Swift, Schneider, US Xpress, USA, PAM....most all of the big training companies are going to be about the same.

Alot of people have said .26 is too low to start...it is low, but like others have now said you will only be at .26 for a few months. After 6 months or so you'll be at .32

Personally I think Swift isn't the best company you could choose. If I were you I'd go on over to www.schneiderjobs.com and put in an online application instead of waiting for one to be mailed to me! If for some reason you don't like doing the online app you can still go to their website and print an application to be faxed or mailed to them.

Do some research on US Xpress, USF Glenmore and all the other companies that have been named on this thread. Find the one that YOU think will work out best for YOU

BOL

 

I believe part of the reason the starting pay for rookies is where it is is because the insurance rates for them are alot higher. This is also why many companies require 1 year OTR experience. Their insurance carriers require it. Do what you need to to get some time in the industry. We all had to start somewhere.

 

Something for us all to consider, these days, is the fact that with the number of companies going out of business, we can expect that things like "hire-on bonus", and starting pay may go down because the drivers that were working for companies going out have to go somewhere. I read one article that said recruiters are now actually looking at records, and hiring drivers, rather than "steering wheel holders". They are able to tighten up their requirements because they do not have quite as many empty seats to fill.

 

I've been thinking about your situation....have you looked into CFI/Conway Truckload? My understanding is your paid .28 during training (7,500 miles...about 3 weeks) then after training they bump you up to .30


just a thought

 

I hope some other people looking into getting their CDL stumble upon this thread. Everything the OP is going through right now may have easily been avoided with a little research and planning prior to going to school.

 

Bingo!

Most of the big training carriers like Swift self-insure. Part of your low pay is to pay the insurance premium on the accident(s) you will have statistically speaking.

When I worked at CWX I got to see the accidents broken down by driver experience, the less than 2 yrs guys accounted for 60%+; this is at a good company with lots of veteran drivers. My old barn had ~15 million milers.

 

Yeah....the big companies like the cheap labor. When I applied to drive OTR I told them: I have my CDL (in Germany since 1991) and in the US I had the CDL then 6 month. How will you start my pay rate???? At the LOWEST, of course. Yepp....they liked the experience I had but were not willing to pay for it!

 

gee whiz, swift offered me 23cpm last year and i had 3 years safe driving and all endorsements.

 

As a new, inexperienced driver, you will have no choice but to take what you can get...there is no getting around that.....you have to get in at least 6 months of OTR driving experience before insurance carriers will cover you....all you can do is tough it out and after you have the required experience, doors will open for newer opportunities with other companies with a higher CPM pay....beginning out, we all had to do it.....Good Luck!

 

i remember starting out at .19 loaded miles... for pay wise your going to take a beating for abit...swift has nice trucks but set at 62mph,but then they all are turning the trucks down.you can also try lct in fl but i can tell you dont belive one word they say.im on my last days there now they start at .30 but i hear they dropped to .28 not sure but BOL to ya!