Swift Questions
Topic 17083 | Page 1
Hi, Martin! Welcome to Swift!
I live about the same distance you are, to the Memphis terminal. Being so close to a terminal has great advantages.
Once I got "situated" with my driving and my DM , I was always busy. Can't really talk about flatbed, and I've never seen a Swift tanker. But you will get the miles and will be paid those other charges (detention, etc.) as you earn them.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
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.HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Welcome Martin. Swift's primary flatbed terminal is in Gary Indiana and they also have a large secondary flatbed terminal in Greer SC. They used to train flatbed in Greer, not sure if that is still true.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
To be honest, I'm going prime and they seem much better than swift for training and benefits. Also prime offered me double per mile what swift offered me. I have no experiance with driving and I have no cdl. Just a little food for thought
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.
To be honest, I'm going prime and they seem much better than swift for training and benefits. Also prime offered me double per mile what swift offered me. I have no experiance with driving and I have no cdl. Just a little food for thought
To be honest? What do you know about Swift's training? I agree, Prime has very good training, but so does Swift. Sorry Reaper, you have no basis of fact or experience to support this statement.
Secondly, what did they double? Training pay or OTR pay? Please provide the numbers that you received from both companies so the OP had all the facts.
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.
If I remember correctly (and most likely, I do not...) starting pay after training is $0.33 at Swift and $0.41 at Prime.
If those numbers are correct then we are talking about a 24% pay increase, and not anywhere near double.
I also understand that these rates to not reflect any bonuses that may impact a driver's pay, so we are certainly not looking at the complete picture.
I've made my selection for my entrance into this profession and the company that I will join based upon the types of cargo, the location and number of freight lanes, and not because of pay rates or benefits (both of which seem to be fairly consistent throughout the industry), and most certainly not based upon length of training or pay rates during training.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Who are you going to start with John?
John L wrote:
If I remember correctly (and most likely, I do not...) starting pay after training is $0.33 at Swift and $0.41 at Prime.
I believe it's 36cpm to start at Swift (maybe one of our newer Swifties can clarify that). Although I wanted Reaper to answer, come clean by offering facts, you helped to reinforce my point.
CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
What kind of dedicated lanes for van and reefer do they have in my area. I understand if I choose flatbed I will be working the triangle, but is there any flatbed routes other than that?
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
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.
I am aware of prime pay, I just prefer a terminal close to home. Prime may be unwilling to work with my lack of work for the past 5 years. I had an injury at previous employment, while out the wife went back to work. Once I settled the injury case, wife and I decided it would be a good idea to be a stay at home dad for a while. Also will be attending school.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
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Seriously considering swift. Various reasons, one being work history another, I live twenty minutes from the Richmond terminal. What kind of freight and routes run out of Richmond? Flatbed or tankers out of this area? Any and all information is welcome, and thanks in advance.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.