A little back story. When I was applying to trucking companys. I also applied to a lot of local trucking companies. One of these companies called me last week and I had a interview on monday morning. Long story short got the call back on tuesday afternoon. Need to go back and take driving test and if ok drug test. But the company said they checked my driving experience. I am sitting in ohio with a full load of hours and nothing to do. Swift tells me nothing in the area but 4 other swiftys got loads this morning. Could be true but I have my doubts. Sad part is don't know if I can afford the local job. Paid hourly, 1 maybe 2 overnight trips a week, weekends off unless you need hours or want to work. Pros will be no more goal messages , back to paper logs, family owned company, home most nights, plenty of work during the spring and fall. No resrtictions for ideling but could hurt quartlerly bonus, free work shirts. I like working for swift and have learned a lot and am thankful for the chance but if they are going to treat me baddly for something I don't even know if I am going to do it might push me out the door
If the company sent them a previous employer verification they probably know. Take the local job you will not regret it.
In my experience a local company will run you harder and with the same or even less money your making now...with that said you can be upfront with your DM and tell him how you feel and tell him you like working there but...dont burn any bridges bro and if you been with Swift for less than a yr I dont reccomend quiting.
Talk to your DM and let him/her know your concerns and that you are thinking of leaving and the reasons behind the frustration. Give Swift a chance to make things better for you. Worst case you can always go local if your situation at Swift doesn't improve. With less than 1 year OTR you will have a very difficult time finding your next driving job if the local gig doesn't work out. Sometimes you just have to make a little noise and let your DM know that you want to run. If you say nothing they are left to assume that you are happy with the current situation. Also, if you are at a terminal, go to the window and ask if they have any local runs they need delivered. They pay per drop, usually $25, and it might just get you a good run out of there.
Let me try this. I'm not unhappy at swift or have any problems with miles or runs here. My dm will run me local if nothing elsr. The local company called me anf I told them where I worked. Just making an observation that since monday there has been slow with low miles and live on both ends and it hasn't ever been that way. Don't get wrong since monday I have been thinking what it would be like to be home every night with my wife and 3 boys. The pros outweigh the cons except money and the job security swift offers. Just sa)ing even my dm has been standoffish. Could be in my head to but too much of a coincidence me thinks
Local jobs are often considered cream of the crop and more desirable than OTR. Therefore, when a local position is offered to a driver with not much experience, my radar goes on alert and I immediately wonder what's wrong with that job that they can't fill it with a more experienced driver. See if you can talk to another driver working that local gig, and make sure everything is on the up and up. Local recruiters lie just as much as OTR recruiters.
The company mainly deals in grains and fertilizer. They have set guys for the specialized products. They run 20 trucks with 17 filled. They consider the local 40 guys part time and anuthing else full time. It was started 80 years ago by the father and is run by the 2 sons right now. 3 guys over 30 years with the company. No one under 5 years currently working there. Most of the guys don't like overnight runs or the north carolina run. Which I assume I will end up on that one. I believe they have 12 part timers and are looking to add 3 more. They called me because I put in a app when they weren't hiring. I'm not nieve thinking I am the only one they arew interviewing. But I am technically otr now and offering me a couple days at home during the week and weekends off. That's better than every 6 days.
Communicating is ALWAYS better than assuming. Always. Like Fewe said, give Swift a chance to make it right. They have time and energy invested in you; it might be they want to do the right thing. Your job is to help them see that "right thing." Good luck making your decision.
A couple of years back I was working for a major computer manufacturer as a temp. It was made clear to me that I would not ever be considered to move up the ladder or be hired permanently. I started looking for work as I was not getting any gratification and my skill set was way under-utilized it was clearly time to move on. My shift lead overheard a comment that another employee made regarding my haircut and did it help.... 2 days later I received a call from the temp agency saying that they would no longer need my services, and poor performance was cited. They have also over the following years provided negative feedback when contacted by HR regarding my employment applications at new companies. This has kept me from getting more than one position, especially when combined with the no-rehire status I enjoy with a previous trucking company that insisted I violate the 14 hour on duty HOS. I have heard of other individuals who at other companies have given notice or expressed a desire to move on and were immediately escorted off the property with extreem prejudice. Be careful before you open this door and have an exit plan should things turn bad. Todays economy is not a friendly place to be looking for work.
Nothing is written in stone or even agreed apon. I had an interview and they want me to take a driving test. If they have me take a drug test or offer me a job I am just feeling out my options. I doubt swift could get me home a couple of times during the week and weekends off. I would make no money if they did. Right now just the thought of seeing my 3 boys and my wife everynight would be awesome. if I do decide to leave I will give my two weeks even if it means they don't run me. I have done nothing wrong at swift. No log problems, no accidents, never been late on either end so if they mess with me they mess with me. The company that I might go to realize that there might be csa problems by leaving because I brought it up in the interview. Right now I have a job I am #### glad to have but the thought of being home everynight again is very appealing. I haven't been offered anything yet but a lot of information. Also my aunt is a lawyer and she would look into the legal side if needed.