Opinions On Swift For A New Driver? Also, Big Company Company Or Small Company Better For New Drivers?
Topic 32267 | Page 2
One thing that seems attractive about Swift is how big it is, I'm sure I'll never have to worry about finding something to haul.
They seem like a really good company. What do y'all think? Also, for a new driver, what's better, a small company or a big company?
I work for Swift. Freight has been kind of light in some areas lately. I did some sitting a few weeks ago. The preplans that they sent me didn't fit my HOS. However, the lack of freight has been somewhat of a blessing the past few weeks. I have been doing a lot of easy DH miles in order to get me to areas with freight. I believe that is an advantage of working for a big company. I am not sure if smaller companies will DH as much.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
I think ideal for me would be like 14 days on 5/7 days off. But I don't know much lol
If you are in a company 's hiring area they will be able to get you home.
However your location may allow you more home time so just ask the recruiter. Example... Prime has intermodal in Chicago. Harrisburg, Kansas City... These are all home daily jobs in day cabs. There are regional routes that could get you home every weekend or every other. Just ask
I don't think that Swift would allow 14/5. Swift's policy is one day home time for every 2,000 dispatched miles for OTR. They want you out 3-4 weeks. These are the policies that I was told about two years ago. Things might have changed, but I haven't been told so. You might get lucky and get a 34 at home. But, you would have to find a place to park your truck. Leaving a truck at truck stop for 34 isn't a good idea. The nearest Swift terminal to you would be Dallas/Lancaster. Swift does own other companies. So, maybe one of those companies have a terminal near you.
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.
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.
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.
Day Cab:
A tractor which does not have a sleeper berth attached to it. Normally used for local routes where drivers go home every night.
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.
Can you define DH?
One thing that seems attractive about Swift is how big it is, I'm sure I'll never have to worry about finding something to haul.
They seem like a really good company. What do y'all think? Also, for a new driver, what's better, a small company or a big company?
I work for Swift. Freight has been kind of light in some areas lately. I did some sitting a few weeks ago. The preplans that they sent me didn't fit my HOS. However, the lack of freight has been somewhat of a blessing the past few weeks. I have been doing a lot of easy DH miles in order to get me to areas with freight. I believe that is an advantage of working for a big company. I am not sure if smaller companies will DH as much.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Fair enough. I'm very new to all this so I don't know what's reasonable and what isn't lol
I think ideal for me would be like 14 days on 5/7 days off. But I don't know much lol
If you are in a company 's hiring area they will be able to get you home.
However your location may allow you more home time so just ask the recruiter. Example... Prime has intermodal in Chicago. Harrisburg, Kansas City... These are all home daily jobs in day cabs. There are regional routes that could get you home every weekend or every other. Just ask
I don't think that Swift would allow 14/5. Swift's policy is one day home time for every 2,000 dispatched miles for OTR. They want you out 3-4 weeks. These are the policies that I was told about two years ago. Things might have changed, but I haven't been told so. You might get lucky and get a 34 at home. But, you would have to find a place to park your truck. Leaving a truck at truck stop for 34 isn't a good idea. The nearest Swift terminal to you would be Dallas/Lancaster. Swift does own other companies. So, maybe one of those companies have a terminal near you.
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.
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.
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.
Day Cab:
A tractor which does not have a sleeper berth attached to it. Normally used for local routes where drivers go home every night.
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.
Pelican I drove for Swift almost 9 years NE regional Walmart Dedicated. Schooled by them in Richmond, mentored for 240 hours (it’s less now).
No regrets, enjoyed my experience there. If I had it to do over I’d likely take the same path through Richmond, second choice would be Prime.
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.
Great to hear! Definitely will keep considering them! Apparently they have this program now where they guarantee $1000 a week at least.
Pelican I drove for Swift almost 9 years NE regional Walmart Dedicated. Schooled by them in Richmond, mentored for 240 hours (it’s less now).
No regrets, enjoyed my experience there. If I had it to do over I’d likely take the same path through Richmond, second choice would be Prime.
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.
One thing that seems attractive about Swift is how big it is, I'm sure I'll never have to worry about finding something to haul.
They seem like a really good company. What do y'all think? Also, for a new driver, what's better, a small company or a big company?
I work for Swift. Freight has been kind of light in some areas lately. I did some sitting a few weeks ago. The preplans that they sent me didn't fit my HOS. However, the lack of freight has been somewhat of a blessing the past few weeks. I have been doing a lot of easy DH miles in order to get me to areas with freight. I believe that is an advantage of working for a big company. I am not sure if smaller companies will DH as much.
They will Dead head as much as needed to get a unit to a location that has a load needing a driver. As far as a ratio of dead head miles to total miles driven, that would definitely require a logistics professional to provide some insight. I imagine that any company has a cap on monthly, quarterly, yearly dead head miles as a % of total miles driven that they aim to stay under.
But, as Rainey pointed out in a post a little while back, larger companies will dead head units out of or into an area in large numbers and even over long distances, if there is a bigger picture financial benefit to doing it.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Hey, Pelican!
I think you are getting confused .. there are TWO meanings/uses of the D and the H ... I'm pretty sure they explained the Drop & Hook ... so now, the confusion is.... DEADHEAD.
This means proceeding to the shipper to pick up a load, with NOTHING to bring them. It's kinda 'wasted' fuel, but the company factors this in to it's ultimate shipping costs. Another perk of being a company driver!
Most times, one will 'DeadHead' to their assigned location, Bobtail. This is the tractor/power unit only; with no trailer attached.
Here's some good reads, my last post in response to another thread:
Keep asking & learning; that's what TT is all about!
~ Anne & Tom ~
ps: It couldn't hurt to look into Roehl when you're ready; you'll still be able to apply within.
Bobtail:
"Bobtailing" means you are driving a tractor without a trailer attached.
Deadhead:
To drive with an empty trailer. After delivering your load you will deadhead to a shipper to pick up your next load.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
Sure I'm keeping them on my list. I'm planning on casting a wide net and doing that thing through TT where you can apply to multiple trucking companies all at once. That is such an amazing feature y'all have.
Hey, Pelican!
I think you are getting confused .. there are TWO meanings/uses of the D and the H ... I'm pretty sure they explained the Drop & Hook ... so now, the confusion is.... DEADHEAD.
This means proceeding to the shipper to pick up a load, with NOTHING to bring them. It's kinda 'wasted' fuel, but the company factors this in to it's ultimate shipping costs. Another perk of being a company driver!
Most times, one will 'DeadHead' to their assigned location, Bobtail. This is the tractor/power unit only; with no trailer attached.
Here's some good reads, my last post in response to another thread:
Keep asking & learning; that's what TT is all about!
~ Anne & Tom ~
ps: It couldn't hurt to look into Roehl when you're ready; you'll still be able to apply within.
Bobtail:
"Bobtailing" means you are driving a tractor without a trailer attached.
Deadhead:
To drive with an empty trailer. After delivering your load you will deadhead to a shipper to pick up your next load.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
You have to live in their specific area to do.that. Roehl doesn't allow it everywhere in their hiring circle.