What am I missing about Swift?

Well done Driver, thanks

 

So, without going into the contract issue, is Swift a company people here would recommend to look into?

 

I went through Swift school and then left the company before all the payments were made. There were no ramifications except they wanted their money. As said before, the goal is to get the CDL. If you get it through Swift and then do not become employed by them, you have the option of paying them for the school or having it go to collections. If you do go to work for them and you don't completely pay it off, you will owe whatever it was that wasn't paid. They don't add penalties, interest or anything else. They just want their money. Seems pretty fair to me.

Regarding whether Swift is a good company: I left Swift after working for a year. I've been gone for a little over two years. Now I'm going back. This is after working for a small independent and for a larger reefer company. That should tell you something.

And for those who will say it only tells them I'm a dummy, well, that's your opinion. You're entitled to it, but I'm only going off my personal experience. I'm tired of being baby-sat all the way down the highway and still not making a paycheck. Swift did not do that to me. And I almost always had a decent paycheck with them.

 

Just one little correction/disclaimer on the part I highlighted in red above:

The companies that will agree to tuition reimbursement, or to pay the school you attended, the company MUST be your first company you hire on to drive for.

Since OBGYN is hiring onto Swift now, and will be employed by Swift...if he were to move to another company the school tuition would not be reimbursed to him or to the school....many won't tell you that before signing on...leaving you to find out the hard way!

 

BRR, I went back to your initial post when you introduced yourself on the Welcome Wagon. I'm posting bits of it here in an attempt to reply to your post (above). Pardon me for cutting it up but it seemed like the best way to respond to you, that is, by knowing more about your situation.

"So, here I find myself,

I am 28 years old, a disabled Iraqi War Veteran...

Thank you!

( I left the service five years ago (almost to the month even), and since then my work history has been sporadic (and horrible, we are talking door to door sales, gas station attendant, even video game tester) with large pockets of unemployment while attending a college (other wise, putting myself into a whole lot of debt).

It will be very important to be prepared to explain to prospective carriers EVERYTHING about any sporadic work periods.

I am divorced, live with my wonderful girlfriend, no kids. We have discussed at great length the time that I will be spending away (mostly interested in long haul), and her being a military brat is not only understanding but is encouraging.

Keep this discussion going with your gf. "No holds barred" honesty from both of you is vital. Spending the bucks and time for training and then finding out that one or both of you has been feigning support is a possible set up for a situation that neither of you wants. For example, several of my classmates at Swift Millington claimed to have a solid support system back home but when the reality of "Oh crap, I'm about to be gone for a month or so" really hit, they discovered that the support system began to crumble.

.... but was common to go out on field problems ranging from 3 weeks to 2 months at a time frequently), and frankly, I miss that type of lifestyle.

Serving at the "pleasure of the President" has some strings attached and has some pretty severe penalties for bad behavior. The thought of dealing with those penalties kept many of my shipmates in line. Serving at the pleasure of CEO, Big Trucking Company, Inc has strings and penalties but none as severe as those that go along with an enlistment contract or commission.

My driving record and criminal record are both clean as a whistle.

This is critical, now more than before. DOT is hammering down on the drivers they feel shouldn't be in this industry.

So, I made the decision about two months ago after doing some initial research, was able to get VOCAB (through the VA and worksource) to pay for the CDL class A, hazmat, Dump, Bus, etc etc (valued at about $7,000) through a school in Lakewood WA called CDS (Commercial Driving Services INC).

Even though your schooling will be paid for there will be some "dry spells dollar-wise" before the $$$$ begin to materialize. Have plenty of personal money available for "living expenses" during training.

I start the course on July 19th, and should finish up by August 27th.

That's about a month away....plenty of time, if needed, to shore up your determination!

Walking into this excited, optimistic, and ready to get back to work.

Keep the attitude positive!

PS.- This is a wonderful site, very glad that I found it."

Yep, it is!!!!


Now, to comment on your question about Swift:
1) Swift is an effective training company.
2) Swift has some drivers who have been with them for a lot of years.
3) Swift is huge!!!! But, there are many smaller, reputable carriers that can match Swift as far as benefits offered is concerned.
4) Am I excited about being with Swift? I wouldn't say excited about being with Swift, but excited about getting this new career started, yes!
5) Would I have gone with another carrier with in-house training if there had been a another, reputable one taking students from my area? Yep, I would have. That is not to say that if EVERY carrier with in-house training had been accepting students from my area, I would have moved Swift to the bottom of my list.
6) Am I disappointed that I ended up at Swift for training?
No, Swift has a training program in place that works. It is not a pleasant program every step of the way but, hey, this is the real world.
7) Would I recommend Swift to a student fresh out of a vo-tech school or a community college driver training program?
No! My own research here on the forum has led me to believe that a new driver has a better opportunity elsewhere.



You have plenty of time to continue your research here on the forum. Use that time!

We're here for you...ask questions, don't leave a stone unturned!

 

Where you are living...Connecticut...(I love spelling that word, won a spelling bee in 2nd grade with that one)....anyway, is not a good region for Swift. If you would locate down to midwest, or west...would be better freight and home time wise!

Cause that's where some of us are hiding! Right OBGYN?

 

I can't add any thing to what OBGYN has already posted. I'm currently in the second week of training at the Millington Academy with Swift and have to say I'm pleased and satisfied thus far. As stated already, you are not obligated to work for Swift at all, only pay your INTEREST FREE loan back. Seems more than fair to me and it's a heckuva lot cheaper than plenty of other 'schools'. I plan on working for them btw but I'm not biased in any fashion. They haven't fed me any b.s. thus far that I know of, and that means a lot to me.

 

Nah, you guys that step up and tell it like it is (and you guys know who you guys are) make this journey into truckerdom informative, real....and, attractive to those of us who are determined to take this uncertain leap. Also, kind Master, regardless of what you've said, you never denigrated Swift to the point that you out and out said, "Sonny, don't do it!" Class act!....and a classy lady back at the homestead!

 

otherhalfw-that comment SO leaves it's self open to comment!!

 

Pay close attention...this is the set-up for a proper hijack!