Swift Transportation provides in adequate and inept trainers then takes no responsibility for what you don't learn - black-balls you on your DAC Report Pheonix, Arizona
I started driving as a student driver with Swift Transportation in April 2011. They assigned me a trainer that was more interested in talking to his mistress on the phone than train me. At the end of his time at Swift, because he quit and went to another company, we sat nearly two weeks without him accepting any loads.
I contacted my Student Driver Manager and informed him of the situation. This is the email I sent:
Tom,
My mentor, Mark ***** - truck number ******, has decided to go with ****. And, there are some issues I need to discuss with you. They are numbered.1) After Mark spoke with my cousin, ******* *******, whom drives for ****, Mark decided he was going there and refused almost every load that the dispatch sent. About two weeks ago was our last load that he accepted.2) During the two days we sat in Des Moines,
Iowa, he wouldn't even let me practice backing up. He said that he didn't have the fuel. l did tell him that I could put some in. But, he said that he would have to be on the clock.3) Mark made mention that he intentionally kept from informing me about what to expect in the major cities and other types of situations, just to see how I would react.4) We didn't do a single Pre-trip inspection while I was with him. All we did was look to make sure there were no puddles of fluids under the truck, checked to make sure the locking jaws of the fifth wheel was locked around the kingpin, and made sure the tandoms on the trailer were still locked. He told me that out on the road a driver will be lucky if they do one full Pre-trip in their career.
There are other issues, but these are most important right now. The reason I haven't brought these up earlier is because I was afraid that he would do just as he did to his student efore me, from what he said. He told me that he had her removed from his truck. And, he contacted some of the mentors he knows and made it extremely difficult for her to find one.Mainly, what I am saying is: "I was worried that he would make things extremely difficult on my chances of having a good career.I will understand if you decide to boot me from the Student Program, for not bringing these issues to you attention before now. I apologize for not doing so. And, if we can discuss this over the phone, before you make a decision, I would greatly appreciate it.
The reply I received was: Tom Thanks for bringing these topics to my attention. Give me a call this morning, so we can talk about getting you with a good mentor.
Instead of getting me with a "good" mentor, I received a person that had never trained anyone and was also more interested in talking with a mistress instead of training me. In fact, this trainer was with me when I had one of my accidents/incidents that is now listed on my DAC Report. We were in West Columbia, SC and I was trying to drop a trailer in a drop yard. My trainer was standing outside, when I was backing up, and paying attention to what was on his phone than watch how I was performing. I got out and looked several times and thought I was doing well. However, I bumped a trailer, put just a few scratches in both trailers, notified my student driver manager, and then he helped a driver from another company get into his spot. Not once did he help me.
The second acc/inc involved having my tandems all of the way back on the trailer, which I didn't know that you shouldn't and couldn't do that. I caught a bridge with the side of the trailer and put some black marks on the trailer. I had gotten lost in eastern Pennsylvania, which I had never been out that way. Swift Transportation, Minnesota Terminal, sent me out to New Jersey for my first solo run. I was unfamiliar with those places because my trainers would never take me to those types of places.
My third acc/inc occurred in a Flying J Truck Stop parking lot, in Winchester, VA. I was provided a note from the Flying J personnel saying that the accident wasn't my fault, due to an illegally parked truck. Swift Transportation never considered anything they had to say. A copy of that note is added as a phote, which the note was also submitted to Swift Transportation.
Swift Transportation terminated/fired me in August 2011. And, they added "Unsatisfactory Safety Record" to my DAC Report. I submitted a dispute with DAC (HireRight) about it. Swift Transportation decided that nothing would come off of the report. Therefore, that one stupid phrase is keeping me from getting a job. In other words, "Swift Transportation is saying that I was the only one at fault. Even though, it was their lowsy and inept trainers that provided me with inadequate training. And, due to their lack of responsibility, I'm basically being black-balled, through my DAC Report, and can't do anything about it."
7 Updates & Rebuttals
unswiftly
lakeland,Florida,
Fired
#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, May 01, 2013
SWift turns into totally different company after calling me back with re-hire bonus and truck with low miles,and raise which they did,and for 10 months all was good except the miles you drive and that are paid starting getting worse ,anyhow I went to there mentoring class and took on a student. And that's where they showed there true motives it was a complete farce.Here it is ,I got a ticket which I'm fighting the company was well aware I informed them never lied or hid anything.It was 3 weeks after the ticket before I took student out,than when we get to Texas they really push the team drive issue also they were pushing team loads from day 1, I responded each time with I have a student onboard and have to complete 50 hrs. of driving solo and observing him,and they all are barely trained so the acedeny students are really rough to train they just aren't familiar enough with the trucks.But anyway they suspend my training status as soon as we went team isn't that greed in it's purest form we went through to terminals on the way back to Ocala,Fl. our home terminal. The student got 2 tickets on the way back to Ocala and they tried to put it all on me. !
Steeler44
Stupid is as stupid does
#8Consumer Comment
Fri, March 15, 2013
Anybody that has 3 incidents should never be allowed to drive an 18 wheeler. For the rest of you all that made any comments, please go back to school and learn how to write the English language.
Rebeccad
United States of AmericaSay goodbye to .25 per mile
#8General Comment
Thu, October 25, 2012
I have two words for everyone, North Dakota! Screw OTR trucking making pennies a day. Go where the money is at.
TJW
Marcus,Iowa,
United States of America
Swift Is A Joke.
#8Author of original report
Wed, October 03, 2012
Apparently, you've never had to follow the directions to Campbell's, in Nepoleon, OH, that Swift supplies. Their directions were WRONG!!! That can be proven. The exit they said to follow was the wrong one. And, it got me to an area that didn't even take me into the area of Campbell's. So, you need to be talking to other, former Swift drivers, and they'll tell you the same thing, "There are directions that Swift has provided that were wrong."
The other problem with Swift is: "The trainers are there to train, not talk on the phone with their mistresses. Also, Tom Feaker, the Student Driver Manager that I had, was too interested in his paycheck than making sure that the problems with the trainers being addressed."
It's a cr*p company. They don't hold to the promises and guarantees of adequate training. And, they need to be held accountable. And, that's exactly what I'm doing, instead of being a lap-dog, which you appear to be.
Oh, no, I won't be giving up my CDL, because either way, I'll be back out on the road. Which, it will either be within the near future or 1 year and 10 months away from now.
Cheese
Angola,Indiana,
United States of America
Your Wrong
#8UPDATE Employee
Mon, October 01, 2012
First things first
1. i think the place you went to school must be idots if they passed you to get you cdl because you should know how to turn a truck and not hit anything
2. my mentor did teach me much either but i never hit anything it is your responceabilty to GET OUT AND LOOK you know GOAL you send it everytime you backup
3. if you listen to the directions for the QUALCOMM you shouldn't get lost or make wrong turns it will keep you on TRUCK ROUTES
sorry if it seems like i'm calling an idot but I AM surrender your cdl your giving all us other SWIFT drivers a bad rep.
mike nolan
Orlando,Florida,
United States of America
THE PUBLIC NEED TO KNOW
#8Consumer Comment
Tue, September 25, 2012
MY HUSBAND LOST HIS JOB AFTER WORKING FOR 13YEARS, HE STARTED LOOKING FOR A NEW CAREER IN THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY, WE THOUGHT IS WAS A GREAT IDEA BECAUSE WE DIDN'T NOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
WE USED THE ONLY SAVINGS WE HAD TO GET HIS CDL CLASS A DL WHICH COST ABOUT $5000.00
THE SCHOOL MADE IT SOUND LIKE WE WHERE GOING TO BE ON TRACK AGAIN MAKING DESCENT ( BIG MISTAKE ) THEIR JOB IS TO LIE TO YOU SO THEY GET YOUR MONEY.
AFTER HE GOT THE LICENSE NO ONE WOULD HIRE HIM BECAUSE NOW THEY WANTED HIM TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE YEAR EXPERIENCE SO HE DESIRED TO GO FOR THAT EXPERIENCE AND APPLIED FOR A BIG COMPANY, THEY GAVE HIM A MENTOR TO TRAIN HIM, AN OWNER OPERATOR. ( COMPANIES USE NEW DRIVERS TO DRIVE FOR FREE SO THE OWNER OPERATORS MAKE THE MONEY ) HE WAS MAKING $400.00 PER WEEK.
WHILE HE WAS LITERALLY LIVING INSIDE THE TRUCK HE HAD TO PUT UP WITH THE STUFF HE WAS NOT MENTALLY PREPARED FOR.
THE OWNER OF THE TRUCK WILL s**t ALL THE TIME AND KEEP THE WINDOWS CLOSED BECAUSE IT WAS HIS TRUCK, HE WOULD ONLY GIVE HIM A SHOWER EVERY 2 TO 3 DAYS, HE WOULD ALSO EXPOSE HIM SELF NAKED AND SOME TIMES WILL URINATE IN A BOTTLE OS JUICE WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK, HE ASKED FOR A NEW MENTOR BUT IT WAS AS BAD AS THE FIRST ONE AND THE WORST PART OF IT IS THAT THE COMPANY KNEW ABOUT IT BUT DIDN'T GIVE A s**t ABOUT IT BECAUSE ALL THEY WANT IS TO TRAIN YOU TO WORK AS A TEAM, THAT WAY THE TRUCK IS MOVING 24/7 AND YOU REST WHILE THE OTHER IS DRIVING SO ( NO REST AT ALL ).
OUT OF THOSE $400 HE WAS MAKING, THEY WILL TAKE 20% IN JUST TAXES AND ALL THAT BULLS s**t SO EVERYTHING COME TO $320 ,,,HE WAS SPENDING $25 JUST IN JUNK FOOD SO WE FIGURE IT $25 X 7 DAYS IS $175 LETS SEE:
400- 80-175 = $145
$145 DIVIDED IN 7 DAYS= $20.7 THAT IS RIGHT
MY HUSBAND WAS MAKING $20.00 PER DAY AND I WONDER IF THERE IS ANY MOTHER f**kER IN THIS WORLD THAT IS WILLING TO SAY THAT I AM LYING ABOUT ALL THIS FIGURES AND THE FACT THAT BIG TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES LIE TO THE DRIVERS ABOUT THE REAL MONEY THEY WILL MAKE, HOME TIME AND MILES, ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS MAKE THE NEW DRIVERS BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A GOO FUTURE WITH THEM.
MY HUSBAND CAME BACK SICK FOR NOT EATING RIGHT, NOT SLEEPING RIGHT, HE LOST 20 POUNDS IN 6 WEEKS THAT HE WAS OUT NOT TO MENTION THAT WE LOST OUR HOME BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE ANY MONEY LEFT.
I WONDER IF THERE IS ANY PERSON IN THIS WORLD WHO CARES ABOUT THIS, NEW DRIVERS NOT ONLY HAVE TO PUT UP WITH ALL THIS s**t WITH ALL OF THOSE CORRUPTED COMPANIES BUT THEY ARE NOT GETTING PAID FOR THE HUGE RESPONSIBILITY AND CARRYING OTHER PEOPLES LIVES IN THEIR HANDS.
FOR THIS TYPE OF WORK, A DRIVER SHOULD BE MAKING AT LEAST $1500. PER WEEK DRIVING NO MORE THAN 2000 MILES IN A FIVE DAY PERIOD, I HOPE THAT THIS WILL CATCH UP WITH THEM AND THE GOVERNMENT OR SOMEONE VERY HONEST EITHER PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS OR MAKE THEM PAY THE DRIVERS WHAT THEY DESERVE.
TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES TAKE ADVANTAGE BECAUSE OF THE BAD ECONOMY BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT THEY ARE NOTHING WITH OUT THE DRIVERS SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHO THIS COMPANIES ARE, JUST LOOK IN THE TRANSPORTATION SECTION ON CRAIGSLIST.
YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE SAME COMPANIES ARE DESPERATE TO GET AS MANY DRIVERS THEY CAN EVERY WEEK BECAUSE THEY ALREADY KNOW THAT ALMOST 96% OF THE DRIVERS QUIT AFTER THEY FIND OUT THEY HAVE MADE A BIG MISTAKE.
GUYS IF YOU ARE MARRIED AND HAVE A FAMILY THERE IS NO EXCUSE TO ABANDON THEM ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS NO MONEY, IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO EAT A PIECE OF BRED AND A SODA EVERY DAY WITH THE FAMILY UNITED THAN SACRIFICING THE ONLY GOOD THING THAT WE HAVE IN OUR LIVES, OUR FAMILY, VERY SOON I HOPE TO BE ON NATIONAL TV EXPOSING ALL THE ATROCITIES THIS COMPANIES ARE DOING TO THE AMERICANS.
SLAVERY NEVER CAME TO THE END IN THIS COUNTRY, IS WAS CAMOUFLAGED, AND IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME WHEN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING HUNGRY CAN NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE AND THEY CAN'T FEED THEIR CHILDREN, AT THAT POINT EVERY ONE IS GOING TO REACT DESPERATELY AND WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT GOINT TO DO, PUT EVERY ONE IN JAIL BECAUSE THEY ARE HUNGRY?
TJW
Marcus,Iowa,
United States of America
Mistake Made By Me, Above.
#8Author of original report
Sat, September 22, 2012
When I was writing about my second trainer (mentor) being with me, I failed to put the word "he" in front of called my student driver manager. My second mentor is the one that actually made the call, not me. I had been told by many drivers that scrapes and trailer bumps happen all of the time out on the road. Therefore, for such a minor incident, considering no real damage was done, it should have never been reported.
However, I think the real reason he contacted my student driver mangager is because he had damaged the truck he was training me in. Which, he had no previous acc/inc on his record. Also, this way, if someone had found out about the few scrapes on the other trailer, later on, he wouldn't get into trouble for not having reported it. And, they wouldn't find out that he wasn't doing his job as a trainer. He could pin the whole thing on me.