Quote:
Originally Posted by golfhobo
Swift will give anyone a "pre-hire." Why aren't you considering OTHER companies? Do some research. Can you drive? Are you worth MORE than the average bear? If so... look elsewhere.
Hi, newbietrucker91;
Welcome to
CAD. GolfHobo makes valid points, and
IronWeasel's posting is an excellent read.
Swift drivers take a lot of razzing, but the truth is that everybody has to start somewhere, and that first year is going to be difficult no matter where you go. Having said that,
Golf is spot on in recommending that you explore other options.
You could do worse than
SWIFT, but with some research, you could quite likely do better. In the trucking industry, (with almost any carrier) a "pre-hire" is simply an offer from a carrier to bring you to their terminal and to take a closer look at you. It comes with no guarantees of extended employment.
I've been out of the industry for some time, now, but based upon everything I've read and heard,
SWIFT'S reputation in the industry has never been very good, nor has it gotten any better. One problem that plagued them a decade ago, and still plagues them now, is that many of their (so-called) "trainers" are themselves relatively inexperienced drivers. In the world of trucking, there's a vast difference between being an accomplished driver and a capable trainer, as opposed to being a a steering wheel holder. Because of
SWIFT's record as a bottom feeder of the McMega carriers, few accomplished drivers remain at
SWIFT for any appreciable amount of time.
Are there exceptions?? Yes. I've met a few
SWIFT drivers who had been with them for several years. Given the fact that a
SWIFT driver with five years' tenure was making less than I was after my first year of driving, I don't know why they stayed with them, but that's their business. Still, you should explore other options before committing to them.
As an aside,
steer clear of CR England and PRIME. Both companies are beggars' crossroads; they lead to trouble in every direction. Also, avoid any company that tries to push a Lease Operator/Lease Purchase program on you.
(C.R. England and Prime are both notorious for shoving those programs down their driver's throats.) Those programs favor the carriers; not the drivers.
BOL2U!!