Swift Southwest???

[NMCC]

I noticed that Swift is advertising a southwest region for new drivers. They claim that they will keep drivers in that area so they are closer to home. How reliable is this or is it just recruiting b/s . :?

[K.POP]

I was looking into this before I even came hear. I been seeing alot of new guys posting abut them getting ready to goto to swifts training school. Wonder if its all that they say it is.

[LennyD]

recruiting bs

While u might get hired and classified in this region, as a new driver you will quickly find yourself getting very little mileage... all the while getting pushed further from your "comfort zone" just so you can justify the time you spend wasting away in your truck.

If you're intent on not running East, and you don't want to get starved, I would suggest telling your DM you'd like to stay on this side of the Mississippi river.

I'm going on 9 months with Swift and I have very few complaints besides lack of hometime, and the feeling that your superiors couldn't care less about you and your needs as a human being...welcome to trucking!

[ronjon619]

recruiting bs



I'm going on 9 months with Swift and I have very few complaints besides lack of hometime, and the feeling that your superiors couldn't care less about you and your needs as a human being...welcome to trucking!

Wow......what a statement! That driver on the other thread who left the toyota dealership to haul cars should be reading this. I think he went with TMC because they wash their trucks every week.

[jnk2001]

While u might get hired and classified in this region, as a new driver you will quickly find yourself getting very little mileage... all the while getting pushed further from your "comfort zone" just so you can justify the time you spend wasting away in your truck.

that's been going on with swift for years....

[NMCC]

Thanks for the advise. I may be new to trucing, but I didn't fall of the flatbed yesterday My job appears that it will end between now and the end of the year. Already have my CDL, but need a refresher. Just looking at options.

[Ian Williams]

While u might get hired and classified in this region, as a new driver you will quickly find yourself getting very little mileage... all the while getting pushed further from your "comfort zone" just so you can justify the time you spend wasting away in your truck.

that's been going on with swift for years....

Sounds like bait and switch.

[DDT]

Almost ten years in Trucking and I can honestly say I've never heard a good story about swift. When you hear the name run, they'll say anything to recruit.

DDT :rock:

[KATMANN]

Thanks for the advise. I may be new to trucing, but I didn't fall of the flatbed yesterday My job appears that it will end between now and the end of the year. Already have my CDL, but need a refresher. Just looking at options.

Thats a good idea

[Uturn2001]

When I worked for Swift, back in 99, the drivers who stayed in the Southwest area go to know every pot hole between LA and Phoenix. It seemed that is all they did beyond spending a few days on each end running local loads while waiting for a back haul.

At that time too, those who lived on one coast or the other, seemed to be the only ones who got decent miles. If you lived in the middle of the country you got all the crappy short hauls with enough time built in to deliver 4 of them and still take a day off.

[omapilot]

I looked at Swift and saw the comfort zones that they had to offer. The look like a pretty good thing, but I guess that you have to be with them for 6 months before they actually put you into one of those zones. They cant be all that bad, considering their size and how many people they have working for them. Werner is based here in my home town and I have heard the horror stories about them. But, then again they have a massive operation and they have the man power to run the operation so something must be going right. Heck, if I could start a small business and grow it into the size of Werner or Swift, I would be extatic!!

[jnk2001]

I looked at Swift and saw the comfort zones that they had to offer. The look like a pretty good thing, but I guess that you have to be with them for 6 months before they actually put you into one of those zones. They cant be all that bad, considering their size and how many people they have working for them. Werner is based here in my home town and I have heard the horror stories about them. But, then again they have a massive operation and they have the man power to run the operation so something must be going right. Heck, if I could start a small business and grow it into the size of Werner or Swift, I would be extatic!!

Of course you would if you did it on the backs of unsuspecting drivers and ppl who can't get another job elsewhere :shock: :?

[Ian Williams]

They cant be all that bad, considering their size and how many people they have working for them.

Yes they can.

McDonalds is the biggest restaurant chain in the US, does that mean they are a good employer? Read Fast Food Nation and/or watch Supersize Me for the dirt on McDs.

Swift grew by being being cheap on everything. Rates, Pay, equipment etc.

[NMCC]

WOW. Swift is loved here! :shock: Yea, I know that there isn't a perfect company out there, but I definately want to stay away from those with that bad of a reputation. Thanks for the heads up. I am just looking at getting a years experience (or so) and then buy a nice, used truck and lease it on with someone and eventually run on my own.

I have been around trucking for a long time, I was just curious if things have changed at Swift. Guess not.

Any ideas on a good flatbed company to start with? Melton? Mav and Tmc are out. The recruiters didn't want much to do with me because of living in the phoenix area. Also, I have some history with TMC. It's not bad, but I'm not going to far out of my way to work there.

[omapilot]

Yeah, I know what you all mean. I know they get a pretty bad rap, and I am sure there is allot of good reason in that from many personal experiences those have had with them. It is too bad that expansion of these companies has come at the cost of the respect and treatment of their drivers, the life blood of their organization.

[fireman932003]

I will tell you that Werner is a good company other than they don't pay worth a darn. If they would pay better and pick up the miles a little bit I would more then likely go back to them. But, on the other hand, people don't go to companies just for the trucks. They go for the pay and such.

[omapilot]

They are a good company. I have a neighbor that works in the corporate office and he really enjoys it there. He was a driver/trainer for years and finally had enough. Working at the airport, we have the fuel contract for their corporate aviation department. I fuel their aircraft on a regular basis and have tried to hook up in there! But, you need to be on the inside to find your way to that gig.

[homer]

i bet swift give you a truck with permits for 48 states and canada . gee do you think all those thousands of trucks gonna get out of their " sweet spot "some time?
i read cl werners bio on another site and was not suprised that its his stategy to keep wages low

[Phantom433a]

WOW. Swift is loved here!
Any ideas on a good flatbed company to start with?

Of course they are.....Their based out of Phoenix.

Good news tho, the man that started the company has just dropped something like 30 million to buy back ALL the outstanding stock and take the company private again. Meaning the corporation that was running the company was ruining it. Talked to an O/O last night that has been with Swift for 5 years and he says they are already seeing more miles for the co. drivers.

Try contacting Watkins Shepard....small company (about 500 trucks counting O/Os and they have a terminal in PHX

[KATMANN]

Still leary of Swift....at the moment