Swift Transportation Good Or Bad
Topic 14065 | Page 1
Swift Transportation is an excellent company. In fact they're one of the largest carriers in the U.S. and they're very good at helping new drivers break into the industry. Getting started in trucking is a lot more stressful and challenging than almost anyone expects. It's really important to get started with a company that understands that and knows how to mentor new drivers.
Swift also has a ton of various opportunities including different types of freight, OTR , regional , dedicated, and local runs. Now you might have to work for the company for a bit to qualify for some of the divisions but that kind of flexibility allows a driver to try different opportunities without having to leave the company they're with and start all over again.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Hey Joseph, the thing about a company like Swift is that they help a lot of new folks get their first start at this career. Therefore you hear all these horror stories and see all these You Tube clips of them screwing up. Swift is big, really big, and because of that they have a lot more exposure to liability. Just because you can find all kinds of videos of Swift drivers who can't seem to drive a truck, it is not an accurate way to determine whether they are a good place to work or not. They have a great training program and we have several Swift drivers in here as members who are doing very well over there.
Once you get started at this you will realize that it is not a walk in the park. There are a lot of people who try this and fail - truck driving is clearly not for everyone. It is unfortunate the way our internet culture likes to pick on and poke fun at certain entities, or companies, when the truth is that the person driving the truck is responsible for the "epic fails" you see on video. It is clearly not because they received poor training when there are thousands of other Swift drivers out there doing their jobs safely day in and day out. Swift has a lot of exposure simply due to their massive size and numbers of trucks out there on the road.
Don't let any of that garbage deter you when looking for a company to get started with. I started my career at one of the most despised companies (according to internet reviews anyway) there is and I have had a great career. The thing you want to remember is that this career is performance based. That's why drivers get paid by the mile. If you can cut the mustard, you can reap the rewards. That is true whether you are at Swift, C.R. England, or even Western Express. I have proven this over and over, and you will too if you are successful at your new career.
So... jump in there with both feet and plan on proving what an awesome driver you are, and you will find that you really are in the driver's seat when it comes to your success as a truck driver.
Hey Joseph, the thing about a company like Swift is that they help a lot of new folks get their first start at this career. Therefore you hear all these horror stories and see all these You Tube clips of them screwing up. Swift is big, really big, and because of that they have a lot more exposure to liability. Just because you can find all kinds of videos of Swift drivers who can't seem to drive a truck, it is not an accurate way to determine whether they are a good place to work or not. They have a great training program and we have several Swift drivers in here as members who are doing very well over there.
Once you get started at this you will realize that it is not a walk in the park. There are a lot of people who try this and fail - truck driving is clearly not for everyone. It is unfortunate the way our internet culture likes to pick on and poke fun at certain entities, or companies, when the truth is that the person driving the truck is responsible for the "epic fails" you see on video. It is clearly not because they received poor training when there are thousands of other Swift drivers out there doing their jobs safely day in and day out. Swift has a lot of exposure simply due to their massive size and numbers of trucks out there on the road.
Don't let any of that garbage deter you when looking for a company to get started with. I started my career at one of the most despised companies (according to internet reviews anyway) there is and I have had a great career. The thing you want to remember is that this career is performance based. That's why drivers get paid by the mile. If you can cut the mustard, you can reap the rewards. That is true whether you are at Swift, C.R. England, or even Western Express. I have proven this over and over, and you will too if you are successful at your new career.
So... jump in there with both feet and plan on proving what an awesome driver you are, and you will find that you really are in the driver's seat when it comes to your success as a truck driver.
this is very true. If you youtube ANY company you will find fails. You have companies with some of the lowest CSA scores in the industry still have drivers try to go under a bridge too low or take a corner too tight. Look past the reviews and youtube and work hard and any company will work to get started, provided they work in good faith.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
Joseph I schooled with Swift four years ago, stayed with them, continue to work for them now as a dedicated driver on the Walmart grocery account. The Walmart opportunity presented itself after 3+ months of OTR experience. I never sit, have a great relationship with my DM's and planners, have lots of flexibility, and make excellent money. They treat me professionally, I couldn't be happier. At least where I work, there is a core of drivers that have worked on the account as long or longer than me (over 3 years). I believe Swift is an excellent company to not only start with, but if you find the right niche' (like I did) also a great company to continue driving for. Their CDL schooling and subsequent road-training is very effective at helping an entry level driver gain a foothold in the business. The negative press occurs based on the pure numbers. Swift is huge (17,000+ drivers) and without getting into too much detail, the first year in this business chews up thousands of entry level drivers (in every company) and spits them out. You end up with many, many disgruntled, former employees looking to blame the company for their failure.
In response to Eckoh's reply, freight is slow for every company right now, not just Swift. That is somewhat typical for this time of year, but it seems a bit worse in 2016. I do however strongly agree with his suggestion of not putting all of your eggs in one basket. There are many things to consider in making this decision. I'd look at all of your available options, narrow your search down to a top three and focus on that set until you can arrive at a single decision. You have a lot to think about...not sure if you have decided on the company sponsored schooling option, private schools or community college. Click these links for further information:
Company-Sponsored Training Programs or Private Truck Driving School Listings.
These additional links might help in making a decision:
- Article Category: Choosing A Truck Driving School
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing A Truck Driving School
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Truck Driving School"
Overall TT has a really great Trucking Company Reviews link that summarizes numerous companies that either train or accept entry level drivers.
Good luck.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Joe, I've been driving OTR and now regional for Swift for just over a year. Went through their Memphis Academy, too.
To answer your question:
Good
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
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Is Swift Transportation a good company to work for or are they really that bad and who would you recommend for someone thay is going to be fresh out of Truck driving school with a CDL A
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: