Fortune Transportation
Topic 19218 | Page 1
What are you looking for "out there"? In my first year at Swift I was in three different assignments. If you want flatbed, there are some. Intermodal? You've seen those boxes.
If you're wondering about pay/ benefits, keep this in mind: in a competitive industry (I'm talking about getting and keeping drivers here) the differences in benefits hardly make the changing worthwhile.
Intermodal:
Transporting freight using two or more transportation modes. An example would be freight that is moved by truck from the shipper's dock to the rail yard, then placed on a train to the next rail yard, and finally returned to a truck for delivery to the receiving customer.
In trucking when you hear someone refer to an intermodal job they're normally talking about hauling shipping containers to and from the shipyards and railyards.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
And my point is not to talk you in to staying with Swift. It goes for any other company that will hire drivers with less than 3 years' experience.
What are you looking for "out there"? In my first year at Swift I was in three different assignments. If you want flatbed, there are some. Intermodal? You've seen those boxes.
If you're wondering about pay/ benefits, keep this in mind: in a competitive industry (I'm talking about getting and keeping drivers here) the differences in benefits hardly make the changing worthwhile.
I have nothing against Swift at all; they've been good to me. I'm not against staying with them, but I'm interested in a dedicated route that would get me home every weekend, which Fortune has. The only dedicated route Swift offers in my area is Dollar Tree, which I'm not interested in because: I've talked to drivers who've had this route and there's a reason they have constant turnover. The problems outweigh the rewards. Plus, the dollar tree terminal is on the other side of my state from where I live, which would pretty much negate the home time.
I posted this to gain more information about Fortune. Nothing more.
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.
Dedicated Route:
A driver or carrier who transports cargo between regular, prescribed routes. Normally it means a driver will be dedicated to working for one particular customer like Walmart or Home Depot and they will only haul freight for that customer. You'll often hear drivers say something like, "I'm on the Walmart dedicated account."
Intermodal:
Transporting freight using two or more transportation modes. An example would be freight that is moved by truck from the shipper's dock to the rail yard, then placed on a train to the next rail yard, and finally returned to a truck for delivery to the receiving customer.
In trucking when you hear someone refer to an intermodal job they're normally talking about hauling shipping containers to and from the shipyards and railyards.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
What are you looking for "out there"? In my first year at Swift I was in three different assignments. If you want flatbed, there are some. Intermodal? You've seen those boxes.
If you're wondering about pay/ benefits, keep this in mind: in a competitive industry (I'm talking about getting and keeping drivers here) the differences in benefits hardly make the changing worthwhile.
I have nothing against Swift at all; they've been good to me. I'm not against staying with them, but I'm interested in a dedicated route that would get me home every weekend, which Fortune has. The only dedicated route Swift offers in my area is Dollar Tree, which I'm not interested in because: I've talked to drivers who've had this route and there's a reason they have constant turnover. The problems outweigh the rewards. Plus, the dollar tree terminal is on the other side of my state from where I live, which would pretty much negate the home time.
I posted this to gain more information about Fortune. Nothing more.
Are you sure about the only route thing?
I ask cause I just found out that prime has a dedicated in my area basically shuttling back and forth within a 100 mile radius of my home and would get me home every weekend, and possibly a few times a week. The drivers are actually parking at the same TA I park for home time. I met one of the drivers this week who said they are short drivers cause no one eant s to driver jersey.
During recruiting I was told we only had northeast regional and walmart dedicated. Turns out this is not true and this is a south jersey only thing.
I'm saving it in my back pocket for when my mom gets a little older and hope it is still there.
Its best to ask your DM just to make sure before you leap to another company. Good luck
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.
Dedicated Route:
A driver or carrier who transports cargo between regular, prescribed routes. Normally it means a driver will be dedicated to working for one particular customer like Walmart or Home Depot and they will only haul freight for that customer. You'll often hear drivers say something like, "I'm on the Walmart dedicated account."
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.
Intermodal:
Transporting freight using two or more transportation modes. An example would be freight that is moved by truck from the shipper's dock to the rail yard, then placed on a train to the next rail yard, and finally returned to a truck for delivery to the receiving customer.
In trucking when you hear someone refer to an intermodal job they're normally talking about hauling shipping containers to and from the shipyards and railyards.
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.
Congratulations on being with Swift for almost a year. Obviously you made inquires already in order to see if Swift had something more regional or local already and the option isn't appealing to you.
Interesting that people are questioning your reasons for not wanting to stay with Swift. As you said it's not that your unhappy with the company, your wanting to balance more home time. You've paid your dues after your year commitment is up. There's nothing wrong with looking what's out there.
I wish I had information for you in Fortune but if you have a friend already working there perhaps he's the best judge. Maybe he can get you in touch with a couple other drivers so you can have a more informed opinion. Also applying and interviewing doesn't necessarily mean you have to take the offer.
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.
Interesting that people are questioning your reasons for not wanting to stay with Swift
What's far more interesting is if you'll talk to the recruiters at the major carriers, often times their second best avenue for recruiting is returning drivers, drivers who thought the grass was greener elsewhere but it wasn't and now they're coming back. Very few people realize how prevalent it is to leave a major carrier and then return again.
Also, ask anyone who is working for a major carrier to make a list of all of their company's special divisions, home time opportunities, dedicated clients, and specialized freight they haul and I'll bet you almost no one could name 5% of the clients and divisions these major companies have. So if you don't know what they have available, you might go looking elsewhere for something that was right there all along. All you had to do was ask.
Brett I believe him when he was asked and answered that question. We as drivers always tell new drivers to stay a year and more doors will open up for you. He's earned the right to explore other offers out there. Now granted the grass isn't always greener on the other side as we all know, but if a driver wishes to find something closer to home and they don't offer it where he's currently at then we should help them if we have information.
He's been with Swift a year and I'm certain he knows all the different options they have in his area. So if they don't offer it and he asks advice on a certain company we should answer that. There is no harm for him to be looking to see whats the best fit for his situation. He may decide to stay at Swift. He's just asking, no harm in that right.
Swift has hundreds of dedicated accounts, with a wide variety of options.
My suggestion if you really want to continue with Swift, is to return a phone call to your original driver development manager. The person you communicated with during your mentor phase, remember? They would be able to give you a thorough and honest answer.
He's just asking, no harm in that right.
Can you show me where on this page anyone told him he shouldn't look elsewhere or that we weren't ok with it? I see nothing of the sort, and in fact Errol said:
And my point is not to talk you into staying with Swift
So what seems to be the problem?
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Swift Transport Advice For New Truck Drivers Choosing A Trucking Company Dedicated Jobs Truck Driver Salary
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Hello all. I've been with Swift for almost a year (11 months to be exact) and I'm starting to wonder what else is out there. I have a friend who drives for Fortune Transportation and he loves it...weekends home, 2500+ miles a week, etc. He's trying to get me to apply there once my year or so is up and I'm considering it. The little I was able to find online confirms most of what he's told me, but if anyone else has more info on this company I'd love to hear about it.