Comments By Karl A.

Since this is only a temporary rollback, I am curious how this will affect training & testing for newbies over the coming weeks and months?

I am out with my mentor know, the changes I found out about and he was like ignore that for now

I remember you talking about unions in my last post, my goal is still ltl union work

Good Evening

I'm suppose to go to orientation in Syracuse New York for swift trucking I was just wondering if someone would be willing to tell me something more about this company I mean more then the recruiter did I know it's there job to get people there so I wouldnt expect them to say anything bad about this place so if someone can please just tell me what the company is like and how the drivers are treated.

I go to orientation for swift on Tue in Florida, just got done with the school

Brett, the insight on the politics behind the matter at hand is priceless.. Between you breaking it down and Daniels advice I am going to stay this first year with swift. I now understand why staying for my contract is the best position I can put myself in.. Appreciate your time sir

Karl, here's some things to consider that might help.

Consider your work history and how important it is to have a stable work history. If you take the job offer you'll need to do some explaining to future employers on why you only lasted under a month with Swift. That in itself will be a burden on your back for many years to come.

Consider this also, you don't even know if you'll like this job. The truth is, youre on the extreme tip of the iceberg right now. If you quit Swift, you'll be in the hole for many thousands. And that sign on bonus will hardly help because it's never given to you all at once. They probably split it throughout the year.

Having said all of that, what if you turn out to hate the job and lifestyle. Then you'll ruin your work history, owe Swift many thousands, not get any sign on bonus, and walk away losing everything and more.

A lot of folks don't know this, but some of these schools will reduce your schooling costs at the 6 month mark. Not by a whole lot though.

My advice, first learn if this is something you'll enjoy doing. Test the waters, don't just jump in. Stay OTR with Swift for now and get a feel for how things work and get some experience under your belt. The good thing with Swift is that they have many dedicated/regional opportunities that can get you home often. So you're not sentenced to a month out at a time. Excel above all others and they'll give you these opportunities they reserve for the drivers that are above and beyond.

At your 6 month mark, revisit this idea. By then you'll have even more offers, including offers from Swift so you might not even have to switch companies. You'll also save your work history in a way as well as your pocketbook.

I appreciate the advice Daniel.. All good points.. I am going to stay here and build up my work history.. I have just never had so many people contact me about jobs before it's an off situation for me.. why are bonuses broken up over time?

Beware that if you went to a paid training school through swift then you signed a contract saying that you will drive for them a certain amount of time. Usually a year. You can choose to leave and take another offer but you WILL be charged for your training that they provided. So keep that in mind if you go elsewhere. It's not cheap for these companies to provide this training to get your cdl so they would hope you return the favor by helping them recoup the cost.

Yeah, I understand this.. I am tempted at the more home time by one of these companies.. They offered me 2500 for a bonus which would pay half the school off top.. I was just more or less curious for the experiences of others and multiple job offers, IM new to all that

So I just got my CDL this past Friday and I am very stoaked about this.. Now all wkend I have been getting calls from other companies with job offers.. I did a company sponsored program and feel I owe this company a year but some of these offers come with bonuses and more home time, slightly more pay.. I don't know what I should do.. Also how did all these companies get ahold of me so quickly?

If you did company sponsored training aren't you obligated to drive for them until the training is paid for? What company trained you?

Yeah I plan on driving for swift who has sponsored me, just didn't expect all these job offers right out of school

So I just got my CDL this past Friday and I am very stoaked about this.. Now all weekend I have been getting calls from other companies with job offers.. I did a company sponsored program and feel I owe this company a year but some of these offers come with bonuses and more home time, slightly more pay.. I don't know what I should do.. Also how did all these companies get ahold of me so quickly?

Sorry about your brother and congratulations on the new job

I've seen bikes and such strapped to the back of the tractor, but some companies frown on that. As for the passenger seat, my first two trucks did not have a passenger seat.

Walking does wonders for health. Try to walk 20 minutes a day at least.

I started walking about 30 mins a day about 3 months ago, it surprised me how different I felt.. I sat a lot before honestly was super lazy so now I am looking for other things to do, kinda step it yo.. I lost 15 lbs and am only 202 at 6ft so IM not fat fat but it could go either way at this point and I want to make sure it's healthy