I'm getting my CDL through a Swift sponsored school and the recruiters there are very attentive, though somewhat lacking in the consistency of their info,due to their lack of communication with Swift.
When I called Swift for clarification on some points, I called the #800 number and it rang and rang and rang and rang and..., well, you get the picture. So, like I've learned in the past, to bypass the auto directed phone call and get to an operator I pressed "0". To make a long story simplified I finally get to someone in recruiting. I leave a message. Later that day I get a rather abrupt message, from a recruiter no less, telling me to call her back. I do and am greeting with curt answers, not a bit of friendliness in her voice at all. Maybe she had a bad day and it was an off day, ok, no problem except that everyone I've subsequently talked to was quite brusk as well.
Anyway, I called Schneider after being suggested to do so on a few of the posts I've read here and was quite well received. Friendly, courteous and accommodating to someone that more than likely asked some really "rookie" questions. I didn't feel as if I were intruding on their day. Problem is they have a 4 week wait to get into their school and I already put my 2 week notice in with my present job and don't want to wait that long.
My second observation concerning Swift worried me a bit more. With Swift, there is no policy regarding how o deal with a trainer that is not honoring his responsibilities. The lady I talked to today, the first somewhat pleasant person I've talked to a Swift said that they are working on a policy. At Schneider the lady told me that there is a law in effect as to what the trainers responsibility is and if the trainer pulls a back bunk sleeping position while training - the trainer gets fired.
My third observation is that Swift basically says "good luck" when you want to find a team mate. Find one on your own. Schneider on the other hand tries to help you find a team mate and actually has "get together" to help you find one.
My greatest fear in going with Swift is that if they treat their prospective trainees that rude, how would it be once I actually got on with them?
My only concerns with Schenider are 1) Their OTR training only consists of 2 - 3 weeks as opposed to Swifts, 6 weeks. 2) Their solo drivers on the west coast only run the 11 western states and I want to go coast to coast.
So, to make a long story short, I asked the recruiter at Schneider what their policy is if I went through the Swift school and switched over to Schneider after I got my certificate. They told me no problem. Still, since I agreed with Swift to go to their school on their dime, it feels a little underhanded for me to go behind their backs, while I'm in school to leave them when I graduate from their school. I'm an honest guy and I HATE being sneaky, but on the other hand. After reading this forum and contacting both companies directly I feel much more at ease with Schneider than with Swift.
Yes, I'm a bit confused at this point so PLEASE help me sort this out by giving me your perspective and other points to ponder. I appreciate your input. BTW, Yes I can afford to wait but I really don't want to. I want o get this ball rolling.
I know at this point I am still a rookie. But for anyone considering driving for a living. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!! I've been researching for a few months and relied on the Internet and the CDL school and thought all was ok. My choices in the beginning were Swift and CRST. CRST blew themselves out of the water when they requested my wife's w-2s and pay-stubs to show how I could have afforded to be a stay at home dad for the past 3 years. I told them they could check with the CA State personnel board and that I would have no problem supplying them with 2 award letters concerning her 25 years with the California Department of Justice, one from Governor Schwarzenegger and the other from the Ca State Attorney General himself. The recruiter told me it don't matter, he wanted to see my wife's W-2s and pay-stubs (Shes an analyst for the state and makes more than enough to run a household while I'm not working.) I told CRST to shove it up their F**king A**. - So CRST disqualified themselves almost from day 1. And, as I get into this a bit further, Swift seems like it could be highly problematic, but the balls already rolling...I got the pre-hire confirmation in the mail today. I've been out of work for 3 years and am itching to do something like NOW.
I thought all the Swift "bad mouthers" were just disgruntled employees and all the happy campers were blissfully ignorant. I figured somewhere in the middle of the 2 extremes was where the truth was (there's always 2 sides to a story) However; due to my not so pleasant communications with Swift I'm starting to feel that Swift does seem to swing towards the negative side of the spectrum, at least for me.