Knight Or Swift?

Have you stay down and had "the talk" with your DM?

1700 miles a week IMHO is inexcusable. Let's call your DM Jake. Have you called in and said " Jake we have a problem.....". First of all that will get their attention and then leave emotions completely out of it and give them a "Tick List". That is where you list your concerns and talk about the major issues effecting you and at the end you finish with "What can we do to resolve these issues?" You will have to be very specific and honest. And then give them a chance to explain reasons why or why not it can be resolved. Then if everything works out you have to give them a chance to make good on what they say. Now if nothing changes start applying at different companies and once you get an orientation date locked in with another company give two week notice. While it may feel good to say "F-Them and leave on the spot you need to leave a company the right way including leaving the truck at the main terminal or headquarters. Don't leave the truck in a drop yard or minor terminal. That will get an abandonment thrown at you fast. Go out of your way to do the right thing no matter if they have not done the right thing by you with miles. Besides if you are at a main terminal you get to go by HR and ask them if there is anything you need to do to "Properly" turn in the truck and finish your employment with them.

But honestly if you can make it through till at least April that would be best as long as you have a good driving record due to that is when companies start their "hiring frenzy".

Hope this helps and things can be worked out but if not do the right thing with giving proper notice.

For most of last year I averaged around 1700 miles a week. Then during the last quarter, the busiest time of year for freight, it (I know you're expecting me to say "went up") actually went down. And yet, I am constantly doing 34s because I'm out of hours

Ok, everyone else in the country can run about 3000-3500 miles per week before running out of hours on their 70. What is going on with your logging that you're out of hours half way through the week? And how can they give you more miles if you're out of hours, right? So there's no way you can say it's 100% the company's fault that you're not getting miles if you're running out of hours after 1700 miles. You're not doing something right on your end either. And there's a good chance your dispatcher may feel you can't handle any more miles or you don't want any more miles because nobody runs out of hours after 1700 miles.

Guyjax nailed it - it's time you have a talk with dispatch and maybe someone a little higher up to see what can be done. But I can tell you one thing in no uncertain terms - there isn't a dry van company in the nation that can pay their bills on 1700 miles per week. So the idea that all of the drivers you talk to are getting around 1500 miles per week at one of the largest trucking companies in North America doesn't add up. I promise you there are plenty of drivers cranking out 3000+ miles per week. You just have to sit down with dispatch and management and figure out why you're not one of em.

Brett I think what he means by restarts is he is sitting so much that by the time his next load comes through he has sat for 34 hours.

You can't go wrong with either one both are great companies swift is a bigger company. So you will be a truck number. Knight more smaller give you a chance to grow with company. But you can't go wrong flip a coin.

I live in South West Fl. and am considering a career driving 18 wheelers. Living in this part of the country presents me with unique circumstances. After much research I've settled on either Knight Transportation or Swift Transportation. Both companies hire from this area. Both companies will put me through their school and train me. Knight pays while in school and Swift does not. I think I might get more miles out of Swift but not certain if this is true. Both companies have late model equipment, and no APU's. Anyone with experience with either company's schooling/training, and miles have any input? I'd like to hear from anyone who can offer an experienced opinion.

Special thanks to the staff of this website. I have used it extensively for researching my options as a driver. The info has been extremely helpful.

Thanks,

Pete

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.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

APU's:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. If your concerned about Knights physical getting a DOT physical done prior will do nothing for you. The Knight physical is much more involved. I was concerned about it but made it through without a problem and I am not the most fit person in the world. You will be lifting some crates with weights in them, carrying them about ten yards and setting them down. Lift rinse repeat about 5 times. You will do some knee bends a few times, not all the way down just to where your thighs are about level with the ground and your arms out in front of you. You step on and off a step for bout a minute and they let you rest to make sure your rate comes back down. You pull some weights in a crate towards you by pulling a towel they have them set on. You also pick up a crate and set it on a 4' table. And step up and down 10 times on a high step to simulate getting in and out of a truck.

It is much more than a regular DOT physical, a lot of companies are heading this direction from what I hear. But it's still nothing to get worked up over. Maybe a short female would have trouble with the setting it up on a bench, but most people are not going to have a problem. Only people that were delayed were because of blood pressure, my self included which was really strange. But I was really stressed about the test from stories I had heard. Believe me there were some guys in my class that lets just say hadn't seen there feet by looking down in years but they made it through.

If your really concerned just do some stretching and light workouts, even just walking will help, for a couple weeks before you go and you will be fine. T be honest with you the physical just made me want to start working out again, I felt great when it was over lol.

If all goes well I will be testing out this Monday and getting my own truck!

And for the poster that asked, yes they have a 7/7. They also have a 14/7 which is what I was originally wanted. I'm going to try it in my own truck first before I make that move. Those programs require slip seating, and unfortunately not all drivers are the cleanest of creatures lol.

Woody

Good luck with your test Monday, I'm sure you'll do fine. Let us know what kind of truck they gave you to go solo with.

The part of the physical that I'm concerned with is BP. Mine has been a little elevated recently. The Dr. put me on BP meds. So when I get a chance I'm going to get my own DOT physical, just for my own peace of mind.

Thanks to the other posters on here for their input. The Knight drivers especially, like to here how you're doing.

Thanks Pete, my test today went fine I passed with flying colors. I tested late in the day so I drove back home to spend the night and will be waiting for a call tomorrow once they have my truck lined up.

I'm sure you already know this, but use common sense the day you go to Knight for your physical. Don't be drinking a lot of coffee or slamming mountain dew's and monsters before your test

Just do your best to stay calm. Like I said I NEVER have high blood pressure but I allowed myself to get so worked up and worried they had to allow me to calm down so they could take it again.

Take care and let us know how things go.

Woody

I didn't mean to hijack this topic, so I'm going to start a new thread about the Swift issues.

Thanks for the great info on Knight. I'm scheduled to start their training March 3. I was looking at a few other companies while in a CDL school. Those options were removed by not getting my CDL as I had expected, and having to move my family to Florida reduced the number of companies that would hire me with or without my CDL.

Now, I've chosen Knight and look forward to the challenge, and a pay check! I'll work out of the Lakeland terminal once I complete training.

Thanks again, Rick

Thanks for the great info on Knight. I'm scheduled to start their training March 3. I was looking at a few other companies while in a CDL school. Those options were removed by not getting my CDL as I had expected, and having to move my family to Florida reduced the number of companies that would hire me with or without my CDL.

Now, I've chosen Knight and look forward to the challenge, and a pay check! I'll work out of the Lakeland terminal once I complete training.

Thanks again, Rick

Hey Rick, just curious how things went for ya. I've got my CDL permit, just waiting for an answer from the state for a WIA grant to pay for CDL school. I'm leaning toward Knight, on their dry van side, once I get my CDL. Without the grant I will probably give Knight a call for their school options in Mississippi. I liked what I read about their Squire CDL school.

I live in South West Fl. and am considering [...] either Knight Transportation or Swift Transportation. [...] Anyone with experience with either company's schooling/training, and miles have any input? I'd like to hear from anyone who can offer an experienced opinion.

Special thanks to the staff of this website. I have used it extensively for researching my options as a driver. The info has been extremely helpful.

Thanks,

Pete

Greetings and blessing from Father Victor! Forgive me for resurrecting an old thread but it appears I am currently in Pete's situation, sorta. I've been out of the truck for about six years. Long story short: I am [was] also a Dean of Liberal Arts and as everyone knows, university jobs are drying up, I got laid off, and so here I am thinking about Swift versus Knight.

Another long story short: I've been in and out of trucks since 2001; that's how I worked my way through a PhD in English and another in anthropology. I've done over-the-road, regional , and dedicated. For a couple of years I even tried being an owner/operator but gave that up REAL quick.

But getting back to the subject at hand, I thank everyone here for contributing to the discussion, as it is helping me settle on Knight. I just hope they don't mind a broken-down old First Nations Orthodox priest / Dean of Liberal Arts.