Insulted By Shipper

So I went into the shipping office at a Wal-Mart dc where I was picking up a load. She asked who I drive for then asked what trailer I was picking up. I answered both questions and she proceeded to look through a stack of bills looking for the ones for that load. She couldn't find them. After looking several times and looking to the pick up number on the computer, she finds the bills. She looked at them and said but that's Werner. I said correct. She looked at me and said why did I think you drove for Swift? Lol

How insulting!

Are you running store loads for that DC? Usually outbound loads are destined for stores or SAM's Club.

Ok why does Swift get ragged on so much?

They're huge. I would say it's the average starting pay for rookies, but companies like Prime have considerably higher pay and STILL get ragged on at other sites. You just get lots of drivers who say they don't like being "just a number." And because Swift is so huge and hire alot of rookies, it is pretty easy to find lots of their wrecks on YouTube. We actually have a decent CSA score, but when you have 15,000 trucks, even a small percentage of accidents is a good sized number.

Our trucks are governed at 62 for fuel economy, so we are a nuisance to the guys who can go alot faster.

I think the biggest reason is that Swift (and other large companies that train, like Werner haha) are often dubbed "cdl mills." They are accused of training lots of new drivers and getting rid of them before they "have to" give them raises. Alot of the people saying this stuff actually believe Swift and other similar companies don't even have many experienced drivers. Alot of the people spreading these rumors either have never worked for Swift or were let go for "stupid reasons." Well, in reality, Swift actually has tons of experienced drivers, but you don't usually encounter them in the truckstops complaining at the counter with everyone else. Alot of these guys are on nice dedicated accounts where they're home more often, or they're out running hard, not wasting their time in the driver's lounge.

One of the guys on the Target dedicated fleet here at Swift (one of the yard hostlers) has been driving for like 30 years. He's been at Swift since before I was born. I asked him why he went with Swift as an experienced driver if they had such a bad reputation. He said, "I didn't give a s#$/. They gave me a job. As long as I proved myself to them, they kept me running." Now he's got enough seniority on the Target fleet he can get almost anything he wants. He said every time he asked for a raise he got one and he has his pick of a schedule.

Not to rag on Swift, but the other night I had the entertainment of watching a Swift Driver repeatedly try to back into a parking spot. After about the 10 or so try and about 30 mins the individual gave up and went looking for an easier spot. So I took the spot that individual couldn't make it into. Took me 3 pull-ups (2 of which were small ones to take the pitch out of my TRLR) and about 5 mins. Oh ho hum.

Ok why does Swift get ragged on so much?

The more trucks you have on the road - the more accidents you are going to have. Simple math. Add the fact that you do training and have new drivers - that number goes up.

Swift being the largest TL carrier in the U.S. - is going to have the most accidents.

That and it's just fun to rag on Swift drivers. We do it to CRST, CRE, Prime and everyone else too.

Rick

Not to rag on Swift, but the other night I had the entertainment of watching a Swift Driver repeatedly try to back into a parking spot. After about the 10 or so try and about 30 mins the individual gave up and went looking for an easier spot. So I took the spot that individual couldn't make it into. Took me 3 pull-ups (2 of which were small ones to take the pitch out of my TRLR) and about 5 mins. Oh ho hum.

You're a jerk haha. I would have gotten out and helped him.

Not to rag on Swift, but the other night I had the entertainment of watching a Swift Driver repeatedly try to back into a parking spot. After about the 10 or so try and about 30 mins the individual gave up and went looking for an easier spot. So I took the spot that individual couldn't make it into. Took me 3 pull-ups (2 of which were small ones to take the pitch out of my TRLR) and about 5 mins. Oh ho hum.

So that was YOU who was up my butt not giving me room and being impatient? Smh. I expected more from you

Freakin' Prime driver damn near ran me over around 03:30 this morning while I was walking back to my truck after picking up my paperwork. Totally had to see me as they were only parked a few feet away. I couldn't help wondering if Rainy was anywhere near Tracy Ca. LOL!

JJ

I actually considered getting out and helping. But the individual didn't even bother to GOAL to check their available space. If they would of took the time to get out, I would of got out and asked if they needed a hand. I am not about to just walk up to someone trying to back in but failing miserably. Wouldn't know where they are looking. So I sat back and ate my popcorn.

I actually considered getting out and helping. But the individual didn't even bother to GOAL to check their available space. If they would of took the time to get out, I would of got out and asked if they needed a hand. I am not about to just walk up to someone trying to back in but failing miserably. Wouldn't know where they are looking. So I sat back and ate my popcorn.

That reminds me of a guy at the Target DC a few weeks ago. He was trying to hook up to a trailer but the landing gear was too high. He was really struggling with cranking the landing gear. I was yard hostling that night so I offered to back under it and lift it up so he could crank the landing gear down really easily. He pulled way forward out of the way and I backed under it, but the fool stayed in his damn truck! I was already backed under it so I just got out and cranked it down, but I should've just pulled away and left the guy to struggle. Seriously, if I offer to help you, you should at least OFFER to help yourself. Smh

I would have gotten out and helped him.

Right?? Not to be nasty, but that kind of story isn't likely to make rookies feel good about backing... it makes me even more self conscious and nervous.