Getting Hired After Swift?

Hello,

I am scheduled to attend Swift's CDL training in June. I would like to know how others have done trying to get hired at other companies after a couple of years at Swift. Do Prime Inc.'s drivers have a better reputation among other companies? My guess is that being a beginner driver is the same no matter what company you're with. But have any Swift guys transitioned to UPS or FedEx after starting there? What was it like?

Thank you. -Ken

Hello,

I am scheduled to attend Swift's CDL training in June. I would like to know how others have done trying to get hired at other companies after a couple of years at Swift. Do Prime Inc.'s drivers have a better reputation among other companies? My guess is that being a beginner driver is the same no matter what company you're with. But have any Swift guys transitioned to UPS or FedEx after starting there? What was it like?

Thank you. -Ken

It doesn't matter who you work with, you get the experience, keep the license clean, then you can get a job anywhere else. You represent yourself out here. Swift may have a bonehead here and there but so do other companies. First things first, worry about getting your cdl then put in a clean year of driving. I had the same thoughts as you but I am still at swift Don't believe the crap on the internet, I'm glad I didnt.

If say hire on with a company and give it a chance. You may like it at swift. Sounds like you are already planning your next job before you have the first one.

To answer your question though, generally, if you get a couple of years of safe driving experience, it does make you more attractive to other companies.

As far as the parcel carriers, I don't know about ups, but FedEx doesn't hire drivers straight off the street. You hire in as a dock worker, then you get out on a list. At first, you'll be a fill in driver, then later, if a full time driv8ng position opens up, then you'll be considered.

My recommendation is to just get into a driving job and learn all you can. Stay there for a year or two, THEN start looking at other avenues if you decide what you have isn't meeting your goals, but don't go into it with the mindset that you are only there for a year, and then you are going to leave. Give it a good honest chance.

Wow,...nothing like a negatively charged first post. That's okay,...you are new.

Ken with all due respect, your knowledge about Swift is second hand and unsubstantiated. Typically what you have read on the internet, written by ex-employees who likely will fail for any company they drive for. Of course they are going to blame the company that fired them and never take responsibility or ownership for their mistakes. I have been out here long enough to know that Swift does not have a monopoly on driver's bad behavior or lack of skill. Name the company, and I will probably have a story to align with it. Swift receives much wrath because of their size, and he fact they hire a very large number of novice drivers. They also fire a high number of drivers...keep that in mind. They might be one of the easier companies to hire-on with,...but have high expectations for their rookie drivers.

I celebrated my fifth year with Swift on Sunday,...honestly have no desire to look elsewhere; on a great Dedicated account, earning really good money, treated professionally/respectfully, and have built excellent relationships with my planners and driver managers/leaders.

If you are a good driver...it really doesn't matter what company you work for.

Considering the stage you are in, TT highly recommends investing time reviewing and studying in the following links:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road Training Program

I am happy to answer any questions you have about Swift, honestly and truthfully.

Thanks guys. I was skeptical because of all the bashing Swift gets on the internet, but glad to hear that it doesn't matter and it's up to me to make what I want out of it.

And yes, I was at UPS loading, that's where I was introduced to this industry. But as far as advancement goes, the major hub where I worked at had little, if any, opportunities to advance to any positions outside of management. The drivers for the most had part years of experience driving for other companies, this applied to both package car and feeder drivers. They were already CDL-A Hazmat drivers, then came to UPS. Not hired/trained from inside positions. That's just UPS though.

Thanks for the help.

Wow,...nothing like a negatively charged first post. That's okay,...you are new.

Ken with all due respect, your knowledge about Swift is second hand and unsubstantiated. Typically what you have read on the internet, written by ex-employees who likely will fail for any company they drive for. Of course they are going to blame the company that fired them and never take responsibility or ownership for their mistakes. I have been out here long enough to know that Swift does not have a monopoly on driver's bad behavior or lack of skill. Name the company, and I will probably have a story to align with it. Swift receives much wrath because of their size, and he fact they hire a very large number of novice drivers. They also fire a high number of drivers...keep that in mind. They might be one of the easier companies to hire-on with,...but have high expectations for their rookie drivers.

I celebrated my fifth year with Swift on Sunday,...honestly have no desire to look elsewhere; on a great Dedicated account, earning really good money, treated professionally/respectfully, and have built excellent relationships with my planners and driver managers/leaders.

If you are a good driver...it really doesn't matter what company you work for.

Considering the stage you are in, TT highly recommends investing time reviewing and studying in the following links:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road Training Program

I am happy to answer any questions you have about Swift, honestly and truthfully.

This is true, the only knowledge I have about Swift was from forums and YouTube. It sounds like a good deal now that I've heard from actual Swift drivers. Thanks

I say, who cares what other say about the name on your truck. If you're driving clean, getting miles, and getting paid for those miles, all is good! 😊

One thing you'll learn out here is, it doesn't matter what company you work for, someone will bash you for it. In the eyes of a lot of truckers on the road, they are the only good trucking company on the road.

Ignore it and drive your rig to the best of your ability, and do your best and all will be well.

Sambo wrote:

I say, who cares what other say about the name on your truck. If you're driving clean, getting miles, and getting paid for those miles, all is good! 😊

One thing you'll learn out here is, it doesn't matter what company you work for, someone will bash you for it. In the eyes of a lot of truckers on the road, they are the only good trucking company on the road.

Ignore it and drive your rig to the best of your ability, and do your best and all will be well.

Couldn't agree more.

Unlike other industries, where you work doesn't matter to potential employers, just how much and what type of experience you have. Alot of employers want to see a certain amount of otr experience, some want to see some Hazmat experience (only if they haul HM obviously), companies that pull doubles might want to see some doubles experience, tanker ops want tanker experience, etc. I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to think ahead to what type of job you might eventually want, but don't let it distract you from the initial steps everyone has to take...get your med exam, get your permit, go to cdl school, go through training with your first company, and start getting experience out on the road. We mostly recommend starting out as an otr driver because it opens up the most opportunities down the road and gets you some really great experience. As far as what type of freight to haul at your first job, most everyone starts with dry van or reefer , although some on this board have started with flatbed and a couple other things.

Of course there are always exceptions, but this is the path we recommend because it is the most fool-proof and gets you the best experience and the most options.

Btw, as a Swift driver myself (1 year, 5 months), I completely agree with G Town. There are pros and cons to every company. In my opinion, the best thing about Swift is the sheer number of options they have. Sure, other companies have dedicated accounts too--it's just that Swift has so many of them. I see it as an opportunity to get "free" experience--check that, I meant PAID experience. I can try various types of freight here without leaving my company and messing up my work history (jumping around between companies does not look good on your resumé and will actually get you automatically disqualified from being hired by many outfits). I can also try different types of setups, if you will--what I mean is that I can do OTR 48 states or just western 11, I can try Walmart dedicated which operates regionally and has its quirks, I can try Target dedicated (what I do now--I drive locally and also work as a yard hostler), I can do Miller Coors dedicated (national dedicated account traveling all 48 states), etc. That's just a few of many, many dedicated accounts we have here.

Some people just want to do otr and that's it. I personally like having lots of opportunities to try new things, so I love it here and don't plan on leaving anytime soon unless I decide to try something they don't offer, like tankers.

Anyways, sorry that was so long. Only meant it to be a few sentences! LOL.

Here are a couple more links about this stuff for additional reading:

• Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job

What Are The Best Types Of Freight For A Rookie To Haul?

Thanks guys. I was skeptical because of all the bashing Swift gets on the internet, but glad to hear that it doesn't matter and it's up to me to make what I want out of it.

Thanks for the help.

This is one of the downsides to the internet. There are groups devoted to trashing the mega carriers and especially love trashing Swift. If you look up the numbers (google Swift CSA score) you will find that there numbers are below the national average.

As others have mentioned it is your name on that license. Protect it and your CSA score and you will be ok if you should choose to move on later. Right now focus on your schooling and training.