Western Express or Swift?

Honestly, I don't even know if we get a referral bonus. I know it's against the rules here for me to recommend people for the purpose of getting them and that's not what it's really about for me. I wish everyone was able to do a job that makes them as happy and content as mine makes me. All companies have their problems, including Swift. The key to success is patience and knowing how to work the system in place for more miles. @Lepton1 gave me some amazing advice for how to get more miles. I've really only made very few tweeks to that and run like hell.

As for driving long distances, it will take time to get used to it. I wanted to stop driving after what seemed like an eternity. Stopped and took a break. Total miles? 268. It really just takes time and not being too proud of a man or a woman to admit you need to set the brakes and take a break or a nap. If I have a lot of time on a load, I will sometimes stop every 2-4 hours and just take a few laps around the truck, or go grab a drink. No shame in that. I find that I'm a lot less tired at the end of the day. Also, I find lots of cool stuff for my kids on Indian reservations that way. I'm enjoying my job a lot more that what.

Just remember that it will affect your ability to earn if you can't keep that left door closed. At Swift when you're out with your trainer you'll make 9.50 per hour when you're on duty/driving. You'll make your state's minimum wage for all other on duty activities. That's for a reason, you getting paid by the hour and not by the mile. It's so you take your #### time and spend more time focusing on not hitting things. Let your trainer worry about how the load is going to get there on time. It's their service failure, not yours, if it gets there late. First thing my trainer said to me was "don't kill me and if you even think you may be STARTING to feel tired, set the brakes and get out of the truck for a while"

 

Neither

 

I got a ticket for being in the 3rd of 4 lanes in California. That was out solo, totally my fault, but also unavoidable in that situation. With my trainer I didn't get any tickets but he did, for being 1200lb overweight on the trailer axle. Also happened to be the day I refused to drive unless he taught me to scale loads.