had a few loads that would need repowering. Also was decent about hometime. But when it came to breakdown, or getting me longer hauls to compensate for all the short ones, or the TM lieing about my request to be home for Christmas (which was supposed to be guaranteed hometime) after I put in for it a month before, being told by Road Service to run with my high beams on after my light module quit and I lost my low beams, mechanics that refused to check my starters electrical wiring after I went through 5 of them in the space of 3 weeks (and 1 fly wheel,) after all that, the idea of me working even HARDER to be part of a team that isn't holding up there end just seems pointless. *shrug*

Well, like I said in my post you quoted, the better, smaller companies only hire good, experienced drivers usually. And the nice thing is that you do stand out because you were hired, because they only hire people that do stand out. At PMT, I talked to the recruiter (who is the head of recruiting, since they only have 1 person doing it) and instead of a 2 minute convo then being shuffled off the phone as soon as possible, we chatted for a good hour. And not even about trucking stuff. I'm pretty sure when I walk into their terminal, he'll know my name. After a bit so will most of the other folks around. My buddy Danny works for Napa and it's the same deal with him. It's good to be recognized when you walk into dispatch because it lets you know that the folks there at least care a little bit beyond them just wanting to keep loads rolling so they can keep their job. That translates directly into how much I care about them and the company as a whole. It's a reciprocal relationship.

As far as my attitude, I can tell you that you couldn't be more wrong. I don't expect to walk in and have the red carpet laid out for me just because I got hired. I DO expect a certain level of respect and courtesy out of the gate, however, and don't think ANYONE should have to earn that. Yes, you need to earn more and should therefore work hard to do so. But if a company is going to treat you like dirt from the get-go just because they hire so many other drivers that deserve it and it means you have to bust your ### to make up for it, doesn't that say something about the company?

"They don't need just anybody with a pulse to fill a position." Really? Because it seems to me the only reason some of these big companies are turning down experienced drivers is because they just want students. Their own students. Now why do you suppose that is? Because students want to work hard, or because they can handle trucks better? Or is it because they are cheaper to run, have no idea what the trucking industry is like, and can be molded to whatever the company wants? You're right in that these companies want people who don't whine, especially when things are crappy. They want people who are just going to work no matter what happens to them. And you seem to think that there's something wrong with people who refuse to be treated like that.

Not from what I have been reading. The way your posts sound to me is, "It is up to the driver to do anything he can to stay with a company no matter what they do to him, and if he doesn't like to shut up and either keep working or quit." The idea being that coming on here and letting other drivers know his experiences so they can avoid them is somehow wrong.

Imagine how many more lives would be ruined if no one ever complained about CRE's lease program. Now, that doesn't make the people who DO lease on with them any less culpable in their failures, but I have heard their lease pitch and when you are new to the industry it sounds GREAT. But at least there's warnings around to help those that are thinking about it make up their minds. And all because some people "whine."

 

Raezzor, it is clear from your posts that you think the company works for you, not you work for the company. please dont quote me unless you use the exact quote. Because from your 'quote' you said i said, is farther from the truth. What i'm saying is you dont have to work extra hard to keep your job (which is the way your "quote" sounds).....i'm saying you just need to do your job, be a team player and don't get labled a whiner. THAT is called 'doing your job'. That is NOT "working to stay employed". What a different generation we've grown up in. Keep up the good 'fast food' work ethic.

as far as Max goes.....i knew the difference between the "<" and the ">" symbol. the first one is the "less than" symbol. the other is the "greater than" symbol. and you're the one worried about dumb drivers at swift.

granted they do have a reputation. I'm not arguing that. what i am arguing is the fact that swift is so hated, that made up 'facts' are posted just to make them look even worse to possible new drivers. But you seem to forget, unless you were some rare miracle birth where you were born with a class A in your back pocket, didn't you start somewhere? Most drivers start somewhere and they end up not happy with it, so they move on. Funny how its always some veteran driver who forgets we all started somewhere. How early is too early to start getting alzheimer's?

 

Get bent, Swift recruiter.
Learn to use caps where needed and I'll pay attention to your critiques.
My facts are not made up...
I deal with these Swiftards every day, and I'll tell you that they are the worst of the worst. If, and I mean IF, you are even minimally competant behind the wheel, you should be embarrassed to be associated with this company. Their rep is well deserved.
Swift is hated and reviled not only by other drivers, but by the customers whose property they damage, or by their freight which is destroyed in one of Swift's accidents. These guys are dangerous, and in my opinion ALL (not just the Memphis school) of their grads should have their licenses suspended until they can be retested. (at swiftco's expense of course).
Swift's accidents are everywhere, and again, their reputation is well deserved...Just ask any driver with >1 year of experience. (Happy now professor?)
I got no dog in this fight, other than to try and avoid being killed on the road by one of swiftco's "Graduates", so I will end my participation in the argument.

Note to folks contemplating working for Swift:

Of all the comments posted here, there, and everywhere regarding this bottom feeder company, how come there are so few favorable reviews? Could it possibly be that the negative comments, despite whatever embellishments, are for the most part true??

I know that if I were looking for an entry level driving job, I would look at Swift the same way other drivers do... Give them a wide berth.

Stay away from Swift!
As employers, and most especially on the road, or anywhere else you see a Swift truck in motion.
They are less dangerous when parked, but are often parked in dangerous places, or by drivers whose backing skills are less than satisfactory at best, at worst, non-existant.

 

What happened? Did his hands end up in places they shouldn't have?

 

I am a Swift driver. I am currently seeking employment elsewere, not becuase of anything Swift has done, but I am tired of the reputation that Swift has. I first learn to drive when I was 16. My grandfather taught me to drive after I quit school. I drove for him on some of the trips I went on, with him, mainly in the desert and where there wasnt much traffic and always at night. I am now 43. have been in the Navy and am a desert storm vetrean, I got out in 97 and went to truckin school in Gulfport Mississippi, I have a CB but dont even turn it on because of the bs about swift. I am so F%$kin tired of the smarta-- coments I have to get away from them, I have never been involved in an accident. I was asked by a driver the other day if I was a rookie and told him how long I had been driving he said I must have done something bad to be a swift driver. and that was to my face. I told him I probebly (sp?) had more miles backin up than he had driven forward, it was my little stab at an industry that seems to have no bounds on treatment of fellow workers.

My experince at swift 1.5 years is pretty alright. I have seen worse and i have seen better, never had problems with pay or getting me where I wanted to go if i asked to go somewhere. When I first started with Swift, I wanted go out west and they got me into california and the northwest, I was out there almost all the time. As far as them treating me alright - other company drivers treat me worse than Swift does because of the reputation. I get home we i need to and they dont complain about me using the truck as a P.O.V. as the person said earlier. All n All I cant complian about them. One thing, they are strict on logs.

Truckin101

 

So Swift is a BAD company??

 

I haven't read the whole thread because all the arguing about Swift has started to bore me, but I just like to chime in once in a while as a driver who is satisfied with Swift and plans on staying with them.

I have met many former Swifties out on the road, and when they find out I work for Siwft, they always find it necessary to tell me why they left. It's always one of two things: either they had a disagreement with their DM, or they felt they weren't getting enough miles.

Personally, I have a great DM, and I don't want a lot of miles. 2000 a week suits me fine. I'll do up to 3000 if they ask me to, but I don't like it. I love driving, but I don't want to do it all day every day. But if you're money hungry, you should probably look elsewhere.

I have worked for little local companies in the past. Two of them. They sucked. Swift is such a better company than either of them. Size isn't the indicator of a good company or a bad company. Also, I'm not a number to the people at my home terminal. I'm only there maybe twice a year, but they always remember me and greet me by name.

I'd have to agree the biggest negative to working for Swift is all the BS from other drivers. I just ignore it, just like I don't read every word on these "Swift is bad" threads anymore. If we really were tearing up customers property and damaging their freight more than other companies, we would no longer have those customers, dontcha think?

 

Shhhh, don't tell that to anyone, especially a 'hater' because they will just make up something to twist that around. Too much common sense there.

Trucker101, as far as the logs go, i've havent seen much of a problem with that. I've had one log violation, and that was because i showed a fueling at 330p when i should have showed it at 345p. And i'll admit i've fudged an entry now and then. I ran super hard to get a load 600 miles. It was a drop load at the final, and my clock ran out 20 miles away. I said to hell with it, and dropped it at a DC...then headed back 10 or so miles to the terminal. My DM has never said "get this to the final at all costs" then expects you to run an hour or two past your 14 just to make the customer happy. Although i am sure there are some who push drivers to run illegal, this isnt a fault just at Swift, there are DMs in every company who do this....but all the haters will just disagree and say this only happens at Swift. Just like the only company to have drivers bend trailer rims, and have rollovers, are at Swift.

 

I have never driven for Swift, but I know people that do. They are happy with Swift. It does get old after awhile hearing how bad their drivers are. With Swift being as big as they are approx: 16000 trucks things will happen. Swift is a starter company they provide a service to people wanting to get their class A license. Most move on after gaining experience, some leave because it is not what they expected

Most people that pick on others are insecure about their own abilities and need to justify to themselves someone is worse then them. Doing so takes the heat off them in their minds. They key word is student they are learning, I prefer giving a Swift driver a hand with what they are having trouble with then see them hit something. Misery loves company!!!!

This is one reason this industry will never come together as a whole. The only thing I see is drivers agree on is to disagree. Every company has their problems, every company is not going to make everyone happy, every company has bad drivers but they also have good ones, every company has slobs driving for them, and every company has their whiners.

Maybe if drivers would stop bad mouthing the starter company's and see drivers as equals, new and old we might accomplish something as an industry. We all had to start somewhere, face it the industry is changing the days of getting in a truck without going to school is over. The starter companies are here to stay.