SwiftTrans And Knight Transportation To Merge

The Moyes brothers, (sons of Car Moyes who drove for CR England in the 40's) started Swift. The England's, Knights, and Moyes families all lived and grew up in Plain City. The founders of CR England were married into the Knight family. Maude Knight married Chester England in 1916. Chester founded CR England.

Jeff England, who was also lived in Plain City founded Pride Transport.

Plain City only has a population 6200 people

Yes you are right , there is an average of 20000 companies that renew their insurance every month in the country every month...in texas alone its an average of 1500 a month, Illinois and CA an average of 1200 each every month

I was about to cite the "monopoly clause," but even as big as the new venture will be, the % of freight hauled will still fall way short of what would be the factoring threshold, I think.

This combined venture won't be hauling 1% of the freight in this country. There are 3 million or so trucks on the road, this new venture will have like 25,000. It's only a tiny fraction. It's an incredibly fragmented industry.

The Moyes brothers, (sons of Car Moyes who drove for CR England in the 40's) started Swift. The England's, Knights, and Moyes families all lived and grew up in Plain City. The founders of CR England were married into the Knight family. Maude Knight married Chester England in 1916. Chester founded CR England.

Jeff England, who was also lived in Plain City founded Pride Transport.

Plain City only has a population 6200 people

Interesting!

Coming into this a bit late but I want to make sure I've got my info straight. I was planning on applying to Knight later this year or early next year. However, I've heard plenty about Swift (from actual drivers and even a Swift trainee) that makes me want to stay away from them. This merger won't affect day to day company driver interactions right? I get that one company isn't buying the other but I want to make sure that nothing will change as far as operations and how they treat their drivers. And what was that lawsuit I saw about Knight relating to wages? Who's wages or is that not related to company drivers?

Coming into this a bit late but I want to make sure I've got my info straight. I was planning on applying to Knight later this year or early next year. However, I've heard plenty about Swift (from actual drivers and even a Swift trainee) that makes me want to stay away from them. This merger won't affect day to day company driver interactions right? I get that one company isn't buying the other but I want to make sure that nothing will change as far as operations and how they treat their drivers. And what was that lawsuit I saw about Knight relating to wages? Who's wages or is that not related to company drivers?

First and foremost you can't believe what other people say. Just like Swift, Knight has "bad reviews", along with any company for that matter. If I would have listened to other people I would have never started this career to begin with, to think of what I would have missed out on. If you are a good worker with a can do attitude, any company will do. Shoot we had a guy on here work for a last chance company that pays really low and did well.

To answer your question from the info presented is that both companies will keep their integrity, but be owned by the same people. Kind of like Pepsi and Frito Lay.

I want to make sure I've got my info straight. I was planning on applying to Knight later this year or early next year. However, I've heard plenty about Swift (from actual drivers and even a Swift trainee) that makes me want to stay away from them. This merger won't affect day to day company driver interactions right?

Chelsea, one of the things that you are going to have to come to terms with is that there is soooo much false information out here concerning trucking companies, and unfortunately most of it comes from drivers or former drivers. It is almost like a war zone of false and misleading information. We have very successful drivers right here in this forum who work for Swift! I work for Knight, and I cannot even make a ten minute visit to one of our terminals without one of our drivers there feeling the need to tell me how terrible this company is and we should all quit and walk out the door just to send them a message!

This is a performance based business, and the sooner you can wrap your brain around that concept, you will discover, just as most successful drivers have, that you are going to do well at this as long as you do well at this. Think about the awkward way I worded that statement and you will realize what I am trying to convey. I could quit Knight today and go over to Swift and still do just as well over there. It makes no difference who's name is on the doors of my truck. The reason all these mystical stories abound concerning all these companies being terrible places to work is because all these really low performing drivers have tried them all and they just keep on recycling the same old stupid stories that take on a life of their own boosted by the pseudo credibility that the internet gives to them.

These kind of mergers go on all the time in this business and typically they have zero effect on the drivers actual jobs. These deals are done to benefit the stock-holders, or to strengthen the asset base that the companies are based on. Often times the whole concept behind these mergers is for the two companies to strengthen each others hand. They try to incorporate the strengths from each operation with the ultimate purpose being the benefit of reducing their operating ratio - which is just a key indicator of the company's financial health and performance. If they can do that they will attract more investors and capital.

Rest assured that Knight is still an excellent choice, and clear your mind of those lies that say that Swift is a company to be avoided. Both companies stand to benefit from this deal, and the drivers who are making their way now will continue to prosper and do well after the public relations dust settles.

Chelsea wrote:

I've heard plenty about Swift (from actual drivers and even a Swift trainee) that makes me want to stay away from them.

I'll bet you have...shudder to think. Totally agree with Old School. Scratches head...interesting though, you have been on this forum for over a year, surprised that you would draw a conclusion like that. Ginormous difference between "hearing things from strangers" and actual first-hand experience though. Especially when a trainee is bad-mouthing their employer paying them to learn. Truck drivers are chronic complainers and whiners. A large majority enter this business with no clue of reality and think they know-it-all. Try not to listen to all the negativity...the loud ones would be miserable no matter where they worked. Spend some time over in the diaries section of the forum...there are 3-4 Swifties recording their on-going training experiences as well as many other company trainees with Prime. Believe what ever pre-conceived notion you want, but it might surprise you there are thousands of happy drivers at Swift...

100% agree, Swift is far from perfect...all big companies have more than their share of issues and problems. If it wasn't for the people, this business would be so easy. In my almost 5 years of experience with Swift, overall has been a very positive experience (happy to offer tangible examples). At this point in my career I could work for almost any trucking company. Swift is still my choice and probably will be for a long time and for lots of reasons. Rule of thumb, first year is going to be a huge challenge no matter what carrier you are employed with. That is an undeniable fact. You will soon realize, you'll get out of it what you put into it.

The new Knight-Swift parent company structure will maintain the two operating companies as separate entities, at least for the foreseeable future, Swift and Knight will continue to be a unique brand, employing their own company drivers, with no asset sharing. Simply put, I won't be driving Old School's tractor any time soon and he won't be delivering groceries to a Walmart in South Jersey. Your worries are unfounded, deep breath.

Chelsea wrote:

I've heard plenty about Swift (from actual drivers and even a Swift trainee) that makes me want to stay away from them.

I'll bet you have...shudder to think. Totally agree with Old School. Scratches head...interesting though, you have been on this forum for over a year, surprised that you would draw a conclusion like that. Ginormous difference between "hearing things from strangers" and actual first-hand experience though. Especially when a trainee is bad-mouthing their employer paying them to learn. Truck drivers are chronic complainers and whiners. A large majority enter this business with no clue of reality and think they know-it-all. Try not to listen to all the negativity...the loud ones would be miserable no matter where they worked. Spend some time over in the diaries section of the forum...there are 3-4 Swifties recording their on-going training experiences as well as many other company trainees with Prime. Believe what ever pre-conceived notion you want, but it might surprise you there are thousands of happy drivers at Swift...

100% agree, Swift is far from perfect...all big companies have more than their share of issues and problems. If it wasn't for the people, this business would be so easy. In my almost 5 years of experience with Swift, overall has been a very positive experience (happy to offer tangible examples). At this point in my career I could work for almost any trucking company. Swift is still my choice and probably will be for a long time and for lots of reasons. Rule of thumb, first year is going to be a huge challenge no matter what carrier you are employed with. That is an undeniable fact. You will soon realize, you'll get out of it what you put into it.

The new Knight-Swift parent company structure will maintain the two operating companies as separate entities, at least for the foreseeable future, Swift and Knight will continue to be a unique brand, employing their own company drivers, with no asset sharing. Simply put, I won't be driving Old School's tractor any time soon and he won't be delivering groceries to a Walmart in South Jersey. Your worries are unfounded, deep breath.

Sorry Chelsea,...read some of your previous posts and realized you are an experienced driver, over a year. I apologize for not recognizing that.

All the more reason NOT to believe everything you hear. Good luck with Knight.

Swift is a fine company, knight is a fine company, "insert trucking company of choice" is a fine company.

Choose the company that best fits what you want to do. As has already been said, don't listen to review sites, they often can lead you astray.

Remember, people usually only write reviews when they have a bad experience, but people who have a good experience rarely write reviews. Point is, for every bad review you see, there are probably 100 good reviews you dont see.

Swift and Knight are both calling this a "merger" but in all reality, Knight Transportation is acquiring Swift Transportation through stock combination. I know it seems backwards, but basically when this is all done, Kevin Knight will be chairman, David Jackson will be CEO, and Adam Miller will be CFO.