9 Month Experience As An OTR Driver For SWIFT And Trying To Move On.

I have been working for Swift for 9 months, running consistently between 1900-2500 miles weekly. There seems to be some issue with my paycheck every week, amongst other issues such as cameras and other things I have been waiting to have the experience to leave behind. Don't get me wrong swift is not a bad companie; I just feel it would be better for me and my family to find a different company. I am a father of four with aspirations to buy a home and provide a better future for them.

That being said, what are my options at this point as far as better companies for the driver?

Any advise is appreciated!

Disclosure: I've driven for Swift for two years now.

Limartm, you're getting decent miles. But you have "some issue" with paychecks. I'm my two years, I've checked every paycheck against what I drove in the last week (Fridays to Thursdays) and there's never been a problem. In fact, Swift paid a few things I wasn't expecting!

So can you elaborate?

As for driver cameras, there's been enough discussion here already, I don't want to repeat that. But if you're worried about privacy when you're off, no company is interested in watching. And if you're nervous about cams while you're driving, what are you doing that's against company policy?

I'm my opinion, here's your best option for a better company: Swift Transportation. Swift is a giant sized trucking company with potentially all the miles you'll want to drive, and with plenty of options for different driving divisions.

Disclosure: I've driven for Swift for two years now.

Limartm, you're getting decent miles. But you have "some issue" with paychecks. I'm my two years, I've checked every paycheck against what I drove in the last week (Fridays to Thursdays) and there's never been a problem. In fact, Swift paid a few things I wasn't expecting!

So can you elaborate?

As for driver cameras, there's been enough discussion here already, I don't want to repeat that. But if you're worried about privacy when you're off, no company is interested in watching. And if you're nervous about cams while you're driving, what are you doing that's against company policy?

I'm my opinion, here's your best option for a better company: Swift Transportation. Swift is a giant sized trucking company with potentially all the miles you'll want to drive, and with plenty of options for different driving divisions.

I echo what Errol said...except I've been with Swift for over four years. Never had a payroll problem.

So please elaborate on the issues.

Limartm, welcome aboard!

Brett just produced a great new Podcast on the subject of the reasons why you should stick with your first company for one year. Check it out By Clicking Here.

I understand your frustrations, but trust me when I say that your focus on where the problem lies is not realistic. There is so much to breaking into this career that you have barely even scratched the surface. I can say this with some authority because I started with a company that is just as badly berated on the internet as Swift is. I learned early on how to do things in such a way that I was setting myself up for the best loads, and how to manage my time in such a way that it made it easy for my dispatcher to keep me moving. There is a real art to success at this career, and it is misunderstood by about 95% of the drivers out here. Listen to that Podcast, hang out a little while with us in this forum, and join in our conversations. I think you will learn a lot by just spending some time in here. We've got a lot of resources available for you, and we will be having some very informative conversations in here that you can learn a lot from.

I'm sorry, but I forgot to address your issues with payroll. I spoke with a fellow driver, employed by my same employer the other day, who was complaining about his issues with payroll, and I sat down with him to see if I could help. I was interested because in two years I had never had any issues with payroll at all. It turned out that he was consistently making mistakes on his paperwork, and/or he didn't understand the proper macros and how or when to use them for things like detention or layover, and breakdown pay. He was totally frustrated with the company, but completely unaware that he was causing his own problem

We have a lot of successful Swift drivers in this forum, and I have never heard any of them complain about having payroll issues. I suspect there may be something missing in your understanding of how to properly get things processed so that you can easily get paid for everything that is due to you. Have you brought these issues up with your driver manager? If so what have they had to say?

Have you brought these issues up with your driver manager?

Yes, very important! That is why they are there. I have had a couple of issues getting reimbursed for a hotel room and layover. I spoke to my DM , gave her copies of receipts, etc. Boom.....taken care of on my next check!

Errol came to you all for advise, in spite of a little frustration Not trying to damage our company I m a responsible/sensible man, I just don't like the cams and never will.

You all gave me some great ideas about what the problem could be . I will be looking to talk to old mentor and driver leader to help my find what i'm doing wrong. it never occurred to me that perhaps the error may be on my part, when I find what my problem is I will fallow up in the thread ,with a proper report. I should have something with in the next 2-3 days

Thank you all for the advise!

especially: Old School- tractor man-

I was afraid to make a mistake by leaving good company that i'm familiar with.

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Disclosure: I've driven for Swift for two years now.

Limartm, you're getting decent miles. But you have "some issue" with paychecks. I'm my two years, I've checked every paycheck against what I drove in the last week (Fridays to Thursdays) and there's never been a problem. In fact, Swift paid a few things I wasn't expecting!

So can you elaborate?

As for driver cameras, there's been enough discussion here already, I don't want to repeat that. But if you're worried about privacy when you're off, no company is interested in watching. And if you're nervous about cams while you're driving, what are you doing that's against company policy?

I'm my opinion, here's your best option for a better company: Swift Transportation. Swift is a giant sized trucking company with potentially all the miles you'll want to drive, and with plenty of options for different driving divisions.