Roehl Or Swift

Getting ready to follow my dreams and become a driver but cannot decide what company to choose to attend for training. Any insight? Roehl is offering more money doing flatbed (.41 mile) plus getting paid starting on day 1. Swift is only offering .31 mile and you don't get paid for the training. Roehl sounds like a no brainer but something is telling me I wont get no where near the miles that I would with Swift. Thanks guys

Getting ready to follow my dreams and become a driver but cannot decide what company to choose to attend for training. Any insight? Roehl is offering more money doing flatbed (.41 mile) plus getting paid starting on day 1. Swift is only offering .31 mile and you don't get paid for the training. Roehl sounds like a no brainer but something is telling me I wont get no where near the miles that I would with Swift. Thanks guys

I don't know too much about Roehl but I have driven for Swift almost a year and a half so I can help you a little there. I'm a little confused about the 31 cpm... I started at 36 cpm. We have a few other Swifties here that will hopefully chime in on that. As far as miles at Swift, you will hear different stories on that. I always ran fine when I did otr in their reefer division--2000-2500 miles a week. I didn't really try to run 3000 miles a week so I was fine with the miles I was getting. I never tried dry van otr. At Swift, the best way to get great consistent miles is to work on one of their numerous dedicated fleets, pulling freight mainly for one customer. I got on our Miller Coors fleet, which runs nationally, and had miles up the wazoo. I wanted to be home more often so I switched to a Target account and am home every night. I work as a yard hostler at the DC and also do some local store runs, home every night. The beauty of this is that I still work for Swift, so I could go back on the road any time I want without having to switch companies.

Basically the miles and opportunities abound at Swift, but you have to be flexible. You absolutely have to be willing to talk to your dispatcher and even their superiors if you're having a hard time getting miles, but you also have to be willing to try new things if what you're doing isn't working out for you.

I could probably make more money per mile somewhere else, but the reason I stay here is that I really like my job and all the opportunities I have here.

I'd go with Roehl. I currently drive for Swift and really can't recommend that anyone start out working here unless it's one of your last opportunities. LOL!

I'm probably going to give it one last shot by switching to the refer side when I come back off home time. If I ever actually get home that is. I put in for HT on 04/24 to start on 05/07 so 13 days notice. Started in PA, I'm now in MS and they are still claiming that there is nothing going west. LOL!

Pretty pathetic if you ask me...

JJ

TJ D:

I will start training with Swift at Corsicana, TX this May 22. They quoted me .36 a mile once I got going. They are the biggest carrier in the world I was told. No trouble on the miles. I am of the opinion that these training companies are about the same. Then there is the though that one has to pay their dues and get that first year under their belt.

I drove VERY briefly for Averitt Express about 3 years ago. Quit, I was new, got scared, could make some fundamental adjustments and so then went back to working for the State of TX. During that time I let me CDL lapse. I have since finally retired from State of TX, God bless them.

Swift will train me and then I have to work for them for a year. There is that year again. So it works for me. But being new, I don't think I can demand any pay rate. I am just lucky and blessed I am getting a chance.

-Traffic Jam

Agree with above. Not sure where you heard .31c Starting OTR is .36 before bonus. Bonus scales from .01 to .05c a mile. Fairly easy to maintain 2150 miles a week to get the .05. * Also have to be on time and don't hit anything.

As for miles, every thing said here is true. Work at it, if you're reliable and flexible the miles come. Oh and stick with it, I don't have the numbers in front of me but something like 50% of all new OTR drivers quit in their first 90 days. Another large chunk drop either their first solo over the mountains or snow event.

The raw number for Swift is over 100% turnover annually. So for your first month or two you're one of a large herd of new unproven drivers. Make it to 90 days in good standing and the opportunities start to open up.

MC1371 states:

The raw number for Swift is over 100% turnover annually

(I guess I'm a stickler for facts) A year ago, I spoke with a fleet manager , and mentioned this 100% turnover. He corrected me for Swift. It's closer to 72%. The national average is 81% for large companies (for 2016, from the ATA)

Also, keep in mind "100% turnover" does not mean any company gets all brand new drivers each year. If a company works with 10 drivers, and five times in a year two quit and they have to hire new ones each time, hiring ten drivers means 100% turnover, but there are eight "old timer" drivers out of ten.

MC1371 states:

The raw number for Swift is over 100% turnover annually

(I guess I'm a stickler for facts) A year ago, I spoke with a fleet manager , and mentioned this 100% turnover. He corrected me for Swift. It's closer to 72%. The national average is 81% for large companies (for 2016, from the ATA)

Also, keep in mind "100% turnover" does not mean any company gets all brand new drivers each year. If a company works with 10 drivers, and five times in a year two quit and they have to hire new ones each time, hiring ten drivers means 100% turnover, but there are eight "old timer" drivers out of ten.

HI Errol, Sorry if you took that in the wrong context. It was meant to illustrate that way down at the bottom there is a constantly changing pool of new drivers. It can take time to stand out.

And don't read too much into the numbers, it's similar in many industries from fast food to customer service.

The hard working and percerverient are the ones that get the payback.

I'm still astounded by the amount of new, young people that complain that they might not make over 40k in their first year.

It is a hard job and a difficult life for some to adapt to. But conversely where else gives you the pay and responsibilities with less than a college degree?

MC, you are right. I wish there was a way to thin out a class of newbies on the first day. That would eliminate lots of wasted time & Greyhound tickets!

Back to the original question. Nope you don't get paid to go to an Academy to get your CDL , with Swift. In fact they actually want you to work for them for a whole year to pay off that training.

Now if Rohel is going to pay you while you obtain your CDL and expects nothing in return for their largesse by all means take advantage of that deal.

That way when you find out you don't like mucking about in the rain and snow playing with heavy, wet, dirty, frozen piles of rubberized canvas you can walk away with your CDL in hand, join a box fleet where all the trucks have satellite TV and espresso machines pre-installed.

Or short answer. The pay scale is comparable for first year drivers.

Both are good companies.

IIRC, Roehl may not provide transportation to their training location.

MC says

{Swift} wants you to work for them for a whole year to pay off that training.

Now if Rohel is going to pay you while you obtain your CDL and expects nothing in return for their largesse by all means take advantage of that deal.

Sorry, MC, no company will do all that (4 weeks of classes, plus pay??) and let you walk away just because. I think I've seen someone here men a 9 month contract, but you will always need to pay the piper. TANSTAAFL

Also it's bad practice to start with any company with the intention of moving on when you can. Try to make the best decision now, and maybe you'll just actually like the company that taught you how to do it.