What's So Bad About Start Up Companies

So I won't sugar coat this at all, but I have a small issue and I would like an honest opinion or two or however many want to come in. I drove for Swift earning my experience and knowledge steps in this industry. I never trained with Swift so I don't understand or know their training routines but that's the one I hate the the most, Sure Wish I Finished Training.

I have always been told to get anywhere in life you have to start somewhere and I am grateful to Swift to give me the chance to earn my stripes on the road. My issue is, what does everyone have against starter companies like this and against drivers that are trying everything they too learn and grow in an industry? Just today because I missed the timing of a gear shift going slightly up hill the truck I was passing passed me back, then when we crested the hill and I got back to speed I passed him. As I was passing him an intermodal truck rode my back doors close enough I wanted to ask him what my reefer temp was at on the door.

I checked my mirror on the right saw I had enough to get over and get out of the bumper rider's way so I moved over and probably had about 10 feet between me and the truck I passed and opening up in distance because i was still going faster than the other truck by about 3 mph, all of sudden the insults about being a swift driver got called out and how I should drive off the nearest bridge to save themselves from me.

My question is this what do some drivers or people in general have against the rookies trying to make it in the industry? I mean hasn't everyone been a rookie before and work their way up? Or are the vets that I try to learn from and have been doing this for years just born in the driver's seat and never started where I did and have to work my way up? Thank you for your time and opinions. ..... and Brett just made my first run into New York and I have to say some of the drivers up here driving 4wheel are suicidal when it comes to shifting lanes.

Thank you I will take that to heart and not worry about the person pushing me when it's truly safe I will move out of their way thank you for the response Pat I appreciate it. But it did eventually turn into a a lashing because I drive a swift truck and every driver on a cb in range chimed in their opinions on how they feel about me. It just doesn't seem right to me that someone trying to learn and get experience should be treated so harshly, guess I just have a different outlook on things. But again thank you for the knowledge I never thought about the what I'd in that situation, and now no matter what I will remember to do that.

Gotta have thick skin to make it as a trainee truck driver. Once they could not complain more about you they started in on SWIFT drivers in general.

It is because they have pushed drivers out on their own (for the most part) way too fast with some exceptions though. I was put out on my own the day after I got my license but then I did not and do not have to drive through large cities. I think our largest city is 100k in population. With this quick training they are setting people to make mistakes. Heck if this driver fails there will be another one in here tomorrow.

I understand your thinking but they do not know you are a rookie. Heck there are drivers that have been at swift for years. There is a joke around here that the scariest moment at the truck stop is seeing a SWIFT truck in reverse. It is not that these startup companies are bad but they tend to have a disproportionate amount of accidents compared to the rest of the industry.

They are going to have more just based on the volume of trucks they have on the road but % wise they have more incidents than most companies. With the majority of them being backing, followed by turning too short. Heck a lot of them are not even reported.

I saw a guy in a MAY truck once pull into the truck stop and instead of coming in the correct direction he had to swing around to get lined up into the parking spot. Well all of a sudden the trainer and I were screaming and waving for him to stop. He was about to place the middle of his trailer into the back corner of another trailer and he was moving fast enough to do a lot of damage. There was a lot of room for him but he was driving the tractor and not the combination. BTW he was literally 6 inches from changing his career again. But hey, the corner of that parked trailer would have been a nice pivot point.

You are going to get crap even if you drive for them for 20 years. So next time have fun with it.... Make up a story how they came over so close that his DOT bumper caught your front bumper and pulled one side out on your TEXAS bumper on the front of your PETE! And tell them how ****ed you were and that they never even stopped.... LOL Have fun with it and get one over on them...

You did not get called out because your truck said swift on it. You got called out because you moved over too soon. Don't worry about the hemorrhoid behind you because it will fall off soon enough.

Even though you were pulling away, you still did not leave enough distance for the driver in the other lane to safely operate. If you had blown a tire or had an air line break, he did not have enough room to safely stop. I have had an airline break on me and you do stop fairly quick.

Think about it, 10 feet is not nearly enough room, even in a car. A pickup is roughly 20 feet long so by your estimate you were only 1/2 that distance. You need to leave more room before you get back over. If cars jump over there to get around you the so be it. Once you turn on your blinker someone behind you will get the hint and hold back.

They probably did go overboard but you did deserve a tongue lashing for that move.

Thank you I will take that to heart and not worry about the person pushing me when it's truly safe I will move out of their way thank you for the response Pat I appreciate it. But it did eventually turn into a a lashing because I drive a swift truck and every driver on a cb in range chimed in their opinions on how they feel about me. It just doesn't seem right to me that someone trying to learn and get experience should be treated so harshly, guess I just have a different outlook on things. But again thank you for the knowledge I never thought about the what I'd in that situation, and now no matter what I will remember to do that.

So I won't sugar coat this at all, but I have a small issue and I would like an honest opinion or two or however many want to come in. I drove for Swift earning my experience and knowledge steps in this industry. I never trained with Swift so I don't understand our know their training routines but that's the one I heat the the most, Sure Wish I Finished Training. I have always been told to get anywhere in life you have to start somewhere and I am grateful to Swift to give me the chance to earn my stripes on the road. My issue is, what does everyone have against starter companies like this and against drivers that are trying everything they too learn and grow in an industry? Just today because I missed the timing of a gear shift going slightly up hill the truck I was passing passed me back, then when we crested the hill and I got back to speed I passed him. As I was passing him an intermodel truck road my back doors close enough I wanted to ask him what my reefer temp was at on the door. I checked my mirror on the right saw I had enough to get over and get out of the bumper rider's way so I moved over and probably had about 10 feet between me and the truck I passed and opening up in distance because i was still going faster than the other truck by about 3 mph, all of sudden the insults about being a swift driver got called out and how I should drive off the nearest bridge to save themselves from me. My question is this what do some drivers or people in general have against the rookies trying to make it in the industry? I mean hasn't everyone been a rookie before and work their way up? Or are the vets that I try to learn from and have been doing this for years just born in the driver's seat and never started where I did and have to work my way up? Thank you for your time and opinions. ..... and Brett just made my first run into New York and I have to say some of the drivers up here driving 4wheel are suicidal when it comes to shifting lanes.

Turn your CB off and problem solved. To hell with what all the "supertruckers" have to say. Just do your job to the best of your ability.

You did not get called out because your truck said swift on it. You got called out because you moved over too soon. Don't worry about the hemorrhoid behind you because it will fall off soon enough.

Even though you were pulling away, you still did not leave enough distance for the driver in the other lane to safely operate. If you had blown a tire or had an air line break, he did not have enough room to safely stop. I have had an airline break on me and you do stop fairly quick.

Think about it, 10 feet is not nearly enough room, even in a car. A pickup is roughly 20 feet long so by your estimate you were only 1/2 that distance. You need to leave more room before you get back over. If cars jump over there to get around you the so be it. Once you turn on your blinker someone behind you will get the hint and hold back.

They probably did go overboard but you did deserve a tongue lashing for that move.

I gotta agree with Pat.

I too drove for Swift 2 years ago, I heard everything on the CB about swift. Most of the drivers you hear bad mouthing them have either messed up their career with said company or never drove for them and just through their 2 cents out there because everyone else does.

Swift is a good starter company, but thats it. Most of the drivers there that have 10+ years are probably to lazy to leave or have some sort of dedicated account that gives them the good miles. I have no issues with Swift other then being stuck in DFW when I had an interview in the Oakland, CAl and losing miles every other week... could be my problem though... Other than that they served their purpose and happy to have my CDL because of them..

Thank you I will take that to heart and not worry about the person pushing me when it's truly safe I will move out of their way thank you for the response Pat I appreciate it. But it did eventually turn into a a lashing because I drive a swift truck and every driver on a cb in range chimed in their opinions on how they feel about me. It just doesn't seem right to me that someone trying to learn and get experience should be treated so harshly, guess I just have a different outlook on things. But again thank you for the knowledge I never thought about the what I'd in that situation, and now no matter what I will remember to do that.

Gotta have thick skin to make it as a trainee truck driver. Once they could not complain more about you they started in on SWIFT drivers in general.

It is because they have pushed drivers out on their own (for the most part) way too fast with some exceptions though. I was put out on my own the day after I got my license but then I did not and do not have to drive through large cities. I think our largest city is 100k in population. With this quick training they are setting people to make mistakes. Heck if this driver fails there will be another one in here tomorrow.

I understand your thinking but they do not know you are a rookie. Heck there are drivers that have been at swift for years. There is a joke around here that the scariest moment at the truck stop is seeing a SWIFT truck in reverse. It is not that these startup companies are bad but they tend to have a disproportionate amount of accidents compared to the rest of the industry.

They are going to have more just based on the volume of trucks they have on the road but % wise they have more incidents than most companies. With the majority of them being backing, followed by turning too short. Heck a lot of them are not even reported.

I saw a guy in a MAY truck once pull into the truck stop and instead of coming in the correct direction he had to swing around to get lined up into the parking spot. Well all of a sudden the trainer and I were screaming and waving for him to stop. He was about to place the middle of his trailer into the back corner of another trailer and he was moving fast enough to do a lot of damage. There was a lot of room for him but he was driving the tractor and not the combination. BTW he was literally 6 inches from changing his career again. But hey, the corner of that parked trailer would have been a nice pivot point.

You are going to get crap even if you drive for them for 20 years. So next time have fun with it.... Make up a story how they came over so close that his DOT bumper caught your front bumper and pulled one side out on your TEXAS bumper on the front of your PETE! And tell them how ****ed you were and that they never even stopped.... LOL Have fun with it and get one over on them...

I think you broke his heart! Passed by a governed Swift truck. Turn off the CB and wave at all trucks. It'll drive them crazy!

Do what my Mentor does (also a Swifty). He also gets on the CB ragging on Swift drivers. Just having fun riling up the other drivers. Some of the funniest stuff I ever saw.

Richard, I completely agree with Pat on why they started in on you, but then it just switched over to a Swift bashing.

Don't let it bother you. For some reason among truck drivers there is a disproportionate number of insecure human beings who seem to think it makes them look like a superior person when they begin belittling other drivers or companies. Only a very small man will hide behind his C.B. microphone while berating a rookie or a driver for a company that he considers to be inferior.

The Citizen's Band has become something less and less useful with all the new communication technologies available to us today. I think the truck drivers will always use it, but I must confess that mine is turned off most of the time. For the most part it is used now days to talk down to other drivers, and not for helping each other like it was about thirty years ago. The camaraderie in trucking has suffered with the demise of C.B. communications, but one can always hope for better days to come in the industry.

Thank you all for the feedback and yes looking back on it I am at fault and now know how to correct my mistake I made. Thank you Pat and Old School for helping me realized where I messed up, I hope to one day be where you guys are in level of skill and it's the little things like this that will prevent big bad things happening later on.