What to do? Your advice

I would go to work for the company that actually hired me (and I did). Keep putting applications in until you get a bite. W/S is a good company but just because you want to work there doesn't mean they want you to work there.

 

You already know your answer-- Swift

 

Well, I can tell you this, I just went solo after my mentor time. I couldn't imagine trying this without that mentor time. IF they sent me out straight from orientation it would have been a disaster. It's not the actualy driving the truck that the problem comes from, It's all the admin stuff that goes along with driving that you must learn.

But maybe that 10 day orientation teaches you that stuff. Really I'm having a bad time this weekend, but all in all I like swift, I like that they are understanding that rookie drivers make mistakes, and wont fire you the minute you do.

 

I'm not a driver but as someone who's looking at W&S let me say this based on what I've read up on.

If you feel you need a mentor, go to a company that has one. There's no shame or disgrace to it.

 

The worst time to be a driver is when your new. You are deserving of respect for the commitment you've made, but in this industry, most larger companies will not give it but rather take advantage of you.

If my advise has anything you can glean IMO would be....be committed to yourself to gain experience. This means you'll be on the road a lot making probably bear bones wages. After a year you'll be in control of how your treated & respected at this point.

Don't be Superman and run grossly illegal with hours. Don't speed at anytime, always honor posted limit on highways, city, construction. Keep your logbook current anytime your rolling. Remember your license is your tool. You put any marks on it, you go back to step one when it comes to being respected & not ##### on in this industry.

You know your financial situation & the time you have to play the initial game of getting through orientation, mentor scenarios to getting assigned a truck. Good luck & remember to stay committed to YOUR GOALS.

 

Personally, I think you'd be better off taking some time with a mentor. The extra six weeks will be paid, but with Swift's new hours driving, I'm not sure of the amount of pay. Back in my day it was $450/wk weeks 1-4 and $500/wk on weeks 5-6. So let's look at the positives and negatives.

Swift: 6 weeks of training with a mentor to help correct any difficulties you may have. Backing, Qualcomm use, company policies, chaining, route planning, Fueling procedures, Log books, DOT inspections, Trucker talk (lingo), ways to save money...the list goes on and on. These are small things, but doing them the wrong way can cost you either time or cash.

W/S: 10 day orientaion, no pay. Get to start driving right away IF you pass a driving test at the terminal. No ones gonna give you a $100,000 truck + load without checking your skills. Say you pass, Great!. Now you have to figure out all that stuff meantioned above on your own if solo, or figure out how to live with a stranger if teamed. Are they gonna put you in a solo rig right off the bat? How many hours will you lose if your called in for corrective training like log book classes?

Swift: you know when the "team" (mentoring) ends. W/S: Maybe 6 weeks, maybe 6 months till they get you in a solo rig.

W/S may be a shortcut to getting on the road, but it may cost you in the long run.

Either company, I'd recomend rolling with a more experienced driver for a time. Look carefully at what each company uses for a training plan for new drivers. Which company will be more likely to have the freight to keep you rolling after training? Which one has a terminal near your house, or has traffic lanes past your house? Which one has a better maintained fleet? Then choose your path.

If I were choosing as a newbie, I'd pick Swift and move on after a year if I felt I needed to. But that is after I've answered the above questions from my own perspective. Your answer may be different.

I hope I've helped a bit. Best of luck and see ya on the road.

Pal

 

W&S orientation you get 400 total for orientation. It's 10 days of training, including at least 3 different road tests, plenty of backing practice, they let you practice after hours as well, they do have dock you can practice bumping, they cover chaining and the paperwork. As far as everything else, every one of their drivers on this forum will give you their cell so you can call them with a question at anytime. It's family with them.

However, one must decide whether or not he can handle things solo from the get go. Some can and are doing it. Some can't and there's nothing wrong with that. Just a choice you have to make.

W&S sends you out solo from the get go.

 

I sit corrected on the pay issue. Thanks for the info, Wolf.