Active Duty Looking Into Trucking Career

Tractor if Errol fought in the Spanish American war then by rights you and I fought would have fought in WW-I...just a bit of perspective.

You are absolutely RIGHT G! But Errol is so fun to poke....sometimes I just can't help myself! I don't have hours coming back til midnight, so I'm trying to entertain myself until my next pick up at 10:00 tomorrow. I'm at Loves in Strafford, MO if there any TTers nearby.

Thanks for the info. I heard from a Covenant driver to avoid Swift like the plague. Is Swift really that bad? I've looked into Werner a lot so they are one that I'm interested in. I was also wondering about Roehl, Schneider, Wil-Trans , and TMC if anybody has any feedback. Also, some of the different types of pay are not taxable income correct?

Wil-Trans:

Darrel Wilson bought his first tractor in 1980 at age 20, but, being too young to meet OTR age requirements, he leased the truck out and hired a driver.

Through growth and acquisition, Wil-Trans now employs over 200 drivers, and has a long-standing partnership with Prime, Inc. to haul their refrigerated freight. The family of businesses also includes Jim Palmer Trucking and O & S Trucking.

Chris changes the subject:

Thanks for the info. I heard from a Covenant driver to avoid Swift like the plague. Is Swift really that bad? I've looked into Werner a lot so they are one that I'm interested in. I was also wondering about Roehl, Schneider, Wil-Trans , and TMC if anybody has any feedback. Also, some of the different types of pay are not taxable income correct?

I'm not sure if you know it, but Tractor, G and Errol are Swift drivers, and you come up with this "plague" question?

Here's the feedback you requested: Swift is the largest truck-load trucking company in the US. They didn't get that way by being stupid or trashing their drivers or equipment. There may be "better" companies in one thing or another, but over all, Swift Transportation is in the TOP DRAWER.

Their school is tough only in that you have a lot to learn in only a few weeks. Some people aren't used to that kind of pressure, and blame the school for their failure.

You'll get one-on-one with a mentor. Most mentors are great people who want to pass on their trucking knowledge. You don't hear about these, simply because they're doing their job! You only hear about the mentors that somehow don't do right by their trainees.

Their equipment is all first rate, even if it's mostly Freightliner stock.

Being a large company they have the business, and as long as you get your job done, you'll get all the miles you can drive.

Any questions?

Wil-Trans:

Darrel Wilson bought his first tractor in 1980 at age 20, but, being too young to meet OTR age requirements, he leased the truck out and hired a driver.

Through growth and acquisition, Wil-Trans now employs over 200 drivers, and has a long-standing partnership with Prime, Inc. to haul their refrigerated freight. The family of businesses also includes Jim Palmer Trucking and O & S Trucking.

Thanks for the clarification, it didn't seem right since they didn't say why to avoid Swift. That's why I wanted to ask on here so thank you.

You will find someone who has something negative to say about any company. Swift is the largest company out there, so they are the largest target. I can't say much about swift other than my encounters with their drivers on the road and at customer's. Errol, G, and others who work, or have worked, foot then can give you more info.

I can tell you Werner has treated me pretty well and I have no intention of leaving them anytime soon.

One difference between the two, is swift has their own school, while Werner requires you to go to a private school. They do own 2 schools, but keep them separate and you are not required to go to one of those. Having the GI Bill, either option for you is just as easy as the other. They both have programs for vets.

What you need to do is compare then, and any other company you might be interested in, and determine which ones best meet your needs with things like home time, pretty policy, rider policy, and the like. Then apply to the ones that best match what you are looking for.

Thanks for the info. I heard from a Covenant driver to avoid Swift like the plague.

Funny, I heard from Swift to avoid Covenant like the plague!

(ok, tbh.... i did hear both, but point? every company would say avoid the other, anyway. some are just more mature/professional about it lol)

Chris (the chick) thinks out loud:

(ok, tbh.... i did hear both, but point? every company would say avoid the other, anyway. some are just more mature/professional about it lol)

Yeah, just fill in the blank:

________________ Trucking really shafted me. Their office people are a bunch of idiots.

Seeing this on the internet, or hearing it in a truck stop lounge makes it true!

. I heard from a Covenant driver to avoid Swift like the plague. Is Swift really that bad?

Ignore all of that crap! I went to the Swift Phoenix Academy in April of this year. Great Instructors, excellent learning environment, very fast paced. There were some complete IDIOTS in my class, the class in front of me, and the class behind me. Some of them could not cut it. I was there for ONE REASON, to get my Class A CDL. And I did. Only 2 of us passed on our first try. How did that happen? Hard work!!! Ive been solo for 2 months. Getting good miles. No micro management by ANYONE whatsoever! My DM has called me 1 time. No....not to check up on me or be mean to me. She called me on my last day of Hometime last week to tell me what a great job I was doing and to get me set up with an 1800 mile run to carry me through the weekend! I am out here picking up and delivering freight 100℅ on time. That is what I was hired to do. That is how Trucking Companies make money. Simple as that! I could be doing the same thing with ANY Company. Go back an search through the archives for posts by Old School. I latched on to him a year ago on this forum, (others also). But he puts it out there just the way it is. I credit him for much of my early success in this business. I like to tell people that I have learned from one of the best. I have never met the Man face to face, but I look forward to the day I do. BTW......What the hell does a Covenant Driver know about Swift anyways!!??

Ok. I'm done.......you may now return to your regularly scheduled programming.

@Tractor-man: Well said, sir!

Chris, if you notice, several people answer your comment/ question. Not just some Swifties. We are proud of what we're doing and we're all proud of our companies.

If you can get ahold of this attitude, you'll literally go far!

Welcome to the club.

Hey, It just dawned on me. Old School is MY Allie Knight!........Take that Chickie!