What's it like to drive for swift transportation from training on?

Discussion in 'Discuss Your Favorite Trucking Company Here' started by Ddr1992 579, Nov 10, 2020.

Page 1 of 4
  1. Ddr1992 579

    Ddr1992 579 Medium Load Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2018
    Messages:
    395
    Thanks Received:
    100
    0
    What are the trucks spec'd like? What's it like to drive for swift in any manner from local dedicated to otr? Do they have regional runs? Do they run refrigerated routes? What's first year fresh out of school pay?
     
    Ddr1992 579, Nov 10, 2020
    #1
    Flat Earth Trucker Thanks this.
  2. Flat Earth Trucker

    Flat Earth Trucker Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2018
    Messages:
    4,146
    Thanks Received:
    15,573
    0


    I found some stock footage of Swift training in it's early years.
     
    Flat Earth Trucker, Nov 10, 2020
    #2
    Dave_in_AZ, Lumper Humper, nredfor88 and 13 others Thank this.
  3. BM 58

    BM 58 Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2019
    Messages:
    1,267
    Thanks Received:
    4,314
    0
    Go to the Motor Carrier Suggestions on this site and read the reviews before you make that mistake.
     
    BM 58, Nov 10, 2020
    #3
    JohnBoy and Flat Earth Trucker Thank this.
  4. Blue Zombie Trucker

    Blue Zombie Trucker Light Load Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2017
    Messages:
    279
    Thanks Received:
    681
    0
    Swift isn't awful as a starter training company. Their trucks are mostly decent, but with their high turnover rate, it's a rolll of the dice. Their DMs are overloaded and that's another crap shoot.

    If you have any options, I'd say consider them first, if got6 no other reason than to avoid the toxic association with the Swift name brand reputation.
     
    Blue Zombie Trucker, Nov 10, 2020
    #4
    D.Tibbitt and Flat Earth Trucker Thank this.
  5. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 28, 2009
    Messages:
    10,686
    Thanks Received:
    12,265
    Location:
    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
    0
    Friendly advice from Dr. "Allow Me".....The trucking business is a rough and tumble business, it's not for wimps. Lose any mindset that you need the "easy" road. If you can't drive a manual tranny, or deal with bad weather, or dream of hitting the sleeper at the shipper or need to be home every weekend, then stay at your warehouse job. If you can handle challenges and mostly have the Cable guys mindset, (get 'er done") then almost any co will work for you as a beginning. Dispatch will throw you to the wolves and you won't have Mommy there to tuck you in every night with cookies and milk. Long days, lots of highway miles, no respect from hardly anyone, dirty truck stops, and on and on. Just food for thought......Luck to Ya'
     
    Allow Me., Nov 12, 2020
    #5
    Dave_in_AZ, born&raisedintheusa, Lumper Humper and 14 others Thank this.
  6. Lonesome

    Lonesome Mr. Sarcasm

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2007
    Messages:
    11,229
    Thanks Received:
    23,095
    Location:
    Northern Indiana
    0
    Lonesome, Nov 12, 2020
    #6
    Dave_in_AZ and Texas_hwy_287 Thank this.
  7. Gearjammin' Penguin

    Gearjammin' Penguin "Ride Fast-Truck Safe"

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2007
    Messages:
    2,670
    Thanks Received:
    8,191
    Location:
    Central AZ
    0
    ^ This right here.
     
    Gearjammin' Penguin, Nov 12, 2020
    #7
    Texas_hwy_287 and Ddr1992 579 Thank this.
  8. Ddr1992 579

    Ddr1992 579 Medium Load Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2018
    Messages:
    395
    Thanks Received:
    100
    0
    I'm going to look forward too getting my cdl and running refrigerated and dry van routes in the southeast... I like being on the road and driving... even if it's only for a couple of years I feel the need to explore the united states in an 80,000lb tractor trailer and everything that goes along with it i.e. long distance runs, driving for 12-14hr days, truck stop showers and mom and pop restaurants and dealing with weather that makes me a better driver...
     
    Ddr1992 579, Nov 13, 2020
    #8
  9. Flat Earth Trucker

    Flat Earth Trucker Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2018
    Messages:
    4,146
    Thanks Received:
    15,573
    0
    a06a0119d9148c6213b2a1e81afebc05.jpeg
    That it is a bit ruff and tumble is one of the characteristics of trucking that I do appreciate.

    Try being testy with the boss at a 9 to 5 or trade job and see how long you remain employed or face some petty retribution.

    In trucking, a frank exchange of ideas can occur, and as long as the freight is moved, once ruffled feathers can soon smooth themselves out again.
     
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2020
    Flat Earth Trucker, Nov 13, 2020
    #9
    tlalokay, MACK E-6 and firemedic2816 Thank this.
  10. JohnBoy

    JohnBoy Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2009
    Messages:
    10,022
    Thanks Received:
    27,099
    Location:
    Lake Worth, FL.
    0
    One thing that’s not negotiable and I will never give up, is my cookies and milk every night/day before I go to bed. That was the biggest obstacle I had to overcome when I started this insanity. 42 years later? Still have my cookies and milk before bed.
     
    JohnBoy, Nov 13, 2020
    #10
    MACK E-6, Bumper, firemedic2816 and 2 others Thank this.
Page 1 of 4