- Report: #500912
Complaint Review: SWIFT TRANSPORTATION - Phoenix Arizona
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SWIFT TRANSPORTATION
2200 S. 75th Avenue Phoenix, 85043 Arizona, United States of America
Phone:
8008002200
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SWIFT TRANSPORTATION Need Advise!! Swift charged me with a PREVENTABLE ACCIDENT and I was the one who was rear ended. This is a tale to be told. Swift is ruining my LIFE!! I cannot get hired..HELP!!! Phoenix , Arizona
I'm really not one to complain. I am a female in the trucking industry and it is hard enough as it is. Swift transportation is ruining my life. I cannot pay my bills, I cannot get a better trucking job. I cannot get hired anywhere. I have applied to over 20 companies and all of them have turned me down.. Swift was not all bad at first but then something changed....
In January of 2008 I was involved in a freak snow squall in West Virginia where I was slowing down to avoid a hazard about 4 football field lengths in front of me a car was spinning out of control on the roadway. As I was slowing a car plowed into the back of me and then an Aramark truck slammed into the car that hit me from behind killing the driver of the car. I was rear ended TWICE! Once by the car. and then the car again was pushed into the back of my trailer by the Aramark truck..or either the aramark truck hit me. im not sure.... Well anyway. I was not fined, cited, ticketed or warned. I gave my statement and was released by the highway patrol officer. Since I was not at fault I was let go. Well when I got to Memphis to get coached so to speak by they completely put words in my mouth saying I could have done this or I could have done that. The simple fact is is that I followed every procedure they trained me to do to the T. I was not speeding. I was not breaking any laws. The snow had just started and there were about 5 other accidents that occured at that same moment or like in a 30 minute time period.. I did not hit anything. I slowed my truck and trailer down properly. I have a witness cause my roommate was in the truck with me at the time.
The very first time I ever got into an 18 wheeler was April of 2007.. I have wanted to be a truck driver ever since I was 9 years old. I love trucks and no men in my family are or were ever truck drivers.. I was very proud of myself because learning to drive a truck was one the hardest things I have ever taught myself in my life and I actually succeeded...
So then on top of the accident I lasted about 5 more months and then was let go because of too many service failures. Notice the term "LET GO" I did not quit. I tried to collect unemployment but to no avail. could not get it. So i appealed but then just finally gave up on it because I did get a job with Schneider. (which by the way is a great company) no regrets there.. Thank God..
But I decided to leave Schneider for a break , which brings me to now!!! I want to get back into trucking but can't because of a fatality within Swift. It is nowhere on my DAC. I was not at fault. but when a company calls Swift about me they tell the company That I have a preventable accident involving a fatality.. There is no way you can prevent someone from not hitting you from behind.. Swift is covering themselves and pinning it on me... Now I say is that right? Is that fair? I know that the trucking industry is tough believe me. I have learned a lot in two years. That is for sure... But I have never in my life heard of the driver who was rear ended being at fault....either in a four wheeler or any commercial vehicle, when you hit someone from behind it is that person's fault.. the person doing the hitting............arghhhhhhhh....man you could not even drive on that snow that day going 5 miles per hour without sliding and I did not even jackknife at all except after I got hit I was slightly in the left lane. I know because I never drive in the left lane. I want those others to go on and pass me.... go driver go.... at any rate.. I dont know what to do. I want Swift to change this so I can make money again. I know I am a small fish in a big pond.. is there anything the driver can do??? they get away with everything.......
3 Updates & Rebuttals
LARRY REDFORD
LINCOLN CITY,Oregon,
United States of America
SWFT IS GOOD THE SYSTEM IS ANTIQUATED
#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, November 16, 2009
IT'S NOT SWIFT. IT'S THE SAME WITH ALL THE COMPANIES. I ALSO HAVE A FEELING IT'S MORE THE INSURANCE COMPANIES FAULT THEN ANYONES.--- AND PROBABLY THE LAWYERS TOO. BUT HERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS YOU MIGHT TRY IN YOUR EFFORT TO RETURN TO WORK. SOUNDS TO ME THAT YOU WERE LET GO BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE FAILURES . THE ACCIDENT REALLY SOUNDS STRANGE. WHY THE SAFETY DEPT WOULD CHARGE YOU WITH A PREVENTABLE--- IS WIERD. VERY STRANGE-- WHEN ---IF--AS YOU SAY-- YOU WERE LET GO FROM THE SCENE WITH NO CITATION OR VIOLATION. YOUR NOT THE ONLY PERSON OUT THERE WHO'S DEALING WITH DAC PROBLEMS.---AND YES THESE REPORTS RUIN YOUR LIFE AS YOU PLANNED IT. THESE COMPANIES WORK FROM A "NUMBER SYSTEM" THAT IS VERY IMPERSONAL. THREE STRIKES AND YOUR OUT. (BUT THIS AINT NO FIELD OF DSREAMS) YOU NEED TO COMPILE ALL INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR WORK HISTORY, DRIVING RECORD, MED CARD, AND WHY YOU HAD THE SERVICE FAILURES. IF YOU THINK YOUR A GOOD DRIVER , A PERSON OF VALUE TO A FRIEGHT COMPANY ,--THEN YOU NEED TO TELL THEM. YOUR NOT GOING TO GET HIRED OVER THE COMPUTER ANYMORE. YOU HAVE TO DO THE RECRUITERS WORK. YOU HAVE TO PRESENT THE BACKGROUND CHECK, THE REPORTS, CURRENT EVERYTHING,-- IN HAND -- START KNOCKING ON DOORS AND SITTING FACE TO FACE WITH DECISION MAKERS. YOU HAVE TO SELL YOURSELF BACK INTO THE INDUSTRY. IF YOU DID SOMETHING WRONG, MADE MISTAKES,- YOU HAVE TO LIST THEM AND PROVIDE SOLUTIONS. EXAMPLE: SERVICE FAILURES--- OK YES I FAILED TO DELIVER MY LOAD ON TIME. I WAS NOT TRAINED OR I WAS NOT EQUIPED TO DO THE WORK CORRECTLY,--------BUT HERE IS WHAT I'VE DONE AND HOW I WILL CORRECT MY PERFORMANCE. I WILL BUY A GPS, I WILL CARRY A LAPTOP WITH WIFI SO I CAN SEE SATALITE VIEWS OF WERE I'M DROPPING THE LOAD. I WILL MANAGE MY TIME BETTER AND HERE IS HOW I ENTEND TO DO THAT. THIS INDUSTRY IS UNFORGIVING. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF DRIVERS WAITING IN LINE THAT HAVEN'T HAD THIER SHOOT AT " SERVICE FAILERS " YET. YOU HAVE TO CONVINCE A COMPANY THAT YOU ARE BETTER THAN THE NEW CDL SCHOOL GUY. YOU HAVE THE EXPERIANCE AND KNOWLEDGE TO SUCCEED. YOUR NOT GOING TO GET WORSE. YOUR GETTING BETTER. YOUR MORE VALUABLE NOW. YOU NEED TO HIT THE STREETS, KNOCK ON DOORS AND LET THIS COMPANIES KNOW YOU ARE COMMITTED.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU. SWIFT IS NOT A BAD COMPANY, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THE PEOPLE AT SWIFT JUMP OUT OF BED EVERY MORNING AND SAY---" OH BOY ! WHO CAN I SCREW TODAY---I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT. I DO BELIEVE WE ARE ALL LIMITED BY THE RULES. -----AND HOWEVER UNFARE OR IMPERSONAL, ITS ALL WE GOT. YOU HAVE TO SPEAK UP . YOU HAVE TO GET SOMEONES ATTENTION, SOMEONE WHO WILL SEE YOU AS YOU AND NO AN INSURANCE LIABILITY
YES ITS MY REAL NAME. I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE
Report Attachments
Ronny g
North hollywood,California,
USA
Question...and possible help for you.
#3Consumer Comment
Sat, October 31, 2009
I am not a lawyer...nor am I in the trucking industry...but I do understand workers rights and basic human rights.
I believe if a previous company you worked for gives you a bad reference and are stating anything untrue..it can be illegal and you may have grounds for compensation.
However, did you sign any documentation that you admit the accident was avoidable? If so..was this done under any kind of duress?
I know you do not want to deal with lawyers and suing your ex company...but perhaps a letter from a lawyer...or with a lawyers "letterhead" will make them change their ways.
The following information is from a Lawyer who knows more about your rights and these situations then I ever will...I hope it can help you...Best of luck.
It can be illegal for your former employer to give a bad reference
about you if he or she knows the negative reference is not true. So,
when ever giving a bad reference, the company giving it must be
truthful and completely accurate. If the reference is not truthful
and accurate, and it causes you to not get a job, then you can sue your
former employer for defamation. Here are the elements of defamation:
- Publication to a third party (the prospective employer);
- Of a false statement (the description of you as anything other than a conscientious, hardworking employee)
- That harms your reputation (you didnt get the job)
- Damages (the money you are not making because you didnt get the job)
Nari
Memphis,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Just company policy
#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, October 30, 2009
This is really common at Swift. No matter how big or small, the procedure is COVER IT UP, and of course blame it on someone else. I'm sorry to hear you were the victim in this practice, but trust me you are not the only one. It really works like that in all of Jerry Moyes companies, I saw a story on the news where employees of his aviation company were asked to lie to investigators over airplane incidents. It's all the same and saves the company money. I wish you luck in getting back into trucking. I left Swift for a much better compnay, and have been happy since. GOOD LUCK :)
