Truck drivers..

[tpking]

yea i remember my dad saying never turn down any load because then they stop offering you loads. any tips or hints to help make the process smoother? i know i need to get my DOT physical done and my CDL permit

 

[feellnfroggy]

Call Swift 800-800-2200 ( phoenix terminal, headquarters) and ask for the number for the terminal that your state belongs too. The recruiter there can answer alot of questions for you about the schooling and cdl's and other stuff. I'm not saying go with them, but they can give you more details that we can't. Then maybe call werner or knight transportation and compare. I would also call a few smaller companies for info, like Total Transportation or Holland. If you get by a truck stop find an owner operator and talk to them. U.S. Express is a bangup comany to drive for as well as UPS and Fedex. (Fedex drivers are insane) They are a little better paid, but have higher experience requirements.

 

[tpking]

ive been talking with swift thats where ive gotten my info from. i might call a couple others tomorrow ..

 

[feellnfroggy]

ive been talking with swift thats where ive gotten my info from. i might call a couple others tomorrow ..

Def call others.

 

[RumpRangerSTX]

do u any one that still owns a truck if so ask them if they could teach u . or try to get a job at a truckin company and work your way in to a cdl . and i would love to c a dot's face when u hand him a log that say u average speed was the speed limit for 11 hs u will get a violation for speed for sure i know people that have got them but like i said skip the schools they will rape u try to get work at a truckin com they will help u get them and that way u can run local

 

[feellnfroggy]

do u any one that still owns a truck if so ask them if they could teach u . or try to get a job at a truckin company and work your way in to a cdl . and i would love to c a dot's face when u hand him a log that say u average speed was the speed limit for 11 hs u will get a violation for speed for sure i know people that have got them but like i said skip the schools they will rape u try to get work at a truckin com they will help u get them and that way u can run local

You obviously missed what I wrote, never average your speed. You log the speed you actually drove, Averagin speed doesnt take into account fuel stops, traffic lights, etc. All of which take a semi alot more time to accomplish than a 4 wheeler. Guys have been 3-6 hurs out of time due to averaging. Everytime you stop and get a free 2 seconds you should update your logbook. Alot of guys dont log their midnite miles either, they drive all night then try to remeber what the mileage was a midnight when the log flips. 3yrs with Swift the last year was spent sitting next to our safety guy for the florida terminal, listening and sitting in on his log classes so I could help our trainees. Im not the best by any means, but Im not ignorant when It comes to logs. Alot fo things have changed where the federal regs are concerned, Its too easy to get in trouble with logs anymore and the last dot cop I spoke with showed me fines hes imposed from 500 bux to 15000 bux. Getting shut down for a mistake on a log will cost a driver ten times more than no freight.

Im not trying to down what you are saying, rump. But you are obviously an experienced driver and have a specific way of doing things that you have adapted too. It doesnt always work for the new guys right off the bat, they need to learn from square one.

Rump is right though, about finding someone with a truck or working off your cdl.

 

[RumpRangerSTX]

enuff said no more from me i just hate it when a rookie gets screw from a company my boss use to make every one in the company get a cdl if u were even in the office u got it that is way i was tellin him to go to truckin company clean the floors wash trucks and for a trucker not a trainer i not going to say anymore on this too tried and have to go to mass. tonite sorry if i pissed someone off just hate to c someone get screw

 

[feellnfroggy]

enuff said no more from me i just hate it when a rookie gets screw from a company my boss use to make every one in the company get a cdl if u were even in the office u got it that is way i was tellin him to go to truckin company clean the floors wash trucks and for a trucker not a trainer i not going to say anymore on this too tried and have to go to mass. tonite sorry if i pissed someone off just hate to c someone get screw

I understand what your gettin at, but you bring up a good point, If someone is enterprising enough, they could probably start a truck washing business on their own and do pretty good. Sometimes they can get screwed, but sometimes they can do real good too. I would actually recommend maintenance to someone before driving also. That ishow my cousin started with Swift, (my uncle is fleet manager) and now my cuz is a driver manager and doin real well. Swift is hell onthe office employees though. I took alot of shyt when it came to dealing with drivers, they baby them to keep complaints down and it was a real headache, I enjoyed working with them thouhg. I have alot of friends as drivers that I wouldnt have had before. But he asked about driving so I gave what I know.


Another option is the Pilot truck stops. From what I understand they are hiring all over the East coast, They also just purchased a couple flying J's, but they are looking at all levels from cashier to entry level management to GM's,

 

[snake]

Next month makes 30 years of driving for me. Seen a lot of changes... Get on where you can and get experience without tickets and make yourself hireable for a decent job. Try to stay with the same carrier as long as you can to show some stability, even if they are pure dicks to drive for- a lot of guys change jobs over and over not understanding that MOST companies are thieving assholes... so they keep hopping and it makes it tougher to find a "real" job. Your goal should be to get some good experience and get on wth a private fleet- folks who haul their own stuff.

I've been with the same company for 18 years now. I work every other week (six days on- eight days off) and make over 60K with full benefits. I get a new truck every four years. It is, of course, a private fleet... and you have to have a clean record and several years experience to get on.

edit: Try not to accept a bendover book job- those that pay HMG or household mover's guide miles. These companies are sticking you in the ass bigtime.

I've got a 65 MPH governed truck- have driven 700 miles in 11 hours legally more than once. I drive at night though.

 

[OilPatch197]

My uncle got driving thru STAR. Star Transport Training is a fairly good company to start out on.

Driver WEST EAST TEAMS
Experience RATES RATES RATES
Start 0.25 0.25 0.32
3 Months 0.26 0.26 0.32
4-5 Months 0.28 0.29 0.32
6 Months 0.30 0.32 0.33
9 Months 0.31 0.33 0.34
1 Years 0.32 0.34 0.35
2 Years 0.33 0.35 0.36
3 Years 0.34 0.36 0.37
4 Years 0.36 0.38 0.39
5 Years 0.38 0.40 0.41

I head a guy that has been driving trucks for 25 years, he was making $.91/mile. This was back in '03.

Alot of trucking/transit companies have gone broke, DHL, and others. Honestly I would NEVER be a truck driver, there is just too much JUNK you have to put up with.

High fuel prices, your truck is being tracked, rarely breaks down, automatics, AC, air ride equipped trailers, cell phones, gps, and keeping your paperwork updated to conveince the cops your not a theif. Heck your rig can get blown over, and a danger of gaining weight and heart attacks.

I would love to have been a flat bed truck driver in the 70's and 80's, paperwork, a MAP, and a CB radio, but not today...

Not to mentioned that in the old days truck drivers worked together, now it's like they don't need you, got their cell phones.

Also alot of trucker veterans are telling me that the companies get tax breaks if they train a new driver, instead of hiring an experienced one!

A Swift trainee bumped into a tanker at a fuel isle. They cleared out the place, hazmat, cops, but the tanker was only carrying high frutose corn syrup.

I shall end on a serious note: If you got a family, truck driving is not the best occupation. I would imagine the divorce rate is very high among truck drivers, you can't be a family if you are separated all the time.

 

[feellnfroggy]

A Swift trainee bumped into a tanker at a fuel isle. They cleared out the place, hazmat, cops, but the tanker was only carrying high frutose corn syrup.

This happens alot, Swift drivers are known for accidents, they have a habit for hiring anyone. But they have quickly remedied that.
I had a driver ran over a boulder in an empty walmart parking lot. High centered his cab. uuuuhhhhhh

I had another guy got a preplan to bobtail to the shipper and run 600 miles. He went to the shipper and instead of picking up his load he bobtailed to the final. 600 miles.

On the other hand I have drivers that have 3 homes and 4 trucks and making crazy bank. And never one accident with any of the drivers of their trucks.

Beyonce's dad drives for swift, he's an owner op and she bought him his truck. Real nice down to earth fellow.

 

[Jason]

no local pay is pretty good but a rookie will never c a local job they will get the shit jobs low pay jobs sorry to say it but its the facts

Not true. The company I work for will give new guys a shot and we are local with a 5 day work week. $50k a year too.

 

[Jason]

yea i remember my dad saying never turn down any load because then they stop offering you loads. any tips or hints to help make the process smoother? i know i need to get my DOT physical done and my CDL permit

Turning down loads is bad, but you also need to kiss the dispatchers ass. That's the problem. If you never refuse a load, they will take advantage of you to avoid hearing the other guys bitch.

 

[Jason]

Call Swift 800-800-2200 ( phoenix terminal, headquarters) and ask for the number for the terminal that your state belongs too. The recruiter there can answer alot of questions for you about the schooling and cdl's and other stuff. I'm not saying go with them, but they can give you more details that we can't. Then maybe call werner or knight transportation and compare. I would also call a few smaller companies for info, like Total Transportation or Holland. If you get by a truck stop find an owner operator and talk to them. U.S. Express is a bangup comany to drive for as well as UPS and Fedex. (Fedex drivers are insane) They are a little better paid, but have higher experience requirements.

NEVER LISTEN TO A RECRUITER FROM THE "DRIVER MILLS". All they care about is having someone to hold the steering wheel.

 

[Jason]

This happens alot, Swift drivers are known for accidents, they have a habit for hiring anyone. But they have quickly remedied that.
I had a driver ran over a boulder in an empty walmart parking lot. High centered his cab. uuuuhhhhhh

I had another guy got a preplan to bobtail to the shipper and run 600 miles. He went to the shipper and instead of picking up his load he bobtailed to the final. 600 miles.

On the other hand I have drivers that have 3 homes and 4 trucks and making crazy bank. And never one accident with any of the drivers of their trucks.

Beyonce's dad drives for swift, he's an owner op and she bought him his truck. Real nice down to earth fellow.

Swift's safety rating is crap. Avoid them if you can. You can, and WILL, starve.