Big Carrier Employment Coming From Non-Carrier School

At Swift (large company LOL) within my first year I drove OTR , shuttle and now dedicated. The first is where everybody starts. I was "recruited" for each of the next two. Even did 1-1/2 weeks WM reefer!

So maybe you won't have to wait so long to build your experience.

I have seen some other drivers talk about their ability to move around between jobs in the larger companies with relative ease, and to be able to do things like changing their "home" when they want to end up somewhere different. Having the ability to change jobs from time to time so I get that experience in and find what I truly enjoy earlier rather than finding out at the end of my career that I had been missing out all those years is important to me.

Glad to hear that you got to try out so much with Swift in such a short time. I do know that they are a large company. :)

Around here I see Swift trucks quite often. I notice them more then the other larger carriers. I believe the only company I see more frequently here than Swift is USF Holland, and that is just because they are based here in Holland and this area doesn't get that much thru-traffic.

I concur with Errol's point. After several months of OTR , Swift assigned me to Walmart Dedicated, that was 3+ years ago. Running WM meets my needs and frankly haven't seen anything else out there that trips my trigger. Soooo to call these huge companies "starters" is a bit of a misnomer. Tons of options with the larger companies. I do however suggest not to get into the habit of job hoping especially during your first year.

I definitely do not want to cause too much disruption by hopping around too rapidly. I want to find a good balance, not just to keep from being too disruptive to the company I drive for, but also to make sure I am putting in some solid time on each job so I see enough to really get a good idea. Getting different experiences will be important, but I can see where moving around between jobs too fast can hurt both a company and my own perception of each type of job.

If your SOLE REASON for wanting to go private - is to bypass the obligation to stay on to offset the cost of training - then you might be short-changing yourself of an opportunity for better training and a guaranteed hire by doing so.

Thank you for your thoughts Rick. The obligation is a pretty strong reason, but not because I want to be able to bail at the first sign of something I don't like. I am one of those people who checks they locked the door twice, and then still gets a little anxiety about whether I checked it well enough both times. It might be a small chance, but I don't want to be in a contract and then have to break it because something in my life comes up that makes it so I have to leave the industry, owing a company for whatever the cost is of breaking that contract before I had worked off the schooling they gave me. Some other people may not think that way, but it just comes with my nature. I don't want to put myself in a position like that if I can reasonably avoid it.

Little side question for you C. S. A couple weeks ago I saw a truck that had an image that I think looked similar to your avatar. Do you happen to be rolling around in a truck with that image on it, and happen to have been in the in the I-196/US-31 area earlier this month?

No, I wish! That would be awesome, I would totally rock the rainbow unicorn. My fiancé would probably not be too pleased, though. I can picture it now: "I'll drive that when hell freezes over."

I changed my avatar to the girliest thing I could think of because my initials don't give much clue to my gender. As it is I drive a boring old grey KW with a big blue "expedited team" logo on the side. I'll be on the lookout for that truck though, maybe whoever owns it will want to trade. A woman can dream!

I'll be on the lookout for that truck though, maybe whoever owns it will want to trade. A woman can dream!

I didn't get a real close look at it, and have no idea who the company was, but I know there was a rainbow with an animal on top of that rainbow.

I only saw the truck once so I cannot peg it down as being local. Will keep my fingers crossed that someday you see it parked somewhere. :)

Make sure the local company you sign up with has lots of trucks and trailers. Just a measure of company size and resources, that's all.

A company with six trucks probably does not have their own shop, and will be paying for upkeep each time. And sometimes company finances may not be the best, so maintenance gets deferred.

A larger local company will have their own mechanic and will keep the equipment going better.

The great thing about my area is that there are alot of carriers, both large and "small" (which I personally define as 500 or less) I have visited the local-based company I've selected, and even had a one-on-one with their head-mechanic. This company is well-established for 25+ years. Their mechanic shop provides contract work for other carriers, I asked the mechanic "why" and he stated that safety and routine maintenance are their top priority and since they have such a low-breakdown percentage they provide maintenance, repair and alignment to other carriers. While I was there, one of the "mega" carrier had a tractor in one of their bays and the mechanics were performing an alignment.

Recommend that as you conduct your research, make lists, ask questions, talk to drivers, visit terminals and truck stops.

^scott

Recommend that as you conduct your research, make lists, ask questions, talk to drivers, visit terminals and truck stops.

^scott

I have been making more and more lists. I actually have gotten to the point that I have a list of my lists, seriously. I had to create a directory of sorts to help me keep track of my various lists and information because I was getting lost trying to go back and find specific things.

My truck (pickup) is in the shop but should be done today. Had an axle bearing start squeaking on me when I would turn. Also had a loose drag link that is going to be rebuilt. I am quite excited to finally have tight steering again. :)

Once I have it back, I plan to set aside a few days to go out driving. Aim for at least 8 hours per day, a few days in a row, to really see how I do. I had planned at least 1 trip to run from Holland to South Bend, then over to Toledo and back towards Holland using 94 to get to 131 on that return. I am already going to be running past truck stops and burning the gas, so I really should take full advantage of everything.

Thank you for suggesting it, because I was just focused on the drive and getting in the hours/miles to see how I really handled doing it back-to-back for a few days. I was overlooking a great opportunity to be more proactive about checking things out rather than just popping into a truck stop to use the facilities and grab a beverage.

That brings a new question then, for you Scott, or anyone who knows the area and is willing to make a suggestion.

Especially along 80/90 between Forth Wayne and Toledo, does anyone have any suggestions for specific places to stop or things to check out?