Question:
Will be starting with slow Swift because I live
near their terminal in Lewison, ID and I liked the people I talked with at the school and the recruiters, could see most other recruiters..
From talking with several new drivers for Swift I hear that after just 2 years with them they some how force a driver to become a Trainer or buy his own truck and lease.
I know why they do this, but is it legal? (to keep the majority of their drivers driving for 25-27 cpm)
It doesn't look like other large companys have tried this move yet, but I am sure they will if it makes the bottom line better..
Anyone know of other companys that are dumping drivers after 2 years?
Onramp does it in on the Ice, slush and snow..

Answer:
Most will make you a trainner before the first year is up.

Answer:
I am always surprised but not totally. If you know or believe a company has unethical practices towards their drivers why sign on with them? It may be because they are convieniant or some other reason but your certainly not helping other drivers or yourself. If you like truck driving and can see potential in it then why support these types of companies by going to work for them? Why take the chance of becoming another driver statistic from a big company?
I have no idea if Swift does the things mentioned or not. I know of no companies that do that. But all that I have heard of Swift and others I wouldn't even think about applying to them.
I'm not attempting to bash anyones decision on who to drive for. Just my opinion.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
It sounds like another trucker story to me!!
And remember,don't allow anyone to force you into doing something that's not acceptable to you.You always have an option!!


Answer:
2 years is about how long it takes to decide there are easier ways to make more money than what trucking can offer.
"I consider myself a good judge of character, and that's why I don't like nobody."
-Roseanne
Answer:
The son has been driving for Swift for about 20 months now and he is talking about the magical 2 year period. He accepted the trainer gig at the one year point. After 4 trainees, he is going back to solo. Says he can not get restful sleep in a moving truck and he is only getting about 1000 miles more a month than he did when he was running solo.
He is looking at a faster truck, more money, and about the same benefits from almost any other carrier. Is it a business decision by Swift to not compensate drivers enough to keep them? I think so.
The other Swift business methods that have been mentioned here and other posts lead me to believe that Swift (among other large carriers) are willing to run their business so they can continue to bring new drivers in at a low pay scale. This means they have a lot of rules and do a lot of hand-holding for these new drivers. A few drivers will stay with the company for various reasons but most move on.


Answer:
"Says he can not get restful sleep in a moving truck and he is only getting about 1000 miles more a month than he did when he was running solo. " He's not suppose to get any more miles. He is also not suppose to be sleeping while his trainee is driving. The position is TRAINER not TEAM DRIVER. It's one of the problems with trainers. Their hoping to make money off their trainees. He should go back to solo driving.
Another good reason to stay away from Swift, they allow this type of training.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
Originally posted by Stuffiu:
The position is _TRAINER_ not _TEAM DRIVER_. It's one of the problems with trainers. Their hoping to make money off their trainees. He should go back to solo driving.
Another good reason to stay away from Swift, they allow this type of training.
Swift trainers ALSO get paid for the miles a trainee runs. (at least that's what DAN told me last week when I called them about an add they placed in the paper. See my post from last week. Ref: Thinking of going to work for Swift.)

Answer:
I should have phrased that a little better. A few more cents a mile and being paid all miles the truck runs is how it should work.
Not team driving where one sleeps and the other drives. Unfortunatly to many trainers want to run the newbies as a team. Also to many companies allow them to do it and encourage it.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
You phrased it just fine!
Originally posted by Stuffiu:
A few more cents a mile and being paid all miles the truck runs is how it should work.
Not team driving where one sleeps and the other drives. Unfortunatly to many trainers want to run the newbies as a team. Also to many companies allow them to do it and encourage it.
The last part is where these companies go wrong! Well, that and 'stealing' the wages of a trainee, by paying the trainer for ALL the miles the truck runs.
But, that's 'Corporate America' for ya. Screw the little guy while fattening the wallet of the head honchos.

Answer:
As many of my driving friends have told me, Swift is a good place to start, and I believe it is so, by speaking to several Swift drivers; it is no place to stay... In fact they will push a driver out the door at the two year mark if he doesn't by a truck from them, Team, or become a Trainer.
Have heard of several Swift drivers becoming trainers with only 6 months experience.. This has to be scary with all the yo yo's trying to get into the trucking business just because the economy is down right now.
Swift is like driving for a company out of the
1950's with drivers doing their own Lumping. You have to like HEAVY manual labor to drive for Swift, those K-Mart unloads take 2-3 hours of constant heavy labor, sweat rolling down your back like the Mississippi River, with heavy large boxes of bleach, etc.
To read the complete driver application to drive for Swift it is much more detailed than that of a Marine Grunt.
As far as those who say stay away from Swift,they don't understand the Trucking industry as it is today. It is not usually possible to start with a small good company. Only the largest Carriers take Newbies !
Onramp does it in on the Ice, slush and snow..

Answer:
Originally posted by OnRamp:
As far as those who say stay away from Swift,they don't understand the Trucking industry as it is today.
I understand it just fine! I don't know about you, but I happen to like what I do. But I sure hate getting taken advantage of. That's why I try like hell to CMA! (Cover my Azz)
It is not usually possible to start with a small good company. Only the largest Carriers take Newbies !
There's a lot better "big companies" to go to before going to Swift or Prime!
Try using the Search feature located at the top of every page here. Type in whatever company you desire.
Good Luck!

Answer:
Onramp , I drove 11 western 4 Swift and believe me you cant beat it. I was in lewiston 2 times a month and usually got a load from that big paper mill on the river going to southern california. I was home every other weekend and its a true drop and hook company. I have my year experience and going back to swift at 27 permile and to be a trainer.
My rent is 1000 a month for a 2 bedroom apartment plus utilitys and cell phone, and truck driving school loan. My bills are outragous. Swift was good to me and the family for 10 months thats why im going back. In my opinion the good out weighs the bad.
As far as the kmart and unloading ,Swift is a non forced dispatched you can JUST SAY NO. Dollar general,kmart ,staples loads. 1000 miles =250.00 driver unload = 60.00 , say 3 stops at 10.00=30.00.
thats 340.00 for a couple days work thats pretty good money considering u still can run 4 or 5 more days. I brought home around 675 for the week when I did a load like that.

Answer:
From talking with several new drivers for Swift I hear that after just 2 years with them they some how force a driver to become a Trainer or buy his own truck and lease.
Just out of curiosity.....
What Caliber Gun is it that they hold to your Head?(since that's about the ONLY way anyone can FORCE someone to do something against their will.)
I've been Trking for 12yrs & I can honestly say that I have NEVER been FORCED to do Anything that I did Not Want to do.

Answer:
seems to me that"forced dispatch" is a term that should be done away with. There is no such thing. Any load i have ever had was one i wanted, if i didnt want it i simply said....NO!.... boy thats a hard word to remember. As far as not wanting to lump your own load of your truck my opinion is that if more drivers did, some of them wouldnt look the way they do. Beyond popular belief, EXERCISE IS GOOD FOR YOU
If i'm the worst thing that happens to you today... then you had a good day!!!