I start SWIFT 'acadmey' on 9/12... TEAM?

[southernpride]

After reading all the WONDERFUL coments about swift and all other training companies, i've decided to go SWIFT. I am leaving a pretty highpaying job, (Insurance Agent) and have 8 minth old twins at home, so this is by no means an easy decision. Here's the kicker. My Brother in law wants to drive team. (He is brand spanking new too, cept he drove tankers in the army 10 years ago, but no CDL)I like the guy and all, and i do trust him, but we are 100% opposite. he like metal, i like country, he's a crude dude, i'm a southern gentleman. Is this gonna work out?

Also, what are CURRENT swift drivers getting a week millege wise?

Last and most important part..... I know recruiters tell the truth as much as used car salesman, but what should i really expect here. I'm being told avg of 6-10 days out. and avg of 2800-3300 miles/week.

[Kurbski]

This outa be good. Im going to make some popcorn and get a captain and coke.

[Skywalker]

This outa be good. Im going to make some popcorn and get a captain and coke.

I'm ready!!

Dude, I hate to tell you this....but one of three things is going to happen.

You are either doing to learn to love "metal", or he is going to learn to love "kawntry"... :shock: ....or you two are going to kill each other.

Running "team" is not easy to begin with....and the one driving has to keep things at a sound level where the other can sleep....otherwise....when the accident happens....it will be a big debate as to who survives and who gets spooned out of the truck.

Double sided earphone headsets are illegal, but really good ear plugs are not.

I wish you the "Best of Luck" 8)

[gordoUSA]

Southernpride:
Let me know how the driving school is with Swift.
I am also considering a huge job change. And due to money concerns I am also thinking of Swift. But I want to learn the right way and most importantly, the SAFE way to be a good professional driver.
Keep us wannabes informed as to your experiences with Swift.
Good luck!

[inmate1577]

Why is it everyone who wants to leave a stable, good paying job wants to go OTR? Especially with kids?

Do they think things are going to be easy?
Do they dont realize that as a newb they'll rarely be home?
Do they expect some big fat pay raise?
Do they expect to see the countryside and have time to look at the sights?

It aint gonna happen, stick with selling insurance and stay home with your kids, they are more important than some trucking job. Its cheaper and easier just to cheat on your wife.

[southernpride]

Why is it everyone who wants to leave a stable, good paying job wants to go OTR? Especially with kids?

Do they think things are going to be easy?
Do they dont realize that as a newb they'll rarely be home?
Do they expect some big fat pay raise?
Do they expect to see the countryside and have time to look at the sights?

It aint gonna happen, stick with selling insurance and stay home with your kids, they are more important than some trucking job. Its cheaper and easier just to cheat on your wife.

Hey man, walk a mile in my shoes ok. It's not the glory or the glamor, but a steady paying job, without having to fake smile at idiots all day long and try sell something. I dont expect to see the countryside and all the sites. I'm not expecting a BIG FAT pay raise, and hence the reason i asked the question about AVG. SWIFT drivers hometime and miles. Team and solo. You wanna answer the question? or hijack my post?

[SlingBlade07]

Interesting, I am starting with Maverick on the 10th, will have to update big days on here, ie start CDL, End CDL, Start Trainer, End Trainer, Own truck, be a good comparison, didnt mean to jack your thread just saw you started within a couple days of myself, just a different company.

[Skywalker]

Why is it everyone who wants to leave a stable, good paying job wants to go OTR? Especially with kids?

Do they think things are going to be easy?
Do they dont realize that as a newb they'll rarely be home?
Do they expect some big fat pay raise?
Do they expect to see the countryside and have time to look at the sights?

It aint gonna happen, stick with selling insurance and stay home with your kids, they are more important than some trucking job. Its cheaper and easier just to cheat on your wife.

Hey man, walk a mile in my shoes ok. It's not the glory or the glamor, but a steady paying job, without having to fake smile at idiots all day long and try sell something. I dont expect to see the countryside and all the sites. I'm not expecting a BIG FAT pay raise, and hence the reason i asked the question about AVG. SWIFT drivers hometime and miles. Team and solo. You wanna answer the question? or hijack my post?

I have an idea for you....since you live in Savannah....

Go over to the CTL terminal in Savannah....talk to the terminal manager about schooling at COMCAR, and driving a tanker for them. Its Chemical tankers....but since you live in Savannah you would be able to get home one heckuva lot more to see your kids and you would probably make more money. Work for them and get a years experience OTR/Tanker then if you want to move on....you would be able to move to a really "Superior" company like ours, and we have a terminal in Garden City. 8)

Check out Cyanide's post on Tanker Info for Y'all.....he has the pay and benefits for all the tanker outfits in there...... BTW, both Cyanide and I drove for CTL at one time...

I think you will find tanker work far more interesting and rewarding especially financially, we certainly do

Oh, tell the "metal" dude to do it too.

[tbaarr]

one thing that has not been addressed is

who is driving night shift

in winter

on icy roads

i actually will cost myself miles

to stay on dayshift

i drive solo and am a company driver that did 137k mi in my 1st year at crete

i did team when i trained at werner, man it sucked on every level

except that my trainer was easygoing and is still a great friend

swift is as bad as werner thats it

1 week you may get 2k mi

the next 1200 as a solo

as a team you may stay at 3500-4500

at 28-32 a mile

or 800-900 a week

thats direct from swifties i have recruited to crete

they were really pissed when they found out i made more then them

and had less otr time then them

do be sure to tell us about the first time you wait for 3 hours for swift road breakdown

to even answer their phone

when your brokedown on the weekend

and you lose 7 hours of your 14 just to get a busted airline fixed

on the side of the road

be sure to have a good 4 pound hammer

to beat on the pins so you can release them and slide your tandems

good luck dude

i understand why your leaving the insurance industry

they are still screwing people in the post katrina damage areas

with outlandish premiums

i take my hat off to your integrity

expect to earn 30-38k your first year

35-42k in year 2

and 50k in year 3 if you got smart and left swift for a real company

[shaken_spider]

Hey Southernpride - Welcome to the trucking world! Don't know if its a whole lot better than selling insurance, but the pay should be a little more predictable.

Your first year with Swift is going to be TOUGH! As a solo rookie, you're only going to get the left-over loads (after the Owner-Ops / Mentors / Teams are doled out the gravy runs).

You would definitely get better runs if you were a team, but with both of you so new, they're not going to give you the best loads until they know they can trust you. That takes between 9 - 12 months to happen.

Good Luck!

[southernpride]

thanks for all the answers, anyone drive swift team and wanna answer the poll here?

[rustylugzz]

thanks for all the answers, anyone drive swift team and wanna answer the poll here?

my g/f and i drive for swift as a team i am a noobie and she has 3 years with werner been at swift since feb it was slow for the first 2 months untill i finished my 6 weeks training (she trained me) but since than we stay busy likeusually 4500 to 5000 per week one time out 13,000 miles in 13 days we mostly do div 26 back and forth to west coast. we are out of fl. have waited5 hrs to get a tire repaired middle of the desert sunday am havent had to hammer the tandem pins yet although i will say weve pulled some crappy lookin trailers as well as some that were a month and a half old bottom line we will get a year in than go looking for something else. i did heating and a/c for 28 years and the main reason i got into this was for retirement and bennies., good luck

[BigBird01]

I have been with swift for 19 months, and all I can tell you is that you are sorta starting at a bad time. For some reason freight is slow atm and when december gets here it is slow all the way to easter... I see you already started school at swift. But from one that knows you are not going to make any extra money teaming then solo at swift. UNLESS you can get on a good dedicated team account, exp DHL or Fed ex or something BOL I wouldn't still be here if I didn't get the dedicated im on at swift. For the meanwhile since I can't seem to find anything hiring local in my area. Im now home every day and off on weekends. So I will stay here untill it dries up.