Truck Driving Jobs

scottyjoe · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 10 Location: Oregon

I'm glad to hear something positive about Swift. I am considering going to their school and have been reading a lot of bad stuff, and some good stuff too.

Swift sounds like a good deal to me. If they will train and hire me with no driving experience, and pay for it all, well, that sounds like a good deal to me.

I'm sure there are better companies to drive for, but for me, I don't have very many choices. The Swift school is local to me. We all can't drive for the best company. Not that I'm saying Swift is not the best.

At first I thought it sounded pretty easy, but now I am hearing about accidents and body parts, etc. It sounds like that is an occupational hazard. A sobering thought.

My options right now are to work days for minimum wage, and nights at Circle K to try and make 25 grand a year, or get free training and a foot into the OTR industry.

If there are 20,000 Swift drivers right now, I don't think it could be all that bad. Or is it???

Somebody take my keys . . . :D

scottyjoe · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 10 Location: Oregon

hey could somebody tell me what an average day is like doing long hauling? All I see are trucks cruising down the freeway, looks pretty easy to me.

Is it easy money? I have heard some people say it's long hours and very tiring.

I just want to make some money, and I don't care about getting home.
Considering my other option is basically minimum wage at a 9 to 5, driving truck is starting to sound like a good option.

Just wondering what it's like.

Where ever I lay my head is home . . .

geeshock · Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 350 Location: Hertford, NC

there is more to it than easy money, lol. It requires a self starter, that can put in up to 14 hours of time per day, has patience, a good customer service attitude, and don't mind unloading sometimes at the end. Most places are going drop and hook or limper's, etc but there are probably going to be some places you'll be required to unload your own freight. Remember, there is always more to a job than that meets the eye. Most jobs are work, it's the person that does it and does it right that makes it look easy :)

kmartcowboy · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 22 Location: Lincoln, NE

From the view of an O/O who has been out here since 1997

First point: I would NEVER work for SWIFT. I don't want to be a associated with a company that is infamous for hiring idiots. I know that they have a few good drivers (I've talked to them), but as for the whole.... Well.... I don't want the name of a company on the side of MY truck that makes me feel I need to prove my driving experience and competence.

Second Point: I talked to Werner early this year when I was looking for a company local to me. First off they didn't pay enough for my experience. (I currently make .94 a mile loaded or empty and never pay more than 1.22 a gal for fuel). There are other spiffs, but that's the basic guarantee. When I talked to the sole recruiter for Werner, I have to say that I was NOT impressed. He had the personality of a corpse and didn't seem interested in hiring someone with my experience. I bring a LOT to the table and want to feel like I am wanted. He acted like I was bothering him by asking him about what the company had to offer me.

My points are that there are much better companies out there to start out with as a student. If you AREN'T a student and actually have at least a year worth of OTR, These are NOT the companies to choose from.

My Advice for a company driver:

Air Ride, Inc
Crete
Roehl
Hill Bros

I've talked to drivers from each of these companies and they all seem to have good things to say.

MACK · Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 574

Stay
Way
I
Flunked
Traning

celticpriest · Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7

[quote="Rokk"] NC_TRUCKER wrote:

Swift is not the only company that has accidents.. however, anytime an accident involves a swift truck, its talked about and added to the stereotype. I run 48 states and i come accross alot of accidents that involve, Werner, Interstate dist., JB, heartland, GTI, knight, Owner ops and private carriers from all over the nation. but even as i go by, not a single driver talks about that "other guy" and how stupid or irresponsible that driver was. its always reserved for swift.

i am now in habits of taking pictures of all these so called pro's. to show, that its just not swift. Mainly i do this for my own research, 7 times out of 10, the tractor is always an owner operator, be it leased or private.

With that in mind, i suggest you all do the math and look long and hard at ratio's and statistical factors. Swift is the largest carrier, with well over 26,000 tractors and 77,000 trailers in its fleet over all. on any given day at pretty much any given time, day or night, theres roughly 18,000 truck combinations with drivers behind the wheel rolling down the road.. yes even while you naysayers and nitpickers are sleeping in truckstops beside another swift truck doing the same, for every one Swift truck taking a mandatory rest in a truck stop or rest area. there are roughly 30 more swift trucks that will roll past his location in either direction to all points destination while that one truck sleeps for a 10 hour period.

Crazy you think? actually its downright impressive. We have all the freight, all the miles. thats right along with all the "Can do" attitudes it takes to to see it all work like a well oiled machine. thats impressive too.

now, think for yourself. that many trucks, drivers miles and hours. We could have 100 accidents per month and still not be near the same statistical ratios at say the company that has 300 or 500 trucks. think about the company that may have 12 trucks... one accident and that company is screwed dont you think.

Some of the best drivers in the industry, drive for swift. and no one can deny that. I have seen them sort of drivers and meet them personally, everyday out there. seldom do i meet a driver with another company that has the skills in maneuvering, backing, courtesy and dedication to the job he/she does, than that of a positive and happy swift driver. Swift drivers are at the ready to help more drivers on the road at any moment than any other company driver or owner op out there. most importantly, 90% of the swift trucks out there today, are equipped to help in emergency and roadside repairs as well.

its not uncommon for a swift drivers offer of lending a hand to someone is refused, just because that hand is embarrased in himself that a swift driver could possibly do something for or better than himself. I know this for fact, it happens to me everyday, one clearly needs help, but then they see name on my shirt, hat and even truck, and they get all panicky.

I surely hope at least someone takes something positive from my little post here. I make it a point to study things like this. after all, I cannot quit working for swift until the stereotype is fixed. and i can only do that one driver at a time and hope they pay it forward. basically it looks like i will most likely die of old age here at swift. but i can dream cant i.

now, bring on some more of them swift jokes and sayings. i like to keep a listing of new ones i hear just because ...they are funny. and if you cant laught at things directed toward you, then your just not a very happy person are you. 8)

yep that is true, used to work for swift myself back in the daydecent company just a lot of them out there so your gonna see more accidents from them.

SWIFT

See
What
I
Fu***d up
Today

Swing
Wide
Itsa
Fu***ng
Trailer

FlatRat · Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 6

I saw this one at the Memphis terminal bathroom after fueling up.

So
Which
Idiot
Fixed the
Truck

whodat54321 · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 475 Location: Phoenix, AZ

i was told this one by a guy at a motel

Stop
When
I
Find
Terminal

Skullitor · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 928 Location: Your Sisters Room

I know a guy named "DIESELDUCY" Ex.Pumpkin who now drives for Swift.He got a BRAND NEW Volvo issued to him.And he loves driving long haul for Swift. He says don't believe all the crap spoken about Swift.You do your job and they treat you well.

fireman932003 · Joined: 28 Dec 2003 Posts: 948 Location: Chandler Indiana

Does " DIESELDUCY" still have a web site? I know that he used too. It was a good read.

cableman · Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 285 Location: LUGOFF, SC

Ridge Runner wrote: Well, when I'm going 75 at 3am and the center lane is blocked by a driver doing 65, what would you do?

As far as the solo driver..... I don't know. I was just passing on one from my trainer. :wink:

I know I know... me me Get out and push!!!!!!!!!!! ROFLMAO

Toothpick · Joined: 15 Nov 2004 Posts: 321

NC_TRUCKER wrote:

By the way... If you do ever get to Charlotte and have to go pick up a load or an empty at the 33rd street drop yard in Charlotte, be carefull, it is a very screwed up yard, a lot of holes and very tight places.

Just be carefull. :)

That?s the one right behind the school right? Dropped an mty and picked up a load there about a month ago. You?re right, it?s a dump of a drop yard.

Anyway, it?s obvious that this never occurred to you, but the reason you had more calls from Swift by far than from other companies is because Swift is the largest by far with the most trucks out on the road at any given time. So it only goes that you would have more calls from Swift vs. the other companies. Reality is Swift is not better or any worse than the great majority of companies in business today and it?s undeserved reputation is mainly due to Swift being the biggest, it goes with the territory, and because in the past they used to be the slowest trucks on the road, but that was before my time thank God.

dieselducy · Joined: 22 Sep 2005 Posts: 2 Location: VA

fireman932003 wrote: Does " DIESELDUCY" still have a web site? I know that he used too. It was a good read.

YEP!!! I still do!!! dieselducy.com and as far as swift is concerned,, I am FOR THE MOST PART HAPPY THERE!!! but AS FAR AS TRAINING IS CONCERENED!!! GO WITH SCHNEIDER!!! their training is better than swift's MY BEST ADVICE!! go to SNI. get your training, stay there 2 years, DONT have accidents and BE CAREFUL!! with a good record and 2 yrs experience, you can go almost anywhere in trucking!!!

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