thinking about swift as starter comapny

Sorry, not you with that part.

 

I think reefer is pretty specialized with swift and I don't see many of them, probably why they have central. That leaves flatbed or van, you might sit less with flatbed but it's no reaching in with your shiny hook to pull the fifth wheel release arm stuff either.

EDIT - just saw the Ocala thing, flatbed freight is less than nothing in Florida so they probably only have van.

 

Be a door slammer. We don't sit very much. Only time we sit is when the planners are texting their freinds, and facebooking.........

 

You'll probably do 48 to start.

Get your hazmat, as some loads will require it.

You won't need a twic yet, and I imagine they will tell you when/if you will need one.

 

Swift will pay for TWIC if you stay a year. I needed it twice in a year. Only done 5 Hazmats. I wish I had a TWIC am going to apply for one soon.

TWIC= more load choices, and job choices.

 

T,

Take it easy and do not force everything down the throat. Concentrate on the Air brakes, and combination sections first. Then take the big step and study for general knowledge. I'll see if I can get a study guide for hazmat from my former school. PM me your address and I will one sent your way from them.

KH

 

Take it from someone that went through it in Phoenix. I don't know anything about the training where you are, but Phoenix rocked. Then it down hill from there. It took 2 1/2 weeks to get a mentor. Then when I did get one he sucked. Told me first hour "you're here to get me miles, and make me money, that's all". spent 4 weeks with that piece, and he left me with 30 hours, just because he felt like going to Mexico. Second mentor rocked. Went team after 240 hours for 7 weeks. Made MORE money with my mentors then team OTR. We split up the team to make more money, ( .25cpm vers .16cpm). Now after 2 1/2 weeks I'm still waiting for a truck.

If you NEED to make money. Don't go to Swift. Check out May or some other small outfit that will train you.

 

Probably


I really hate that word when it's used in giving advice on a trucking company.

They probably will screw you.
They probably don't have reefers.
There probably isn't flat bed freight.
You can probably get a job with some other nameless company that will pay better.


sheeeeesh.


Okay, Swift does have reefers and they're not that specialized. To be blunt if the powers that be over at the headquarters thought there was a profit to be made in hauling live dancing turkeys wearing pink tutus and singing "Living La Vida Loca", we Swift drivers would be pulling turkey trailers and fluffing up tutus.

Swift hauls freight.


Now what should a newbie start with? It really depends upon several things. What's available with the terminal fleets you'll have the opportunity with, what your physical condition is, and what your desire is are the top three. Check with your recruiter as to what fleets are available in your area. Flat bed is extremely demanding physically so if you don't want that then you want reefer or van. Frankly my personal opinion is to go either flat or van. With van you can change to reefer.

As to the school, Swift will finance a LOAN to pay for your schooling and housing if needed. At the end of your first 13 months of employment you will have repaid the loan and Swift will have reimbursed half of that money to you. At the end of the second 13 months Swift will have reimbursed the remaining money that you paid.

Swift no longer does the work well.

It's not very common for a new driver to get a dedicated fleet. The dedicated fleets are something desired and thus often have a waiting list. My husband and I are on a dedicated reefer fleet. We started in dry van. We were recruited for the dedicated fleet.

If you request a comfort zone you'll not get as much freight and thus not as many miles and thus not as much pay.

As for community college being cheaper: it really depends upon the community college. I know people who've paid up to $7900 for their training.

Anyway.......those are my opinions and facts as I know them.