Very true. Alot of posts spouting off at the mouth with nothing to back it up. I guess that's Internet. Anyway, after doing quite a bit of research, none of these training (CDL) companies pay squat the first year, so all these high-pay posts are pure BS. I think rookies need to remember that this isn't a get-rich overnight industry. Rookies will get paid squat and probably dumped on the first year, with very rare exceptions. These training comapnies serve a purpose, whether drivers like them or not. As far as CPM, high CPM doesn't impress me much, especially when I see drivers of the same company complaining of low miles. No industry is going to hire Joey Shmuckalolo off the street and pay him top dollar to start. Now, after paying the dues a rookie can at least show a better company that he's kept his nose clean and worthy of a little better working conditions and pay. The bad thing I can see about these big companies is that there really isn't any way to screen out the knuckleheads that can't drive, will never be able to drive, or just plain screw-ups. Thus, too many accidents and safety issues. They're good for getting your feet wet and learning the business, then move on. Quite, frankly, with as many new drivers applying to them, they probably don't want anyone sticking around too long and getting paid higher anyway. As long as the door keeps revolving these starter companies will continue to pay low and not care about drivers. A smart rookie understands this and uses the company for what he/she can get out of them...simple politics I suppose. A not-so-swift (no pun intended) person comes into it thinking the company is his/her saving grace, creates these unrealisitc expectations of the company, and then is disappointed...let the bashing begin.

 

Can we still joke about swift drivers or will uglymutt bite me ? :shock: :lol:

 

hehehehehehehe hell I still slam swift, I was just getting to the people who never had a swift driver back into them, had one clip off a mirror, one blocked the scale while parked in the fuel island for 45 minutes, I seen swift upside down in the ditch 100 feet off the road, sure you can slam on swift, I just said I use too because I have not seen them do bad things for awhile now but when they do I will report it hehehehe

I like swift drivers just as muchh as anybody, we all drive and share the road.. for awhile I say central ref going crazy then cr englannd trucks were getting too me, so its not just swift, its everybody that screws up.. I am not prejudice here heheehe heard another swift joke and already forgot it ohhhhh damn.....

 

Any Swift driver who cannot take a joke needs to get their head checked! I had a guy try to use one of the acronyms on me, and I laughed and told him I'll have to use that one.

uglymutt, I take it you know the same people I do? There are definately some of those people who do not/should not drive trucks! Granted we all do stupid things, but there are some of those that should not be breeding!

In regards to the pay. Swift did up the pay. When I left I was at $.28/Mile, and new drivers are getting on upwards of $30+/mile (Depending on what they are running).

Unfortunately Swift has taken the opportunity to not post any pay scales any more (they're probably there, but I have not found them). Instead they are giving salaries, which for me is a big turn off.

I don't know how the company is going to do. All I know is that in the time I was with the company, it went from really good to sucky because of the restructuring.

 

The pay scale they sent me has new drivers starting at .26 and increasing throughout the year to .33 at the end of year 1. A few pennies more if running the East side. They also have a sliding scale for short runs under 300 miles that ranges from .32 to .49, depending on the mileage, during the first year. It looks like someone down there is at least trying, although still looks like Cheez Whiz and crackers for the first couple of months.

 

Krzysztof wrote:

I ran with them 2000-2001, ran team with the wife. Swift payed for her school and let me train her and payed us full team scale from the first day she got on the truck. So, have to give it to Swift for that.

As for the drivers that stay with Swift. It makes absolutely no sense unless your running a dedicated route that gets you through the house all the time. If you run OTR, there are SOOOOOOOOOOOOO many companies that will pay you $20,000++++ above what Swift pays to do exactly the same thing.

Krzysztof, you have an great attitude and incredible loyalty. The big problem is Swift does not. Put your time in there, learn the trade and then get out there and make some real money.

Best of luck to you and drive safe!

 

Thank you. I never said I'd be a lifer at Swift was just defending them because I'm sick of hearin people slam them with no actual proof of why they're so bad. I'm going to be running all 48 + Canada for the forseeable future because right now I have nothing worth going home to. My ex fiance left me about 2 months ago and took my son (now 9m/o) and so I've got no real reason to "go home" every week. I am going to be going thru where she lives every 2-3 weeks and takin a couple days to spend with my son. Also I know that regional/local is not where the $$ is.. its in OTR. Not that trucking is mega $$$ but OTR is where the best pay is.

I fully plan on serving my 1-2 years with Swift since they were nice enough to hire me off the street with no driving experience (tho I've worked on semi's for years as a ASE Certified Master Auto/Diesel Tech) and they're going to trust me with a $100k truck... least I can do is get my experience outta them so I can go to greener pastures ($ wise) down the road.

Again thanks evertruckerr, I try to be positive (but not nieve) and loyal until I have a drastic reason to be the other

 

the quallcom helps a lot with the trust. it knows your every move.... :lol:

 

Details... Details... lol

 

So would it be good for a newbie like myself to get my "foot in the door" with a company like swift? They have called me and want me to start training with them in Richmond next wendsday. If they pay, at least decently, then I dont think I will have a problem with them. Im alot like the other guy, I dont have any truck driving experience. Thats why I wanted to get into the company driving school... plus they pay for everything and I dont have to go out and try and get school loans. I dont care that I will have to work there for a year or so. Im unemployed right now, to have a job for over a year would make me happy! and if it IS really that bad, I can always go to the "greener" pastures ($$) after Im done with that year or so.. what do you think since you work for them Krzysztof?