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"Comfort Zones" and Other Questions?

Discussion in 'Swift' started by BigBusMan, Oct 30, 2011.

Page 1 of 8
  1. Oct 30, 2011 #1
    BigBusMan

    BigBusMan Light Load Member

    229
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    Oct 30, 2011
    Battle Creek, MI
    0
    Hello,

    Just wanted to ask those that drive for swift a few questions about some of the things the recruiter told me, but first Ill start off by saying that 10 years ago, i went to truck school in Indianapolis at C1, which was a good school, then went to work for PAM, who let me sit at home for over a month, then put me on a trainer truck with a drunk who was more interested in chasing tail then in training me, and after several calls to the DM and numerous requests to be transfered to a different trainor were totally ignored, i took a bus home and never looked back, I then got into driving a bus and have been doing that ever since. Long story short, bus driving isnt paying the bills any longer so Im looking back into trucking, swift is the only company that has said they would not require me to re-attend truck school as long as I can pass thier road test they will bring me on as a trainee, and start from that point, which I am fine with.

    Now my questions start with this, the recruiter told me that I my home terminal will be New Boston, MI and that once im finished with my traibor I will then have the option to choose a "comfort zone" which she said would keep me in the great lakes area, and that I would be able to either be regional or dedicated, and would be home every 7 to 10 days if I wanted, which would be nice since I do have a family and 4 young children at home, I would like to know if this is true, or smoke and rainbows? I would also like to get a general estimate of how much I would be making a week, right now I bring home roughly 600 bucks every two weeks, so anything more then 300 a week is a pay raise for me. She also said they do not force dispatch to east coast, and again wondered if this is true. The other question I have is how in depth is this road test going to be?..My friend has taken me out in his truck just so i can get a feel for it again, but I am really rusty with backing up and shifting. Any answers or advice from those that know would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks
     
    BigBusMan, Oct 30, 2011
    BigBusMan, Oct 30, 2011
    #1
    buddy_bill Thanks this.
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  3. Oct 30, 2011 #2
    bluebonn

    bluebonn Road Train Member

    1,026
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    Aug 21, 2010
    Texas
    0
    They do have regional and dedicated but I have no idea how hard it will be to get on one of these. Yes they have comfort zones but that does not mean you will not run out of that zone.

    7 to 10 days out? Hmm I find this hard to believe but they do have a family plan that may work for you. Personally I have to stay out for long periods of time because I want to make money. In the beginning pay may be low but stick it out and it gets good. good luck
     
    bluebonn, Oct 30, 2011
    bluebonn, Oct 30, 2011
    #2
    buddy_bill and BigBusMan Thank this.
  4. Oct 30, 2011 #3
    Tapeworm

    Tapeworm Medium Load Member

    385
    243
    Nov 18, 2010
    Upper Midwest
    0
    Hey bigbus-
    Here is some more info. For the Swift road test you will have to do a pretrip inspection, then back under and hook to a trailer. From there, you will go and drive for awhile in city and highway traffic. Then, you will go back to the terminal and do some backing. The test will differ depending on who administers the test.
    Swift does have regional and dedicated fleets. Honestly though, new drivers are typically placed on the otr 48 fleet to begin with. It is possible for you to get a regional position as a new driver, but don't count on it. The east coast isn't bad, as long as you can avoid NYC, NJ, and the far northeast. The good thing about the east coast is that there is a lot of freight out there.
    As for hometime, many Swift drivers stay out for 2 weeks and then take a couple days off. Regional and dedicated drivers get home more often, typically for a 34hr reset every every week.
    You should make more money driving truck than you are making now. The first 3 months solo can be lean, but after that you should bring home at least 500 per week. If you work hard, you will do well.
    Good luck to ya!
     
    Tapeworm, Oct 30, 2011
    Tapeworm, Oct 30, 2011
    #3
    buddy_bill Thanks this.
  5. Oct 30, 2011 #4
    Tapeworm

    Tapeworm Medium Load Member

    385
    243
    Nov 18, 2010
    Upper Midwest
    0
    Hey bigbus-
    Here is some more info. For the Swift road test you will have to do a pretrip inspection, then back under and hook to a trailer. From there, you will go and drive for awhile in city and highway traffic. Then, you will go back to the terminal and do some backing. The test will differ depending on who administers the test.
    Swift does have regional and dedicated fleets. Honestly though, new drivers are typically placed on the otr 48 fleet to begin with. It is possible for you to get a regional position as a new driver, but don't count on it. The east coast isn't bad, as long as you can avoid NYC, NJ, and the far northeast. The good thing about the east coast is that there is a lot of freight out there.
    As for hometime, many Swift drivers stay out for 2 weeks and then take a couple days off. Regional and dedicated drivers get home more often, typically for a 34hr reset every every week.
    You should make more money driving truck than you are making now. The first 3 months solo can be lean, but after that you should bring home at least 500 per week. If you work hard, you will do well.
    Good luck to ya!
     
    Tapeworm, Oct 30, 2011
    Tapeworm, Oct 30, 2011
    #4
    buddy_bill Thanks this.
  7. Oct 30, 2011 #5
    1nonly

    1nonly tease-y-ness

    3,130
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    Jul 2, 2008
    The burning sands of the SW
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    Are you able to go to Canada? If you can, try for the dedicated fleet that does all the border crossings. They make good money, and get home for a 34 every week. Or so I've been told.
     
    1nonly, Oct 30, 2011
    1nonly, Oct 30, 2011
    #5
    buddy_bill Thanks this.
  8. Oct 30, 2011 #6
    DenaliDad

    DenaliDad Retired Wheel Dog

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    An Alaskan lost somewhere in the Lower 48
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    If the "she" you talked to was Kris, believe her.
     
    DenaliDad, Oct 30, 2011
    DenaliDad, Oct 30, 2011
    #6
    buddy_bill Thanks this.
  9. Oct 30, 2011 #7
    BigBusMan

    BigBusMan Light Load Member

    229
    76
    Oct 30, 2011
    Battle Creek, MI
    0
    Thanks Guys, I appreciate it, and yes it is Kris Keplar who i have been working with, Im just very leary of recruiters and trainers after my go round with PAM, but anyway I still need some practice before I show up, I dug out my Old training materials from C1 today and was studying them, which has helped me to remember a lot of information I had forgotten,The only thing I know that isnt the Same from the material is the HOS rules, anyway, I also wonderd if there is wifi access in the trucks for my laptop? or do you have to buy like a sprint aircard or whatever? I wasnt sure if the signal the qualcomm runs off of could be used for the laptop or not, last time I was in a truck the qualcomm was a little brown box with an orange screen, now I see they are all fancy with electronic log books, GPS navigation and all that jazz..lol, things siure change fast these days..=}
     
    BigBusMan, Oct 30, 2011
    BigBusMan, Oct 30, 2011
    #7
    buddy_bill Thanks this.
  10. Oct 30, 2011 #8
    BigBusMan

    BigBusMan Light Load Member

    229
    76
    Oct 30, 2011
    Battle Creek, MI
    0
    oh, and yes I shouldnt have any problem getting into Canada, at least I never have before, I even have my passport and everything..Not shure how strict they are now though, had a Hunting violation in 1999 and a driving on suspended license in 1999 as well...They always let me in when Im going to windsor to gamble, but that doesnt mean they will let me in with a Big Truck..lol
     
    BigBusMan, Oct 30, 2011
    BigBusMan, Oct 30, 2011
    #8
    buddy_bill Thanks this.
  11. Oct 30, 2011 #9
    PXI Incorporated

    PXI Incorporated Medium Load Member

    345
    333
    Mar 31, 2011
    Ohio
    0
    Stop!!!!!!!!! Before you do anything else pm me!!!!!!!!!
     
    PXI Incorporated, Oct 30, 2011
    PXI Incorporated, Oct 30, 2011
    #9
  12. Oct 30, 2011 #10
    Kw900a

    Kw900a Light Load Member

    55
    13
    Sep 29, 2011
    mifflinburg pa
    0
    hey maybe having couple little ones at home did you try maybe a smaller company that maybe you get paid by hour and home almost every night. im talking bout maybe a guy with a couple trucks. i have a friend running pallets to nj everyday leaves at 1 in morning gets back usually round 12 in after noon he brings bout 800 a week. maybe you could check out some smaller companies before you go into swift i know pepsi pays good n coke pays good check them out n some smaller companies nothing like making good money n being home every night to see ur lil i mean im only 21 n have 2 kids n i see them everynight get paid by hour n bring bout 600 to 750 a week home it might not sound like much but i would rather make lil less to see my wife n gets everynight. thats just me 2 cents but i don't think i could ever be a otr driver so
     
    Kw900a, Oct 30, 2011
    Kw900a, Oct 30, 2011
    #10
    buddy_bill Thanks this.
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