Comments By Sheffield Mick

Hi Sterling....and welcome to the site. I've worked for Swift now for nearly two years. Yes I do have days when I get frustrated and confused with the way things are handled at Swift.....its a big company with lots going on.......its going to happen. With a company this size there are lots of different divisions which means you can have choices as to what you want to end up hauling. (Flatbed, Reefer, Dry Van, Dedicated, Exhibition, Auto Division..... and then some). I'm currently with the Canada division which means I'm home every weekend......and I still get plenty of miles during the week. It suits me just fine. Best of luck with it all my friend.

Hi Steven.....and welcome.......I've put this answer in other posts.......but I can honestly say I did my training at Swift with a guy that was 82 years old and had never driven a truck in his life. He was fit enough to go OTR (over the road) and as far as I know is still working two years later. I wish you the best of luck sir......and just as a foot note....I'm 57.

I trained with a guy that had only just started his truck driving career at 82......can anybody beat that LOL

It doesn't show up on my last post.......I took two weeks for me to take and pass my CDL driving test over here.

Mick

Hi Jeremy, I'm from the UK....I've been living over here for four years now and driving the rigs for nearly two years. I suppose it goes without saying that you need a green card. But I also needed to drive with a regular license for a year........probably to prove I could drive on the same side of the road as everybody else ;-)

They are desperate for truck drivers in the States so I would imagine that you would have no trouble getting into a company driving school. I went private so that I could pick and choose which company I ended up with. It took me took weeks to pass my CDL and then another six weeks out with a mentor......you have experience so you might get your training done allot quicker. Once you get through the hoops....medical, etc....you should be fine.......Like I said, America needs truck drivers....if anything you would be welcome with open arms by most companies.....best of luck.

Mick

Merry Christmas Logan.....happy New Year....and safe travels for the future my friend.

Mick

If anybody deserves to get into what they want to do within this industry Daniel, its you my friend.....bless you for your contributions on this site. God does have a plan for you....don't give up.......just go with the words of the experienced guys on here. Keep trying until they let you in.

Thanks for the feed back guys.....I'm thinking I will stay where I am. I can get bored doing the same customer runs all the time....but its like Brett said, the times for Chrysler are tighter and the stress would be allot more on you the driver to get it there. The've also offered an extra $140 per load.....which is nice, but makes me think that they might not be telling you everything. I asked about switching back to Canada, but I've been told you might have to wait until your place was filled on the Chrysler team, (as its a dedicated account). I think I've made the right choice for me....for now. Thanks again.

I like to read and learn off Trucking Truth rather than post. Let me get that one out of the way first. I drive for Swift Transportation out of Detroit and run with a dedicated team going to Canada and back. We mostly run in and around Toronto with the occasional call going up to Quebec. We get $25 every time we cross the border (one way) which is needed if they decide to do a search on your truck (takes a couple of hours off your clock). I'm roughly doing between 2,000 and 2,800 a week on miles and with bonus it makes up for a good little pay packet at the end of the week. I also get home every weekend which is why I took this job in the first place. I did my time on OTR and this is not bad at paying the bills. Down side to this is that I liked covering the 48 states and seeing America (I'm and ex-pat UK)

Now for my reason to write this.....I have another dedicated job being offered......working for the Swift Chrysler account.....all loads coming out of the Chrysler factories in Canada.....and taking them all directly to Laredo TX. I'm talking British Columbia, which would take me down the West Coast, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. Plenty of mile here and we are being offered new trucks and trailers.....you keep the same trailer....which would mean all live loads. Auto parts going to Laredo every time.

My dilemma being........do I keep with the steady job I have now....or go back OTR which is what this job essentially is. My wife is with me either way. Any suggestions as to which way you would go if it where you are more than welcome. Very indecisive at the moment. Thanks guys.

Thank you Daniel.....the attention is in the detail. I've only been driving now for around 15 months, but I forget those little details and that might just cost me. Cheers