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Robert asks:

Not trying to hijack the forum here Ben please accept my apologies, but I have a question along this same line for Errol and G-Town. I have been talking to a Swift recruiter I like what they have to offer. The recruiter actually told me that Swift would hire me if I got my Class A on my own, and that this would actually save Swift time and money. I would still have to go out with a trainer for 4-6 weeks which is fine this actually makes me a bit more comfortable about becoming an OTR driver. my question for Errol and G-Town is this true as of now all I have is my permit?

Robert not sure how you intend to get your CDL , school or own your own? Please realize unless you have a training certificate from a truck driving school proving 160 hours of instruction, it's unlikely that Swift will hire you.

If however you are going to a school, Swift will accept your application but you will need to pass a basic driving and yard skills test. If you attend Swifts school and pass, this step is bypassed and you go directly to road training.

The tuition for Swift is $3900.00 interest free. I've seen bigger price tags at other outfits with pretty hefty interest! After working for Swift for 13 months you have fulfilled your contract. You have paid back 1/2 of the tuition ($1950.00), Swift matched the same. If you stay for an additional 13 months you get all of your money back. Reimbursed at $37.50 per week. That math was a no brainer for me and cemented my decision. Good luck!

Just to emphasize what Tractor Man says:

After working for Swift for 13 months you have fulfilled your contract. You have paid back 1/2 of the tuition ($1950.00), Swift matched the same.

Look again: after your contractual year, you have paid $1950, and you're "free to go"! School for less than $2K!

But, you may like it here, and stick around like T-Man and I did.

Thanks G-Town and Tractor Man, yeah Swift was a no brainer for me as well, and as of right now all I have done was go yesterday and get my permit. my recruiter had me believing that I could get my permit on my own and still be employed. I had already been told here that if you didn't go thru a certified school or a company training no one would hire you. then when I talked to the recruiter she was the one that even brought it up even had me thinking I had a job soon as I got my CDL A. Glad I seen this thread before I went any further was set to go Sunday and pay this guy $250 for use of his truck and trailer he even will take you thru the course and go over the pre trip with you. The fee is one time payment and you can use the rig until you pass. Shoot the recruiter even said that if I could get a receipt Swift would reimburse me for the $250 and said if I would give her his info she could send other people to him. I am going to start a new thread I have some other questions for all the Swift drivers on here.

Shoot the recruiter even said that if I could get a receipt Swift would reimburse me for the $250 ....

I can't say that's true or not, but it seems out of character for any large company to accept that kind of deal, much less pay you back. It's possible you and the recruiter had different things in mind, but you would have been the one out the money if that's not how it's done.

I suggest coming in with your own physical and CDL permit. That comment about Swift "saving time and money" is bogus for sure. Swift is most interested in reducing liability, which means, among other things, hiring properly trained drivers.

Math problem: which is larger: $3,000 to really train a good driver, or $3,000,000 when an under trained driver mashes 3 cars & occupants?

Thanks Errol I'm not gonna go that route don't want to spend time and money for a license that will end up being useless to me. I will go to the Swift academy!!

Thanks Errol I'm not gonna go that route don't want to spend time and money for a license that will end up being useless to me. I will go to the Swift academy!!

A wise decision...no shortcuts to success in this. Shortcuts usually lead to a roadblock. Pun intended.

Thanks Errol I'm not gonna go that route don't want to spend time and money for a license that will end up being useless to me. I will go to the Swift academy!!

Keep us posted, Robert. All the Swifties are watching you now.