[surefoot]

I have six months local and three states experience hauling 53 dry van on my back. Pay is dirt poor, but I got my experience without living in a truck with another person. Also, no accidents or violations during those six months. Now Swift and J. B. Hunt are offering me good paying northeast regional road jobs. Would like to read experienced drivers opinions on equipment, dispatching and northeast truck stop parking spaces. I'm a Virginian, never got much above Maryland. Thank you

Swift - dedicated account, entire northeast, .36 per mile, weekly pay check with extras is $800 - $1,000, home every Friday night with 48 hours off. Company terminal less than hour from my home.

J. B. Hunt - general freight, six state regional - MD, NC, OH, PA, VA, WV mostly shuttling WalMart, Target, etc, .40 per mile, average about $800 a week, home just one 24 hour period every week maybe on weekend. No company terminal near by. [/u][/b]

[macdoogle]

Look at what you just wrote.
You have to ask?

Mac

[surefoot]

Thank you Mac... Yea, I'm leaning Swift. But, given the runs I had there was no contact with either Swift or J.B. drivers so that is why I'm asking opinions about the companies

[Shipwreck110257]

Regardless of what SWIFT says............ .36 a mile in the Northeast isn't gonna pay for your beer and beans. A good week running the Northeast is about 1800 miles MAX. I have seen guys do a bit better , but they admitted that those were exceptional weeks Another thing to consider is your dock time, are you doing strictly drop and hooks, or are you waiting at the mercy of the shippers and recievers????????? It's always slow going in the northeast due to traffic congestion, but im sure you know this already.

And I wouldn't lean on JB's word very much either, I worked for them for a yr and a half and I know what " DEDICATED GENERAL FREIGHT means.
At least 50 % of the loads will have some serious dock time. I liked working for them, but they were closing the Emporia Va. I was a slip seater, out 14 days and home for 4-5 full days. But then they wanted me to take custody of a truck and get 2 days off a month. They said I was going to get 4 days credited but that if I wanted to keep the truck, I could only take 2 days off???? Screw them...... Adios DA DA !!!!!

Only one day a week being home will burn you out, most any driver will tell you this. Its ok for a while, but then it starts eating at you. You will feel like your missing out on life. Even my single friends have said the same thing. You have no time for family, friends, pay bills, go fish, golf etc. etc. etc. When you get home you will probably just wanna sleep.

I guess the thing to consider is :

How much home time will get you the quality of life that you are looking for. Some times its better to run 2-3 weeks and get 4 days off, at least then you will have enough time to feed the pets.

Pay.....I wouldn't put a whole lot of trust in Swift's or JB's word. Thier recruiters will cut off thier own mothers heads to get another driver into orientation. They make it sound like its a sweet deal, but the northeast is tough way to make a living unless your a Union line haul driver.

Trust me on this...............Been there, bought the T shirt, but ended up trashing it.

[surefoot]

Thank you Shipwreck. I really appreciate the thought and time you put into your posting. Weighing carefully what you wrote.

[littleman2]

you did not include neather. I would rather be draged across the coals of hell then dipped in Iodine then drive for swift or bj.

[ronnieman49]

Don't be shy littleman2!, Tell us how you really feel about it!

[oldcodger]

Littleman2 :

Come and sit by your old Uncle Codger and tell us exactly why you hate and despise Swift and Ol JB.

[littleman2]

Ok old codger here is why I will never ever drive for swift/JB hunt
Pay is to low, to large of company, your truck number is larger than most zip codes. Its to easy for a employee to be for gotten. Sorry But no thank you. oh on the pay issue they pay about .5cpm less then most companys I was paid starting out in 99 at .27cpm now swift starts out at .26cpm. No way. not to knock you codger or and other decent driver for both companies. But IMOHO, you get what you pay for if a employer wants quality he will pay for it if he wants wall mart middle shelf he will pay for it. and if he want to pay peanuts the he gets monkeys to work for him. All I am saying is I don't Work for cheap. I don't know what you bills are like or your life stlye is or how you live. So swift is most likely the best for you.

[oldcodger]

Thank you Littleman2 :

Your points are taken. Yes, bills and lifestyles do play a part in otr driving. You and I will agree to disagree on Swift, and continue to be cordial and civil to each other, as we have in the past.

Codger