[dieselgrl]

It took about a month of pain after I came back to get a truck that would stay out of the shop, but I can honestly say I'm making good money on the flatbed side myself. They just offered me a dedicated account which will keep me hauling over the winter as well....so I can't complain. Van drivers? I'm hearing a good bit of whining from that side of the fleet, but I don't know how much of it is terminal chatter and how much of it is well founded.

[sean71]

I am still with Swift and things are going fine. This being my first winter will be interesting. I just came through Billings, MT and it was a snowy, COLD time there. Got stuck at the Pilot for a day and never saw so many trucks stacked and racked there! They shut I-90 down so we were all like sardines in that truckstop!
I've heard bad stuff about Swift on forums and such over the years. Most of the negative crap was from drivers who never actually worked for Swift. In fact, I hear Supertruckers on the cb all the time slamming Swift but not really sure why. I think mostly it's because a lot of newbies work for Swift and they tend to make the usual rookie mistakes and they know it but Supertruckers won't cut any slack because they enjoy being d!(%heads!

[Syncrosonix]

Originally Posted by sean71

I have been reading a lot here and read thoroughly Ford390Pwr's Swift Academy posts and am excited to get on with a new career! I will be at the July 26th Academy in Lewsiton. I am from Vancouver, WA and am ready to get out and see the country. I want to put in my 13 months at least then see about future options. Any good advice will be greatly appreciated!

as long as you don't have too many attachments back at home, you'll be busy. since you'll be a new driver, you'll run to the moon and back. gotta love being a source of cheap labor! their benefits aren't all that bad for somebody who is single, in good health, and doesn't have any children. if you're any one of those, the benefits may end up stinking a little.

in all honesty, the trucking industry isn't worth a damn. i hope you enjoy all that greasy truckstop food you're about to consume, long lines at flying p-lots, the deviants roaming the big chain truck stop lots, being penalized for ilding when it's either cold or hot, being shorted on pay for the miles driven per week, being taken advantage of, and most definitely being used and abused, f'ed and chucked after the company feels you've done enough for them. the worthwhile carriers are a bit difficult to get on with. it mostly comes down to who you know. specialize in something other than crap ass regular refridgerated, dry van, and common flatbed garbage. if you're lucky enough to get some offer down the road to haul cars, chemical tankers, or oversized stuff.......YOU HAD BETTER TAKE THAT OFFER! DON'T EVEN THINK TWICE!

ford390pwr is no longer with swift.

edit: just realized how old this thread is. keep your nose clean at swift. don't give them any reason to put you in their crosshairs.

[sean71]

I can see your points and they do have a lot of validity. On the other hand, I didn't get into trucking as an end in itself. I actually enjoy this stuff. Being out here seeing this country has been great. There are challenges to this gig but those who say "it is what you make it" are 100% correct. If your attitude is crappy, you'll hate trucking. If you have a more positive, solution-oriented outlook, you will succeed and even have a good time doing this for a short stint or career.

[TruckingGuy]

Good luck and best wishes! Let us all know your progress during your time spent with them. Thanks AJ

[dieselgrl]

Originally Posted by Syncrosonix

[COLOR="blue"]as long as you don't have too many attachments back at home, you'll be busy. since you'll be a new driver, you'll run to the moon and back. gotta love being a source of cheap labor! their benefits aren't all that bad for somebody who is single, in good health, and doesn't have any children. if you're any one of those, the benefits may end up stinking a little.

[COLOR="black"]I wouldn't say that. I've been with Swift on and off for different periods of time over the last six years and they have found the best benefit package by far that I've paid for. While I may be single and in good health, I'm also covering my 2 year old daughter on that plan. It's the lowest premium I've had in years for the greatest degree of benefits. Oh yeah, and they've been VERY GOOD about getting me home when I want/need to be there.

Originally Posted by Syncrosonix

[COLOR="blue"] i hope you enjoy all that greasy truckstop food you're about to consume, long lines at flying p-lots, the deviants roaming the big chain truck stop lots, being penalized for ilding when it's either cold or hot, being shorted on pay for the miles driven per week, being taken advantage of, and most definitely being used and abused, f'ed and chucked after the company feels you've done enough for them. the worthwhile carriers are a bit difficult to get on with. it mostly comes down to who you know. specialize in something other than crap ass regular refridgerated, dry van, and common flatbed garbage. if you're lucky enough to get some offer down the road to haul cars, chemical tankers, or oversized stuff.......YOU HAD BETTER TAKE THAT OFFER! DON'T EVEN THINK TWICE!

[COLOR="black"]Wow, so much anger. I've hauled "crap ass regular refrigerated, dry van, and common flatbed garbage" for years. I make a damn good living at it, and guess what? Someone has to haul that stuff around. If it's freight and I can tie it to my trailer, then I'll take the load. I'll even hook to a van or a reefer if that's what Swift wants because then I don't have to worry about tarping it - it's like a vacation. I don't eat truck stop food - I cook in my truck and make weekly grocery runs. Simple and economical. I've had less problems lately with devients around the lots because I choose where to park to avoid the crappy ones. I'm not penalized for idling, and I don't have to anyway in the winter because my Websto bunk heater makes it feel like I'm sleeping on the sun if I turn it past "2".

Sean71 - if you see truck 309910 come over and say hi and I'll buy you a cup of coffee from one Swifty to another I run mostly I-35 to I-81 and am in and out of the Gary terminal a lot.

[sean71]

dieselgirl,
I absolutely will! My truck # is 307638.

[Skywalker]

I'm hearing a good bit of whining from that side of the fleet

What you have to remember is: The difference between a 6 week old puppy and a truck driver, is that the puppy will grow up and stop whining! :lol:

[Ray]

swift what to say i was a o/o mentor i backed this company to the hilt and for all that got let go on some trumped up crap was not alowed to responed was let go givin one hour to empty my lease truck and get off there property then they held or should i say froze all my monies for 45 days 1500 miles from home after the hour was up my chains and some stuff was still on the truck to bad so sad i was escorted off the property my lose i wouldnt treat my dog as bad as they did me. go any where but here good luck

[Windwalker]

Originally Posted by Ray

swift what to say i was a o/o mentor i backed this company to the hilt and for all that got let go on some trumped up crap was not alowed to responed was let go givin one hour to empty my lease truck and get off there property then they held or should i say froze all my monies for 45 days 1500 miles from home after the hour was up my chains and some stuff was still on the truck to bad so sad i was escorted off the property my lose i wouldnt treat my dog as bad as they did me. go any where but here good luck

That's what you get for sleeping while the trainee is driving.