Swift's Best Kept Secret?

As many of you know, TMC is my first choice of companies to work for, with Sage (LExington, SC) as my school of choice. However I came across some information a few short hours ago, that has altered my thinking slightly.

SWIFT FLATBED

To be honest, I do not know why I didn't look into Swift, beyond their well known Dry van , and their Refrigerated Divisions. I have always had a lot of respect for their training program, and thanks to Errol, and G-town, A much better rounded knowledge of their operations, after training.

Recent financial happenings in my life, are making me realize that my time frame to get started in the industry, are steadily pushing my entry date further and further away. With this in mind, I started looking closer at some of the company sponsored programs, just to see how I can fit it into my long term plans, and allowing me to get into the industry faster.

Last night, I was looking at the school that Cypress is now offering, and found a lot of references to really OLD trucks, and poor maintenance, but good pay. But this morning, as I was pulling up to a light, at the stop light, at the I26 Sunset blvd /SC 378 exit, I saw a flatbed, that was had a cool blue colored tarp. As I got up beside it, I had to do several double and triple takes, while my wife just laughed at the look of shock on my face. IT WAS A SWIFT TARP, WITH A SWIFT TRUCK!!!b> It was a rather new looking Cascadia pulling the trailer. So with that in mind, When I came home, I started doing more research. and I can find hardly anything, except for some stuff that is very dated, and most of it mainly just Swift bashing, with the random not great, but decent review on them. Even the information I found here, while more recent is somewhat vague. So with that in mind, does anyone have any additional information on them? Their hiring area for flatbed, training program, pay, hometime, etc? As stated at the beginning, TMC is where I ultimately want to end up, but If I can put 2 years in at Swift, and then, transfer, I feel that I may be in a better position. Plus, if it turns out that flatbed isn't for me, I can then switch divisions, versus going to TMC out of school, and finding out the hard way, and then jumping ship as soon as my 1 year mark hits. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and providing any information. Stay safe

Wow, the formatting really messed up on that one, oops, sorry

Danielsahn, I've seen Swift flatbeds at terminals, and they are even loaded with freight, mostly 4-wheel cars or vans. Beyond that, you've seen as much as I have. I've never asked. myself.

(You lost the left "<" and a slash "/" to close the bold when you wrote that piece. You can still see the "b>")

I was initially interested in TMC as my first choice. However McElroy crept into the mix. I still have my pre hire letter from TMC somewhere. I knew Swift had a flatbed division, but I'm unaware of the pay scale and any contracts involved if you already have a cdl.

I'm not sure if you've read this in what you've found, but the Swift flatbed division runs almost exclusively on the West coast. I've been with my trainer for about 6 weeks now and in that entire time, I saw exactly 2 Swift flatbeds, in Texas. But they do have some nifty looking tarps, don't they? Haha

Don't have a lot of info on them they mostly hire from my understanding from Phoenix and Gary. But I see there trucks in west valley and sumner. I understand it's and extra week of school. And you get paid 1 cpm more. I would call them and get all the info from them, because all I know is what I see on the posters and the different drivers I have talked to. One other thing is I always see them halling steel, cars or doing heavy hall flat bed, of bridge parts. yes swift also has a heavy hall devotion, flatbed, reefer , and dry van. Most of that's OR, WA, ID, UT.

(You lost the left "<" and a slash "/" to close the bold when you wrote that piece. You can still see the "b>")

OOPS! I am also "ocd like" at self editing, and reading what i posted, ugh. I how I wish for an editing feature, but alas, tis not to be. sorry guys for the redundant grammar.

Thanks guys for the information so far. I will be contacting them tomorrow, for more information, too. I just want to get a head start, and this is a great place to do it.

Stay safe

I see them all the time going through Montana and Wyoming. The one guy I talked to was basically running back and forth between Texas and Canada.

Ask Matt wrote

I'm not sure if you've read this in what you've found, but the Swift flatbed division runs almost exclusively on the West coast. I've been with my trainer for about 6 weeks now and in that entire time, I saw exactly 2 Swift flatbeds, in Texas. But they do have some nifty looking tarps, don't they? Haha

That may be true to a degree but their east coast flatbed division is domiciled out of Greer SC.

Among other freight, they have two major contracts; one with Chrysler hauling Sprinter vans up and down the east coast and the other with Freightliner hauling light and medium duty truck frames and bodies.

They also used to train flatbed drivers on tarping and load securement in Greer as well. Not sure if that is still the case.

Ask Matt wrote

I'm not sure if you've read this in what you've found, but the Swift flatbed division runs almost exclusively on the West coast. I've been with my trainer for about 6 weeks now and in that entire time, I saw exactly 2 Swift flatbeds, in Texas. But they do have some nifty looking tarps, don't they? Haha

That may be true to a degree but their east coast flatbed division is domiciled out of Greer SC.

Among other freight, they have two major contracts; one with Chrysler hauling Sprinter vans up and down the east coast and the other with Freightliner hauling light and medium duty truck frames and bodies.

They also used to train flatbed drivers on tarping and load securement in Greer as well. Not sure if that is still the case.

Sorry meant AdkMatt.