I worked for swift for 1 week short of 3 years. Had i made 1 more week i would have gotten 2cpm raise and 1000 dollar vacation bonus. I started as a student driver out of school with swift despite what id heard at 26cpm. As my time got longer they did everything they could think of to get me to quit so i could be replaced by a new driver at 26 cpm and a fat check from the govt swift gets to hire and train people.
I was lied to about most everything i heard in orientation concerning how much they value their drivers and want them comfortable, happy well rested as possible and the miles and benefits package.
I was left sitting for days as they would try to starve me out of my job. I cant begin to count the paychecks i had that were less than 100 dollars and most of those were zero. They threatned me in boise idaho to move my car from the fla. Terminal employee lot or they would tow it in 3 days. They expected the driver to sit in extreme weather situations without idling the truck. I was coeced into driving an unsafe vehicle on several occasions. These situations became more and more in number as my 3rd year approached.
I never had an at fault accident only one minor traffic ticket no safety violations my logbooks were always error free my employee reviews were good. They could not come up with a legitimate reason to fire me and deny me unemployment benefits until aug, of 2009.
I was in north carolina ata truckstop when an anonymous caller called swift and reported his 12 yr old son saw a black man with a cellophane baggie of drugs going to my truck. They didnt say anything to me. They dispatched me to south carolina to pick up a load and take it to west virginia this was on aug. 19th 2009. Being under suspicion of smoking crack as i was later told i drove my load to west va. Then drove to columbus ohio on aug 21.
I was brought into the terminal confronted with their crack "story" and was told they would search my truck which i had no problem with. They came back 10 mionutes later carrying 2 unopened beers in a baggie which were not mine yet i was terminated on the spot, told to clean out my truck of 3 yrs of belongings and get off their property.
I live in and work out of florida. I was left with all my things, no money no transportation and 1000 miles from home. I filed for unemployment compensation right away and after 6 weeks won the case.in that time i collected my case file and found swifts own documents saying i was actually terminated on aug 19th. I was never drug and or alcohol tested as is required by fmscr regulations federal law and swifts own policy.
I was allowed to haul freight under their ssuspicion of drug use after i was placed on safety hold, which is also in violation of federal law as well as their company policy. I should have been removed from the vehicle and tested right then and there not alllowed to drive 800 miles. Does swift care so little about public safety dot regulations and law just to save a few measly dollars.
I know this sounds extreme but why else would they do all this 1 week before my anniversary. Im 50 years old i dont smoke crack or use any drugs nor had i ever possesed alcohol in my truck. I only drank in casinos or restaurants and never drove until a safe time had passed. Never had a dui my whole life never failed swifts or anyone elses drug screens. Had 6 by swift in 3 yrs by the way and all negative.
Swift has put this erroneous information in my DAC report and because of their slanderous accusations and their negligent actions have made it impossible to gain emplyment at the only job ive ever really enjoyed. They continue to fight unemployment with frivolous appeals which stalls my benefits and they continue to give false derogotory information out to other companies.
I never did anything to deserve this except fail to quit and move on to another company so they could save their almight 13 cpm and thousand bucks.
If anyone else out there has had a similar or bizarre case of discrimination and slander caused by swift lets get together possibly get a class action suit. I am already searching for an attoorney willing to take on the corporate giant. I am willing to share information with anyone who needs it to help right some of the wrongs done by swift. They should have to play by the same rules we truckers have to.
0 comments