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Report: #31351

Complaint Review: Swift Transportation - Troutdale, OR. - Troutdale Oregon

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  • Reported By: Redlands CA
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  • Swift Transportation - Troutdale, OR. ? Sundil St. - Troutdale, OR. Troutdale, Oregon U.S.A.

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Another driver and myself were told to find an empty trailer in the yard to be used for the next load. Once we found one, we opened the doors and found smoke pouring out of the rear. We grabbed flashlights and fire ext. and entered the trailor to put out the fire.

After making our way to the front of the trailor and finding no fire, we left to report our find to the office. We were met with laughs and geers by both the shop and office workers who told us that it was just a "smoke bomb" thrown in to check for leaks.

I was having a had time breathing and my eyes were swollen almost shut from the smoke. I made my way to the shower and spent quite a while trying to get the smell, and smoke out of my eyes and lungs. I was later treated by a doctor, ten days later, I sought because of an ear infection I believe was brought on by the ordeal I went through.

I notified Swift who then made me go see their doctor to have my lungs checked who said all was fine.

I feel that it was wrong that they did not mark that trailor and did not take me to the doctor right away.

Duane
Redlands, California

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 09/28/2002 09:15 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/swift-transportation-troutdale-or/troutdale-oregon/swift-transportation-did-not-offer-medical-aid-after-smoke-inhalation-in-one-of-their-trai-31351. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
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18Consumer
1Employee/Owner

#19 Consumer Comment

all trucking jobs are a hard life

AUTHOR: Michael - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, July 10, 2006

once future truckers find out what over the road driving is all about companies like swift and just about all otr trucking companies simply will not be able to find drivers anywhere! at any price. its already getting that way thats why they will hirre just about anyone!

big money doing over the road? no way! once you break everything down for all the time you spend on duty not driving your lucky if you make 5.00 per hour. most otr drivers make less than minimum wage! and you risk your life and others life for this? trucking is a dangerous occupation it really is!

lets say your gone for two weeks out on the road, the co sticks you with some stranger to team up with and you take off for wherever, neither of you know when your coming home or where you will be going after the first dispatch. you could wind up on snow and ice going 10 mph for thirty cents a mile then sitting somewhere for a week waiting on a load for nothing! its called forced dispatch.
you finalyy get a paycheck for those two weeks you were over the road.after taxes expenses and other misc you might have 700-1000 dollars. 14 days 24 hours a day? and this is big money? theres no overtime pay seldom do you see a motel room or even a decent meal! sleep? almost impossible with a co driver and even if your solo your lucky to get 6 hours a night or day if that.

this puts everyone on the nations highways at big risk! just cause some guy had a clean driving record and is medicaly qualified doesnt mean its safe when you see big rigs rolling.

i am a retired driver and in my opinion the only trucking jobs worth having are local work hourly pay and union! period!

should be interesting to see where trucking jobs go in the future. probably railroads then jobs will be local and regional and drivers who are pros should be paid what they are worth!

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#18 Consumer Suggestion

Heather, you are the uninformed one here!

AUTHOR: Steve - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, July 01, 2006

Heather,

Your "facts" amuse me. I have extensive knowledge of the trucking industry with approx. 1.5million miles logged in a big truck and I have been an employee driver both hourly and mileage rates, a lease driver, and an owner operator partner.

Swift is where many drivers START , not where they end up as you stated. Swift is the single largest truck driver trainer in the world. Drivers go to Swift to get trained and get a CDL and get on the road for the first time. All swift drivers are paid a mileage rate. They do not have hourly paid or salaried drivers. Currently, just under .30 CPM [At 60mph= $18.00 an hour].

Wal-Mart DOES NOT hire drivers with less than 5 years verifiable experience. Wal-Mart does not train drivers at all. Most of Wal-Mart's drivers are paid hourly $11-$13 an hour is the usual starting pay depending on the part of the country.

Therefore Wal-Mart drivers DO NOT make far more than Swift drivers as you stated.

It is nice to have your facts straight before telling someone else they are misinformed! Do your homework.

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#17 Consumer Comment

Unskilled labor is paid its value

AUTHOR: Heather - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Friday, June 30, 2006

Walmart and Swift are not the Ox's they are made to be on this page. Walmart drivers haul the same freight Swift does, but Walmart drivers get paid twice as much, are held more accountable for their actions, and have a better safety record.

Because alot of drivers go to work for Swift as a last option because of mandatory work programs for the unskilled, comparing Swifts driver wages are like comparing apples to oranges. Swift wants to make a unskilled employee viable and proud to provide for their family.

In many cases by the time these drivers come to Swift, bad habits are already built. Swift can not teach responsibility, self respect, or accountability. If those tools are not brought to the table to a future employer, failure is assured by the employee. Its not a Swift pay rate issue, it is a issue of employess not wanting to work to meet the Walmart hiring criteria.

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#16 UPDATE Employee

Can you be less informed??

AUTHOR: Heather - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Friday, June 02, 2006

Experienced driver wages are at a all time high. Problem is, no one wants to sacrifice for higher wages any more. Corrent workforce wants more for doing less. Transportation is the greatest industry in the world. When was the last time you thought of how your milk got to the store? Or your daughters new clothes ended up at Target? Go get that crap for your self and see what you think? Are you man enough to "Hunt and Gather" truck drivers (ladies and men) are.

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#15 Consumer Comment

Big companies the problem

AUTHOR: Tom - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, August 25, 2005

The reason why frieght rates will not go up is because the big boys are trying to shut down the small guys. That will never happen since 70% percent of the freight is moved by the small guys. So just like walmart they have so many stores they are making pennies on the dollar and with so many stores those pennies add up to a fortune. The key is to keep your operating cost low. You have to keep your labor down. That is what swift and the other big boys do. Walmart employees do not make much at all. You look at any big truck company and you will find they are the lowest paid drivers. These comapanies use new drivers and pay them 22-26 a mile and that is how they do it. So with that cheap labor they turn around lower their freight rates to keep freight rates low for the smaller guys. Look at the company earnings and you will see that the profits for these companies are getting better. They are making the money not the driver.Go to swifts website and look at investors corner and you will see who is making the money. These big companies are behind putting Illegals behind the wheel and teaching english to commuicate with DOT.Here is the real enemy of the trucking industry. So the next time I hear a driver defend these guys I chalenge you to research the companies earnings and see who is really making the money. With the accident rate with new drivers something should be done about this. The government is in bed with big business and just turns the other way.

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#14 Consumer Suggestion

There is a reason these large companies pay such lousy wages. They aren't good businessmen.

AUTHOR: Paul - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Wednesday, August 24, 2005

If you're running a trucking company, you need to do one simple thing if you expect to make a good return on your investment.

You need to understand the costs to operate your business.

Then, you need to pass every one of those costs onto your customers.

For example, fuel. Right now, trucking companies are paying close to $3 a gallon in many areas of the country. Here in California, it's even higher. For those of you who never worked as drivers, let me explain. A loaded semi gets between 4 and 7 miles to the gallon. Hills and heavy loads drag the mileage down. You can expect to average around five, maybe five and a half.

So, you're talking a lot of money to run a load across the country.

Add in the price of the truck. Forty thousand, used. The trailer. Refrigerated loads take more fuel to run the refrigeration unit.

The road use taxes. Ten grand a year. Maybe more. The scale fees. The fuel taxes. The tolls.

I'm telling you, you're a freakin' rolling ATM on wheels when you're out running a truck. Everybody comes up and has their hand out.

So, you need to be a sharp business-person and pass all those costs onto your customers. After all, you're not out there to tour the countryside. A driver or owner-operator is only there for one reason. To make the money they need to feed themselves and their families.

But, right now, many small trucking companies are having a hard time doing that. They are unable to pass the costs onto their customers. There are many single truck operations as well as large companies that will haul for just about break-even on some freight. I've even seen companies that haul at a loss in order to get other loads that will make them a profit.

That's crazy!

If you can't pass the costs onto your customers and make a reasonable profit besides, what the hell's the point of doing the job? It's not fun when you've been in the seat for 8 hours and you still have another 300 miles left to go before you can sleep.

That's the problem in the trucking industry. Nobody will charge enough to make a good profit on their work and investment. They all are willing to bid the freight rates down so low that they can barely scrape by.

Even large fleets do this same nonsense. They do not add up all their costs and tack on a healthy profit. Instead, they run the loads for pennies on the dollar. That's exactly why they can't afford to pay the drivers anything. And, that's why they churn the drivers so much. The typical company is lucky if a new driver stays for 6 months. It's not unusual at all to see drivers who have been at half a dozen carriers in the last few years.

And, there's really no reason that truckers have to work like this. All your food comes by truck. The vegetables. The frozen dinners. The ground beef and the chicken breasts. All of it. Your crackers. Your sodas. Your fruits and salad greens.

If those d**n trucks ever stopped, your local supermarket would be empty within the week. Then, tell me how much you'd be willing to pay to have the drivers get new supplies out to your town. The sky's the limit when people are going hungry.

It's the same with everything else. The clothes you wear. The cell phone you use while you're being a traffic hazard. Even the electric you have is because a truck hauled in the parts necessary to keep the generators going. And, possibly some of the coal too.

So, the next time you see that big, old semi up ahead tying up your lane, remember that truck may very well be carrying the groceries that you will be eating tomorrow morning.

And, drivers. Do what I did. If you can't make a decent wage, walk away. Find something else. Even if you're an owner-operator, it won't be long before the shipping industries will be begging you to come back at a much higher rate of pay. You see, without long-haul trucks, this country would go back to the middle ages within a month.

When you decide you are worth more, you will get it. But as long as you keep your mouth shut and run the loads, nobody will pay one bit of attention to you. Show me one consumer who monitors 19 and listens to the truckers problems? Cryin' and cursing in the cab won't do it.

When enough drivers say hell no, I won't go, then the rates go up! Remember that as you're running into the Chicago produce market and you pull up to the toll booths and they hit you with their new increases.

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#13 REBUTTAL Individual responds

Paul you are so right

AUTHOR: Tom - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Wednesday, August 24, 2005

I loved driving at first but it soon turned into a nightmare. These companies are looking for CHEAP labor that is all. If they paid you what you are really worth than these companies would not make a profit period. I tried to hang in there thinking that it would get better but no it just got worse. I have never in my life seen so much disrespect than there is for drivers. I have tried to talk to drivers all over the country to come together and form a drivers union for longhaul but everybody blows it off. I can not understand how anybody would just say yes to low wages,terriable work condtions,broken promises to go home,total disrepect by the government,etc. With a union you could raise your wages to what you should be paid,keep these big companies at check,Keep the DOT in check, and see your family and not have to worry about paying the bills,Send back some of these stupid laws being pass to milk you for more money. The trucker moves the American economy and yet allows all this and will not make a stand. I do not think you guys really know what you could really do. I just do not get it. Well I am through with it. I am so tired of you guys defending these big companies like they really care about you! If they could they would put all the freight on the rails and lose you or pay an illegal 20 cents a mile to drive. Wake up!

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#12 Consumer Suggestion

You can make money as a truck driver. But, you need to understand what is involved and if you can handle it.

AUTHOR: Paul - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, July 25, 2005

Right now, many people are out of a job because of cheap foreign labor. In many areas, truck driving jobs are the only ones that are available. So, you may be considering becoming a driver.

The best thing you can do is learn the truth before you jump into it.

First, what kind of car driver are you? You had better be able to drive a car safely or else they will never hand you a truck. They check your driving record with the motor vehicle department.

Next, what about driving at night? Any problems with vision or seeing at night? You can expect to do a fair amount of night time driving. You may get lucky and run mostly in daylight. But, sooner or later you will have to run at night.

What about sitting for long hours? You can expect to stay in the driver's seat for 4 to 5 hours at a time without a break. Then, you stop for 10 minutes and use a public bathroom. Then, it's right back into the truck for another 4 to 5 hours. Any problem with that?

Can you live in the confined space of a truck? Want to see where you'll be living? Go to CBKENWORTH. That's the site name. On the home page, click on kenworth, on the left. When the page opens, click on the little pictures at the bottom to make them bigger. That's what the inside of the truck looks like. Can you handle that?

What about home time? Expect to stay out three weeks at a time. They tell you two weeks. But, don't count on it. Can you be gone for three weeks?

Now, let's talk money. A beginner can take home between $300 and $1200 a week. It all depends on how long and how fast you drive. You are paid by the mile. Someone making $300 is goofing off a lot. Someone making $1200 is running the truck as far and as fast as they possibly can each day. At $1200, you would have to break the federal laws that tell you how long to drive each day.

Most of your time is spent behind the wheel. With power steering, power brakes and cruise control, you might think it would be easy. But the noise and the vibration take their toll after a while. The trucks ride pretty smooth, but they aren't the same as an Escalade.

Here's the best thing I can tell you. Go to google and search for: newbie driver. Click on the top site and read everything on it. There's an easy 4 hours or more of reading about the trucking job.

Next, go to the home page again and put this behind the newbiedriver web address: /journal/. There is a 3 year journal that a woman driver wrote. Very interesting reading. Look at the pictures too.

Then, search google for diary of a swift driver. The top page in google is it. Read it.

Search for truck driving and truck driving journal.

Read everything. Then make your decision. For those of you who want to sign on, search truck driving job. Then, search needs training on the job site.

You know, you can make 1/8 of a million a year if you're willing to drive in Iraq. Or, you could get your head chopped off.

Like all things in life, you roll the dice and take your chances.

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#11 Consumer Comment

Paul is on target and speaks the truth!!! Go hourly or not at all

AUTHOR: Bsmjem - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, July 25, 2005

Paul, I respect your opion and know you know where it's at. You not only speak the truth, you lived it!!! Congrats to you driver, for being real!!!!

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#10 Consumer Suggestion

Trucking is a hard way to make money. Get the facts before you rush out and sign on as a driver or a lease operator.

AUTHOR: Paul - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, July 21, 2005

I drove trucks long-haul for about two years. In that time, I worked for about a dozen companies. Let me tell you just what I found out in that time.

First, you will need training and a special license to drive the trucks. Typically, you will go to a school for about 2 to 4 weeks. They teach you the basics of truck driving, and help you get a commercial license.

In exchange, you agree to pay them between $2,000 and $8,000.

I was lucky. I didn't pay anything. The school financed my tuition. To me, that means free.

But, you might not be so lucky. You might end up paying thousands out of your pocket for this dream job.

Once you have a license, some companies will hire you. They like rookies because they will work cheap. Starting wage is approximately 30 cents a mile. There's no hourly pay, or minimum wage. You are paid by the number of miles that each trip requires.

Let me show the first rip-off. Let's say that it's 3,000 miles between Seattle and Gainesville, FL. You won't be paid the actual miles that you drive. Instead, you are paid based on what a routing computer says. Typically, it comes up 10% short. In this case, you lose 300 miles, or $90 in wages.

And, that's just on one trip. You can expect to drive 3,000 miles each week. You lose $90 each week.

Anytime you're not driving, you aren't making a dime.

You inspect the truck everyday. No pay for doing that. But, you better do it well because the Department of Transportation will check your work. If they find something wrong, you will get a ticket. It cost me $125 because two brakes were out of adjustment once.

Next, you will sit around while they load your truck. Some shippers take 30 minutes to load you. Others take 30 hours. You sit in your truck and wait. No pay for that.

It's typical to sit around waiting for 2 to 5 hours until you get loaded. By then, it's late afternoon. Now, the company expects you to drive all night until you get to where you are supposed to deliver the load.

In other words, you stay awake all day and late into the early hours of the morning.

Everything revolves around the loads. Your food. Your sleeping. You wait until you have some free time before you eat or sleep.

They run the new drivers hard. Sure, in school they tell you about a maximum of 11 hours of working. But, no company, except Swift, ever allows you to do that. They give you appointment times for your pickups and your deliveries. You either are on time or out of a job. Just that simple.

If there is a 4 hour delay in loading, that's your problem. You are still expected to deliver on the appointment time.

Here's how the job typically works. You run the truck as hard and as fast as it will go. You learn how to shift it with the engine brake on because it's faster that way. You always run at least 5 over the speed limit. Many times, at night, you can listen to other drivers on the radio. They will warn you about police radar locations. Once you know there aren't any, you drive as fast as the truck will go. Typically 68 or so. They are governed. Ungoverned trucks will do 100.

Basically, you stay in the seat and hold the throttle to the floor and steer around stuff. At night, it's mostly trucks on the road. They are all doing the same thing as you. But, during the day, there is automobile traffic. Your job is to stay at top speed as much as possible. You try not to hit the cars. Some new drivers aren't so good at that. First major accident usually gets you fired.

They keep records on all your accidents and tickets. One accident and usually nobody else will hire you. You're allowed 3 tickets.

There really are only two types of drivers. The long-time career guys take it slow and safe. They don't kill themselves. At night, they come in and eat in a restaurant. They do 2,000 to 3,000 miles a week.

Then, there are the people like me. I push for as many miles as I can do. In a good week, I can double what others do. In a slower week, I still get 50% more. You want to try for 750 a day. Most days, you can do that if you push hard.

If you don't do big miles, the companies won't like you as much. They don't make as much money off you. Plus, you won't make much either. Some guys take home $400 a week. They are out on the road, away from their families for $400 a week. Bad deal.

A beginner can take home $1000 each week, but you really have to push the truck hard to do that. Push too hard and you end up getting killed.

Why do you think I quit?

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#9 UPDATE Employee

Name of the game

AUTHOR: Swift - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, July 21, 2005

It is very obvious that if the trucks aren't moving than you are losing money, that is why recruting tries to push people out on the road in order to keep the freight moving and keep our customers happy. But nobody is holding a gun to their head and telling them they have to do this and they have to do that.

A lot of Swift's customers are very strict as far as freight being delivered on time, and if you are an O/O the charge to Swift from the customer might be deducted from your check. For example, on of our contracts states that for every 15 minutes the load is late Swift will be charged $10,000.

But you can't let individuals actions speak on behalf of the entire company. That is why I said that at least the safety department and the claims department are trying. I'm sure you know what a safety hold is.

Thats why when there is an accident and drivers don't report them, they are terminated on the spot and if they do report it but won;t cooperate with the departments they are also terminated on the spot. Many changes are happening at Swift with Bob in charge now, and expect more in the future. So don;t let the past cloud the future.

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#8 UPDATE Employee

Name of the game

AUTHOR: Swift - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, July 21, 2005

It is very obvious that if the trucks aren't moving than you are losing money, that is why recruting tries to push people out on the road in order to keep the freight moving and keep our customers happy. But nobody is holding a gun to their head and telling them they have to do this and they have to do that.

A lot of Swift's customers are very strict as far as freight being delivered on time, and if you are an O/O the charge to Swift from the customer might be deducted from your check. For example, on of our contracts states that for every 15 minutes the load is late Swift will be charged $10,000.

But you can't let individuals actions speak on behalf of the entire company. That is why I said that at least the safety department and the claims department are trying. I'm sure you know what a safety hold is.

Thats why when there is an accident and drivers don't report them, they are terminated on the spot and if they do report it but won;t cooperate with the departments they are also terminated on the spot. Many changes are happening at Swift with Bob in charge now, and expect more in the future. So don;t let the past cloud the future.

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#7 UPDATE Employee

Name of the game

AUTHOR: Swift - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, July 21, 2005

It is very obvious that if the trucks aren't moving than you are losing money, that is why recruting tries to push people out on the road in order to keep the freight moving and keep our customers happy. But nobody is holding a gun to their head and telling them they have to do this and they have to do that.

A lot of Swift's customers are very strict as far as freight being delivered on time, and if you are an O/O the charge to Swift from the customer might be deducted from your check. For example, on of our contracts states that for every 15 minutes the load is late Swift will be charged $10,000.

But you can't let individuals actions speak on behalf of the entire company. That is why I said that at least the safety department and the claims department are trying. I'm sure you know what a safety hold is.

Thats why when there is an accident and drivers don't report them, they are terminated on the spot and if they do report it but won;t cooperate with the departments they are also terminated on the spot. Many changes are happening at Swift with Bob in charge now, and expect more in the future. So don;t let the past cloud the future.

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#6 UPDATE Employee

Name of the game

AUTHOR: Swift - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, July 21, 2005

It is very obvious that if the trucks aren't moving than you are losing money, that is why recruting tries to push people out on the road in order to keep the freight moving and keep our customers happy. But nobody is holding a gun to their head and telling them they have to do this and they have to do that.

A lot of Swift's customers are very strict as far as freight being delivered on time, and if you are an O/O the charge to Swift from the customer might be deducted from your check. For example, on of our contracts states that for every 15 minutes the load is late Swift will be charged $10,000.

But you can't let individuals actions speak on behalf of the entire company. That is why I said that at least the safety department and the claims department are trying. I'm sure you know what a safety hold is.

Thats why when there is an accident and drivers don't report them, they are terminated on the spot and if they do report it but won;t cooperate with the departments they are also terminated on the spot. Many changes are happening at Swift with Bob in charge now, and expect more in the future. So don;t let the past cloud the future.

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#5 Consumer Suggestion

That's a complete lie. Swift hires many new drivers fresh out of truck driving school and puts them behind the wheel with little training.

AUTHOR: Paul - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, July 19, 2005

I was at swift. That's how I know this.

I came right out of truck driving school. I was supposed to go out and work with a trainer for 3 weeks. Unfortunately, many of the experienced drivers refuse to train.

So, swift simply forces the situation on them. They put a beginner in the truck and order the experienced driver to teach him how to drive.

Naturally, that doesn't work very well. The experienced driver treats the beginner badly. Many times, they won't let them drive. They certainly won't spend much time doing any training. Why should they, swift doesn't pay much to the trainer.

Swift expects the experienced driver to train for next to nothing. It's no surprise that they get exactly what they paid for.

Unfortunately, the beginner ends up behind the wheel of a semi. Out on the road, hauling freight. Driving the same roads as the public uses. All with little or no actual experience.

Now, I ask you, how safe is that?

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#4 UPDATE Employee

Swift's Side

AUTHOR: Swift - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, July 19, 2005

I work for Swift Transportation and first let me start off by saying that the reason that we have our own doctors is because a lot of doctors overcharge us for medical attention for our drivers.

Second to Lynda, if our driver were to pass out and cause an accident, the first thing that we would do is hire a defense counsel not only for Swift but also for the driver. If our driver is imprisoned, Swift would be the one to pay the bail, and not to mention take him to a hotel and fly him back to his home terminal.

Third Swift has a lot of money at stake everytime a truck with two drivers and cargo rolls down the road. I assume that you have insurance on your car and that you have a decuctible, which is probably no more that $2,500? Want to guess what Swift's decuctible is? $17 million!!!!

EVERYTIME there is an accident before it goes to Swift's excess insurance carrier we must pay $10 million for the accident, $1 million for the cargo and $3 million per driver.

With that type of an exposure Swift (at least Safety and accident claims) is doing everything in its power to make sure that drivers are fit for the road.

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#3 Consumer Comment

OSHA rules/regulations

AUTHOR: Kent - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, March 03, 2005

Shawn: One question: was this person an O/O or company driver. Does make a difference. What he (they) did was irresponsible, but, Swift was negligent in not following OSHA rules/regulations. The trailer should have been marked and sealed. As with any company: If you must work on/repair a piece of equipment that might be used by another employee, and this "work" or repair, might present a "Hazard" to others you must use a "LOCK-OUT/TAG-OUT" method to secure the equipment. Swift did not do this, they should be sanctioned by OSHA. True the "injuries" to the parties involved are their solo responsibilty. Swift should not be held responsible. But, Swift should be held responsible/fined for violating the OSHA Code of SAFTEY.

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#2 Consumer Suggestion

You are not a firefighter

AUTHOR: Shawn - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, January 25, 2005

I don't want to sound like a jerk, but what this driver did demonstrates a complete lack of common sense. If an empty trailer has smoke pouring out of the back, why would anyone run inside the trailer with flashlights and fire extinguishers? Common sense tells you to back off, alert the office or call 911. Its an empty trailer, but whether its empty or not, it is insured by the carrier. Even a firefighter would not rush into the trailer unless he was equipped with a turnout, mask and air supply.
Worse yet, instead of accepting blame for making an unwise decision, he blames Swift for not marking the trailer. Sorry, but this is not Swift's fault, the driver should have used his head, and he made the wrong decision.

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#1 Consumer Comment

Smoke Bombs? Rip-off Report Consumer Advocate info

AUTHOR: Lynda - Rip-off Report Consumer Advocate - ()

POSTED: Tuesday, October 01, 2002

Duane,

Wow, nice guys. OK here is the deal don't worry you will be OK. First of all they should have had the trailer doors sealed/marked/taped with a warning that a active smoke bomb was inside. This is a OSHA policy/guideline/rule.

If you went to your doctor and he said you are injured then you went to their doctor who they pay to tell folks they are not injured you need to take stock of how you are feeling.

Can you drive?

Are you in any form of discomfort that may cause you not to operate your truck safely? Headaches? Lungs hurt?

They are trying to avoid a compensation claim and a lawsuit that may follow. If you are injured, you are injured there is nothing you can do about it. Go to a competent doctor and get well. File for workman's compensation, that's what they hold it for. How is your CO-driver? Does he have the same symptoms? Is he unable to work also?

Do not ever let anyone tell you that you can drive a truck. You know how you feel. They can not give you a bad rap with DAC for filing a legitimate claim for benefits. They can not fire you either. They may tell you this, but if they do I would suggest you hire an attorney.

Worst case scenario:
You are driving down the road and you start coughing so hard you pass out and you run over a car and kill 3 people. Is SWIFT going to jail? No you are. If you are sick, get well then go back to work.

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