The real truth on swift
 

Can anyone out there give it to me straight. I don't have the money for school to get out on my own and know that if I go with swift I'm locked in with them for a year or so. I'm willing to work hard and do the miles to make the money. Can I Make real money with them and are they a good stepping stone? Also I'll probably want to transfer in a year to North Carolina is this possible?

Also I was looking into A.I.T here in Arizona. The school is monday- friday. I told them I would just work on the weekends. They said you cant work while you go to school DOT rules. Is this true?

I think that's bogus. I looked into 2 schools and Tucson and they both had days, weekends or night classes.

Bull :dung:

Where they are coming from is the Hours of Service rules that say you can not drive on a public roadway after having been on duty more than 60 hours in 7 days, which I assume is the rule they are using if they are only offering classes 5 days per week. If they have classes 7 days a week (ie weekend course) then they could do the 70 hours in 8 days.

Now on duty time is any type of paid work and it does not matter if it is in or out of the trucking industry.

Now then, on the 60/7 rule you can work 8.5 hours a day, every day and never be in violation. On the 70/8 rule you can work 8.75 hours a day every day and never be in any type of violation.

Now then, I am not sure if they are correct, as far as AZ is concerned, about the HOS rules actually applying to a student, non-liscenced driver, in a class setting, but that is the only thing that I can think of that they are concerned about.

So if class and the weekend work comes out to less than the totals I gave you then you have nothing to worry about. Otherwise do what you have to do and while in school just do not say anything.

Your first post said you dont have money for school, then you come back saying youre looking at AIT. AIT isn't one of the more cheaper schools out there.

As far as Swift is concerned, you aren't locked into anything. If you go to their school you owe them $3900. You pay $150 a month, they pay $150 (tuition reimbursement) a month for 13 months, at which time your school is paid in full. You paid half, Swift paid half. If you stay on past 13 months they will continue to pay you $150 for 13 more months. So, after 26 months total you will have paid nothing for the CDL. For some, due to lack of money and no credit to finance an independent school, is the only way to break into the business. Don't confuse this with being locked into working for Swift for any set time, as it isn't the case. You can leave Swift any time you want. Just keep in mind that they will expect you to pay the remaining balance when you leave. You are not locked into anything, other than what you owe for school. This is no different than if you owed a finance company for going to AIT. Either way, school is not free.

Some people like Swift, other don't. Some say they get great miles, other say they don't. I doubt you'll get a straight answer here about that. Best to read all the posts about Swift, from current drivers, and decide if you can deal with them for a year. If so, do your time, keep your nose clean, and look for a better paying gig when the time is right.

Jest like N.Jim said :wink:

The class is 40 hrs a week. My job will be about 16 so I should be fine then. Thanks

Tha reason Im looking into AIT is because they are PTDI certified. I would have more options on which company I could go with. I dont have the cash but could finance, either way Im paying someone back.

Do companies look at swift schooling the same as they would an AIT or PTDI certified school. Like if I went to swift just for the school then left after the six weeks with a trainer. Would I be able to get hired as if I just went to AIT?

That would be a BAD IDEA

As for wanting to transfer to NC in awhile I know at swift that isn't a problem. You can move where you want, and take your home time wherever you want. I mainly live in GA but im out of Columbus Term. But take my home time as far west as Sacramento CA, to see my daughter. But my main setup is 2 weeks I go home in GA, 2 weeks later I take home time in Ohio at my friends. Then about every 2 months I take home time in CA.

Also Swift has PTDI schools, I know the millington TN is. I know im not real sure what the REAL difference is besides paying to be certified or whatever. But I am PTDI certified through swift. So I can go to whoever wanted that certification.

Also as said before you can leave whenever you want. You are really not locked into anything if you don't want to be. Just have to pay what is owed either through working with them for a set period of time. Or paying what is owed for getting your CDL. I am glad I started with Swift it gave me a good start. I don't make great money but I do get .34 CPM which isn't bad either.

And miles are starting to pick up again. It is just a slow time, but will get better very soon.

Why would you want to go to school, then go out for 6 weeks with a trainer then quit. To just go to another company and spend another 6 weeks with another trainer that is 12 weeks of training pay.... I hope you have alot saved because your training weeks you don't make great money. :wink:

#1broncofan.....If you finance school yourself, you more than likely could find a Carrier that will remburse you some or all of your cost's, IF you stay with them a set amount of time, and do a good job. :!: :!: :!:

i went to that swift school.jim got the current info. i didnt know what swift was. thought it was a scam when i drove up to lewiston but i needed a job and i never looked back.
kept it on the road at all costs and ran my tail off under the previous log book rules.
rarely unloaded any freight and if their trucks werent so slow i probably would be a 400 lb dead swift driver.now they are passing me all the time. maybe you should just get er done