A Couple Questions For The Guys At Swift

Afternoon folks,

I'm pretty close on accepting an offer from Swift but I would like a couple answers from the guys that move the metal rather than a "recruiter" type of answer

I know the majority of Swift trucks don't have inverters, from what I was told new order trucks will have them but I'm almost certain a new driver won't see one, so how do you guys handle getting power for a laptop or small fridge/cooler? I'm planning on staying out 6-8 weeks at a time so I'd like a few creature comforts.

The trucks......do you get a choice or is it whatever is available when your ready to go solo? Also are they still ordering Volvo's or is strictly Prostar's and Cascadia's now? Of what Swift is running, which one has the bigger sleeper area?

The big one, available miles. As a new driver, is getting 2000-2500 a week realistic? I was told that by the recruiter but reading a recent post where guys are consistently getting less than that has giving me a pause. I don't want to get forced into having to go on a dedicated account just to get a decent paycheck. It kinda negates one of my reasons for going OTR.

Thanks in advanced for your answers

Hey, R.P., welcome to Trucking Truth! I've been with Swift for about two years. I can put in my 2 cents for a few of your questions.

I believe Swift likes Cascadias most. However my first two tractors were Kenworths. As for "choice", I had my choice the first time out, as two tractors were available. The second one, one Kenny was ready to go, so I went. My #3 was a Cascadia, but with a shorter sleeper area. (My first Kenny was actually for two - double the cabinet space!!) I'm wondering if I ever turned down a truck and waited a day or two, what would happen.

For your laptop, get a small inverter ($20 size), it should run your laptop. You can get 12v coolers at truck stops and Walmarts ($100 or so). I used those over the two years.

I've been on dedicated and shuttle accounts for so long, I can't really answer about OTR pay now.

Thanks for the info Errol. It definitely helps me out to see how I can set up my truck when the time comes.

A quick question about the cooler, do they cool well enough for lunch meats and milk? I figure I can save some cash on food by eating cereal for breakfast and a couple of sandwiches for lunch.

Thanks for the info Errol. It definitely helps me out to see how I can set up my truck when the time comes.

A quick question about the cooler, do they cool well enough for lunch meats and milk? I figure I can save some cash on food by eating cereal for breakfast and a couple of sandwiches for lunch.

These things are not refrigerators. They work differently. But they will cool things to 40° less than the surrounding air. I kept meat, milk, and other stuff plenty cold for me. But no ice cream! 😔

For your laptop, get a small inverter ($20 size), it should run your laptop

Check on Amazon for a Laptop charger that will plug into a 12 Volt outlet in the Truck. I bought one for 25 dollars or so. A much better option than going from 12v DC to 120V AC and back to 20V DC. Better off to step up 12v DC to 20V DC. Cleaner power and better for your Laptop and Laptop battery. Just my $.02

small fridge/cooler?

I used a TE cooler for about 7 months. They work real well if you keep the inside of your Truck between 72-75 degrees 24/7. I finally bit the bullet and bought a 12 volt compressor driven refrigerator/freezer. It is a Dometic CF 18. $350 on Amazon. Portable (ice chest style), no installation required (plugs directly to a 12 volt outlet), sits on the floor in the sleeper out of the way, quiet. Operates as a refrigerator OR freezer, not both at the same time. No worries about your truck getting up to 85-90 degrees in the summer. I love it.

If you need a cpap machine they will give you a newer truck with an inverter installed. You can also idle pretty much whenever your sleeping because it will draw off the batteries and set off an alarm.

JJ

Thanks for all the info and ideas guys!

Just another noon question though, if having my cooler and laptop plugged in will force an idle, will I get something said to me about excessively idling. I'm not sure but I thought Swift had that smart idle deal where the trucks will start and stop depending on the battery level. Or maybe that was Roehl.....I just want keep my nose clean and fly under the radar as a rookie

Thanks for all the info and ideas guys!

Just another noon question though, if having my cooler and laptop plugged in will force an idle, will I get something said to me about excessively idling. I'm not sure but I thought Swift had that smart idle deal where the trucks will start and stop depending on the battery level. Or maybe that was Roehl.....I just want keep my nose clean and fly under the radar as a rookie

I had several QC messages about Idle percentage last summer. I think they are just a "Canned " message that go out to all Drivers. Never had a human question me about it. When it is 100 degrees outside, and the only option for A/C is running the Truck, what can they really say/do? Just idle and keep cool.

Good read! I'm newly "returning" to truck driving! I HOPE! I drove once for 6 months in 2008! Actually, TBH, it was less than that! I round it up! I went out of town to UT, trained with CR England. I was told going in I would be home intime for my than wife's pregnancy giving birth to our #2 child, but our first son. She was nearing end of 2nd trimester when I left for trucking. She was expecting a full term, healthy delivery, which she got. I was expected to be home for a whole week, a week before his due date. It played out differently. For my first time in the industry, though I drove for other NON CDL positions prior to that, I passed the CDL training with ease. I impressed my driver trainers through the road training and test. I made it look easy compared to the others I was in class with. I was eager and excited. It seemed when I got the final passing grade, the back office took it for granted, as if they wanted to see how far they can push me! They gave me option than... I could wait 2-3 days for a trainer who could dedicate more of his time to train me? Or they have a trainer available for me in few hours, who expected to take vacation in 2-3 days, and I'd either be sitting with him in his home town for 2 days, or change drivers. I wasn't thinking, I thought it was better to get started ASAP... I didn't consider how long his break would be. 5 days later, we were sitting in FL for 2 days, cause they had no drivers available to take me when he was taking off. When training continued, we ended up in the CR:E Indiana Terminal , and they changed my Driver trainer for what ever reason. I needed more training I think. After getting on new truck with next trainer, we ended back up in UT CR:E Terminal. I had under 200 miles left to finish my Training requirement. The Driver I was with was next assigned a longer route, like 800 or 1000 miles. So they changed my orders for Trainer again, one final training drive, running to CA, for about 200-300 more mi. Once I finished my OTR Training, than they wanted me back in UT terminal to finalise my training, assign my truck, etc. My 2 week training turned out to be 3 weeks atleast with all the changes. Only supposed to have one Driver Trainer, I had 3, one of which took 2 days off while I was force to take 2 days off. Anyway, despite doing well with the training at the training yard in UT for 2-3 weeks, i had a bad start with CR:E. Mainly, cause I made it home to see my than wife and new born son 2 days after he was born, which was 2 days early. I missed the birth of my son. All this happened between July and Aug of 2008!

It didn't get much better. After back on road, I drove for 2 weeks, home time a few days. Than I drove for 7.5 weeks straight, as my Driver Mgr kept giving runs though near my home town, not going in that direction, and constantly would tell me the same "Your the only operator in that area, and we need this run done, please do this one, and I will get you home after"... only to hear the same thing again after the run! The company promised the home time to be 1 day for every week driving, given once a month. I'll repeat again, I drove for 7.5 weeks without seeing home. My final run? A drop off in SD, CA in Nov 03 of 2008! My DM knowing I wanted to be home by the 4th for voting! My DM knew I been out for over a month without my home time, despite what co promised, still would not let me take a loaded run from SD to my home city/valley, Phx AZ. After my load was finished in SD, only 4-5 hours on my shift of driving, by 5pm that day, he would not give me an order before end of his business day. He expected I'd sit all night and he promised orders in the morning! I counted it all as lies! I rested for couple hour nap in SD, and by 8pm no orders come in on the After hours dispatch. I made conscious decision and left SD area, empty trailer, and drove less than 6 hours, making it home by early morning on the 4th. Of course, he wasn't happy next day. I expected a write up, or reprimand. He ordered me to return truck to Knight Transportation by end of day, or he was having the local police after me! Screwed? I'd say so.

Needless to say, it didn't go well. However, I wasn't sure what else to do at the time. I didn't have a laptop than, nor any way of getting to know a community of drivers like TT. I met some at truck stops along the way, even some with CR:E. I had many tell me I got a raw, sour, bitter deal dealt. Others told me the obvious "Suck it up, it's truck driving" speel. The typical "it is what it is" response. After leaving, I tried looking for other opportunities. I had my CDL. I had some exp. I been trained. Nothing opened up! 2008 was near the bottom of our economic slide, finding another trucking job seemed impossible.

I moved on. I done other work sense than. Some independent. Some for other employers. My than wife and I struggled in our relationship. It all seemed to gone down hill sense I come back. She blamed me all the time for never being home when I was driving. Than she blamed me for being stubborn and losing my job. None the less, not more than two years passed, she left. Without the kids. After a nasty, dirty, vengeful 3.5 year divorce proceeding in court, the decree was finalized. Now? 2-3 years later, I have been through few jobs, moved many times, still wondering what I wanna do with my life! I only have kids 50% time. Half a week every other week.

I'm in hiring for Swift! Hoping to get back on road driving!