SWIFT - DIARY FROM SCHOOL and onwards.

[fireman932003]

Here, read this and get your facts strait!

http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/most...9-4ff6220c24c8

[ogre999]

Well crap on crackers ! Im really thinking someones trying to tell me something ... not so much for "swifts" sake but for all of ours I hope this turns out to be false .... but with that much rucus ...I doubt it


Damn! :evil:

[southernpride]

"Hello boys..... I'm back" (from the crazy alcoholic in independance day) yeah yeah i know kinda cheezy oh well, DEAL!

Just a quick update as well as a RUMOR KILLER. I am doing the best i've been doing. (yes still with SWIFT) but i FIRED my DM, after i just couldnt take his BS anymore. my new DM is running the you know what out of me. 3600miles last week, and already at 2900 this week with 2 days left in my week. WHEW! I'm beat, but loving it. My new Volvo is Wondeful (if i tell you the truth i know something else will break)

ANYWAY.... The rumors: ARE NOT TRUE! CONFRIMED!

The whole thing in Memphis was all about the school, i kept in touch with my instructor and he told all.... ALL that is currently being looked into, is the third party testing, and how some are being passed that shouldnt. VERY true in my opinion, but they are also looking into the way bonuses are paid based on the number of students that pass. Swift acadmey and Swift trans are 2 seperate corporations, so this will not affect Swift trans. Also, the VP of the company was on Sirius the other day explaining that all the rumors ARE NOT TRUE. the only other thing going on at swift is the down from 64 to 62. Which (to me is not a big deal) i'll make the time up. and i'm sorry if you cant find a way to make up 20 miles a day and i can being a rookie and running hella miles, then um you have other issues.

So basically it is business as usual. No major malfunctions to repprt, other than all the electrical problems w/ my truck, of and the steer that blewout the other day, oh and the guy that forgot the forklift in my truck and greenlighted me to pull out and seal, luckily i looked! Yes that really happened, i wont say where, but i will say that wally world almost lost a fork lift..... other than that, everything else is going well.

OH...... wait wait wait. UPDATE: Swift finally decided not to hold my speeding ticket from school against me (it got thrown out of court) BUT they are penalizing me for that STUPID warning i got... The nerve. So i'm back up to level 3 ! And in other news, my ,mentor is going through some crap with swift, he got 5 warning tickets and they are threatening to fire him and took his mentor status away... i think he may be leaving.

Ok thats all for now, gotta head to Syracuse (sp?) now.

-Laterz-
Lead Foot.

[dle]

I've worked for companies that have declared bankruptcy.


The rumors were flying fast and furious, and yes they were denied repeatedly. About a month later they filed for bankruptcy.

Companies are going to deny they are filing to prevent the wolves from attacking and the sheep from running. By this I mean that they want to prevent customers (sheep) from leaving and the creditors (wolves) pushing for payments.

If there is any discussions of bankruptcy at Swift, it's taking place right now in the upper echelons - board of directors, Pres, V.Pres. They probably would not be using for right now internal legal staff - but external ones. If one had any good contacts there - the IT staff would be receiving unusual requests for reporting.

[ChipW]

Hey Southernpride,

Thanks for the diary. Very good read...

I'm actually thinking about going with Swift's lease program. I know that lease/owner ops get first choice for loads and have talked to MANY of them before seriously thinking about it. And no, I'm not a newb. Been with my current company for over 2 years...

My best friend moved over to swift from USA truck. Other than them constantly losing his logs that he turns in at the terminals, he likes the company.

According to him, he's reimbursed for a lot of things that most companies won't reimburse for... Like when you have to pay to park, showers, and truck washes.... Hard to believe that a company with so many trucks will pay for a truck wash once a month...

Anyway, thanks for the read and keep the dirty side down...

Chip

[southernpride]

Hello all. I have returned from the depths of exhaustion! Since my last post i have not run under 3000 miles a week. I actually hit 4100 and am on track to do the same this week. i feel like :moose: With all that said i am so happy that things are going well for me in this time of uncertainty, but i am also concerned for my fellow drivers out there barely making it.

I have a couple freinds, who also work for swift, out here and they are having a touh time with freight. like around 2000 miles a week and thats it.

I wanted to give everyone a recap or and final overall view of my first 6 months after school. (can you believe it's been that long already?)

I heard all the advice before i started, and tried to listen to as much as i could, but only now do i realize how valuable it all was. So my first big pointer to anyone looking to get into this industry, listen to the vets when they give you advise. Here's my advise, from a rookie standpoint:

1. Choose carefully, look at all of your options, TALK to people (with opposing views) on good/bad points of schools and companies.
--I am happy here, but i can see why some people wouldnt be. I'n my cae i think i did the right thing for me, may be different for you---

2. School is to get you ready for a test, Mentorship/Training on the road is where you need to make sure you have someone who knows what the hell they are doing, or YOU will pay the price.

3. BE WILLING TO WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, HURRY UP, and then..... WAIT
---Patience is a big issue for me, still learning it. but doing better than i was.

4. When you get on your own, dont get cocky, i think i could get drivers who've been driving for 30 years to agree, you learn something new everyday, and the more attention you pay to things around you, they faster you'll learn.

5. Courtesy, in my experience, is not only appreciated, but respected.

6. dispatcher/ driver manager - Find your ideal fit. everyone is different. I was ready to call it quits untill i changed driver managers, i am happy now. i get what i need to keep me moving and the support i need when there are issues. it makes a huge difference when you're in a situation and it takes someone 5 minutes to correct a mistake rather than 3 hours.

7. Learn how to manage your time, and keep that left door shut. You're doing this to make money right? sitting in a truck stop while you have hours to run wont make you any money. (unless its one of those casino stops.... lol.)

8. Dont be afraid :nervous: to ask questions, most times you'll get a stupid rookie response or 2 (hundred) but 99% of the time someone will realise that at least you asked instead of just screwed up by guessing.

OH and for a final point in this message (there could be 1009 good ones)

9. Protect your CDL, its a lot easier to get one than to protect one. Anyone can get one and be out here running for a while, But can you drive smart enough to keep out of trouble, and keep you CDL/JOB. 4 people i graduated with have been fired for accidents, or excessive violations. in 6 months. i know this for a fact!

Anyway. thanks to all for reading this post, i know it's a long read if your just starting to read it now. But i really i hope it helps people thinking about going to swift.

As far as what i'm doing..... i'm thinking about the lease program, but if i do it wont be till january. The other thing i'm thinking of is the mentor program... it hard to convince myself though that i have enough experience to teach someone else.

Hope everyone out there is doing well, i am about to enjoy an ENTIRE DAY of racing tomorrow. Monaco, Indy 500, Coke 600.... what an AWESOME day! laterz

~Leadfoot~

[southernpride]

Hello all. Back from Daytona vacation and got great news. I got the spot on the deicated acount i was wanting and have been running it for the last week and guess what?!?!!? I LOVE IT!

Guaranteed Pay regardless of break down, miles, blah blah blah, 850/wk.
weekends and a couple nites a week at home. I got to keep my truck, which is only good cause it would take me a day to move my stuff from truck to truck. open fuel, i can fuel anywhere, no computer telling me where to fuel. The best part, i'll run like 1800-2100 miles a week and thats it. plus while my paycheck still come from swift, and the truck says swift, i now deal directly with the customer not with a swift dispatcher (the swift drivers who couldnt do it, nuff said )

So after only 7 months of driving solo. i have run 81,000 miles! no preventable accidents (knock on wood) and am already home every weekend with guaranteed pay. plus my vacation just went up by a week too!

I'm lovin it right now. Hope eveyone is doing well. laterz.

Lead Foot.

[Colin]

When I ran for JBHunt on their Wal-Mart account, I had a much better experience. No JBH dispatchers, open fuel plan, easy runs. Good stuff.

Good for you and don't get kicked off of it. :P

[carlos64030]

Good to hear that everything is going well for ya, man. I drive for Swift as well and in 2 weeks I will have completed my 1st year as a solo driver. If you don't mind me asking, is that $850. you're making before or after taxes?

[truckertobe]

Thanks for all your insite with Swift. I have read your whole blog and it has motivated me to take on my training. I do have a question for you or the other truckers out here.

How is driving in bad weather conditions, Rain, snow, winds?

I start my training on Tuesday the 16th with the academy and I am just worried about some things that are on my mind...

Hey guys here is my email lincolnman72@aol.com send me your if you dont mind answering a few questions that a green pea might have...

Thanks guys