Swift Transportation Jobs: Driver Pay, Requirements, and Reviews

With more than 16,000 trucks and 60,000 trailers operating out of 40 full-service terminals, Swift Transportation is North America’s largest full-truckload motor carrier.

In business since 1966, Swift Transportation offers a variety of truck driving jobs, from OTR, regional, and local to reefer, dry van, flatbed, and more. It’s this sheer variety of driving jobs and schedules and Swift’s commitment to “supporting every driver, every mile, every day” that makes Swift a popular choice for both new and experienced truck drivers.

Continue reading to find out more about being a truck driver for Swift, including salary and training information, types of available jobs, reviews from current drivers, and more.

Types of Swift Transportation Truck Driving Jobs

Swift offers many types of driving jobs and aims to attract workers of all abilities, from those who have never driven a truck before to seasoned truck driving experts. The company offers four different categories of trucking jobs:

• Over the Road (OTR): OTR drivers work coast-to-coast routes and are away from home for two to three weeks at a time. They typically return home for a 34-hour rest period between jobs.
• Regional: Regional drivers are on the road for around one week, returning home between shifts. They normally work routes that cross several states but stick to one region of the country.
• Local: These drivers work local routes for one or two days at a time and usually return home daily. They generally stay within 200 miles of their home.
• Dedicated: Dedicated drivers are allocated specific routes and work them regularly. The time spent on the road can vary from job to job, but the work is regular and consistent once a route is confirmed.

Swift also offers several different styles of working, including solo (driving alone), team (sharing the driving with a colleague), mentor (experienced workers guide new CDL drivers).

This variety, combined with the different types of trucks available—such as dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, and heavy haul—means that Swift’s truck drivers truly can tailor their driving experiences to suit their needs and career goals.

Swift Transportation Driver Pay

With so many different types of driving, the average pay for a truck driver at Swift can vary greatly from one employee to the next. Variables such as the type of freight hauled, the length of the route, and the driver’s experience can influence the amount earned and whether the driver works solo or as part of a team.

Swift Transportation pays drivers per trip, based on a rate per mile. Swift also compensates drivers for any other work performed as part of their route, such as weighing loads, filling out paperwork, and equipment maintenance. Swift uses a sliding pay scale based on driver experience and length of haul, so as drivers progress in their career, their pay should also increase.

In April 2021, Swift announced wide-reaching pay increases for its workers, stating that experienced drivers may be able to earn more than 50-60 cents per mile.

Swift Transportation Driver Pay by Job Type

Across the United States, the average annual salary for a truck driver in 2021 was $50,340. Swift truck drivers tend to earn well above the national average, depending on the specific position. Drivers who earn the top 25% stand to make very comfortable salaries at Swift Transportation.

Wage data calculated from Swift Transportation’s full-time driver paychecks in 2022.

Swift Transportation Driver Perks and Benefits

As well as offering an attractive salary package, Swift also provides its employees a vast number of additional perks and benefits.

Once employed, Swift makes several assistance programs available to its workers. This includes a hardship fund for employees who have encountered unexpected financial distress, a $2,500 per year scholarship program to provide school funding for the children of Swift employees, and community grants, which encourage Swift employees to engage with and assist their local neighborhoods.

Other employee perks include medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision plans, alongside a 401(k) and stock purchase options.

The company offers several other enjoyable perks—such as allowing drivers to take their dog (or their spouse, child, or a friend) on the road with them. The company runs a Million Miler program, which recognizes drivers who have reached one, two, three, and four million miles of haulage with gifts, special recognitions, and parties held in their honor. Million Milers also get to choose the color of their truck and are eligible to receive periodic performance bonuses.

The Swift Driver Academy provides full scholarships to military veterans, first responders, and correctional officers, plus their dependents and spouses. In addition, it runs a tuition assistance program that allows drivers to earn their CDL with little to no upfront costs and offers those who trained elsewhere a tuition reimbursement program.

Swift Transportation Truck Driver Requirements

Swift Transportation is widely recognized as one of America’s best-known haulage companies. To maintain this reputation, it insists that its drivers fulfill several requirements before they are eligible for work. All drivers must:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Have (or be about to earn) a Class A commercial driver’s license
• If a CDL A holder, have no DUI within the past 10 years; if not a CDL A holder, have no DUI within the past five years
• Have no more than one preventable accident in the past two years
• Have no major accidents within the past five years
• Have no more than two moving violations in the past two years
• Be able to pass a DOT physical and drug test

Applying to Drive for Swift Transportation: Tips and Advice

Both new and experienced drivers can apply for Swift Transportation jobs. Ready to get started? You can take several routes to join the company as a truck driver.

Experienced Driver Applications to Swift

If you’re already an experienced truck driver and hold your Class A CDL, you can search for a job that matches your desired location and experience on the Swift careers portal. You’ll complete the application to join Swift online, answering several questions related to your license history, employment history, any past traffic incidents or violations, and your military history (if applicable). Make sure you have that information ready before you begin.

Swift Driver Academy for New Drivers

If you’re new to truck driving and still need to earn your CDL, you can attend a company-paid training program through Swift Driver Academy in Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. Swift has also partnered with CDL schools in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico, New York, and Oregon, enabling learners to take part in a Swift-approved program.

The cost of the program varies depending on location and can be paid for upfront or financed. If financed, Swift will deduct a small amount from the driver’s wages each week for the first year of their employment until the debt is repaid. Swift will then reimburse the amount back into the driver’s pay every week so that after 104 weeks (two full years) of employment, the training is free. Those who paid upfront will also have their fees reimbursed over their first year of employment.

Once you’ve signed up, the program takes around three weeks to complete. You can expect to spend time both in class and behind the wheel covering the following topics.

During these first weeks of mentored training, drivers earn around $500 a week, as explained by one reviewer on Indeed: “Are you paid? Not during the three-week academy training. Two of the three days of orientation are paid, and you are paid $500 a week for the 200-hour mentor training period.”

Swift Transportation Reviews of Truck Driving Jobs

Drivers at Swift Transportation seem to enjoy the family-like atmosphere—but some feel that management could be more supportive of drivers.

“Surprisingly supportive staff members always ready and willing to help during any sort of business or personal problems you may have,” says a former driver in an Indeed review. “I highly recommend Swift Transportation to anyone. Swift management team is literally like family they always help you or try to at least point you in the right direction to get the right help you need.”

Another former driver reports on Indeed, “I’m happy to share that I loved the opportunity to travel the nation. I met many other drivers that were extremely kind & helpful. Had the pleasure of seeing ALL SEASONS & gained more driving skills than I could imagine. Even driving through snow storms in Northern South Dakota. Unfortunately, operations side of the company was extremely inconsistent. Payroll would withhold my earnings and my direct management wasn’t helpful & cared about their drivers safety. The trucks are not kept up on their maintenance and I was left stranded multiple times.”

A current employee explains, “I’ve spent seven years with Swift, six years the first time and I’ve been with them now just a little over a year. They have been fair and honest. I could not ask for more. There are drivers willing to work and there are drivers who want almost everything handed to them. Show a little incentive and you will be treated accordingly. Training videos and really good driver leaders can go a long way. Use your head, pay close attention to safety and you can make a great career with Swift.”

Alternative Companies to Consider

While Swift is the largest full-truckload trucking company in the country, and they don’t have steep experience requirements to apply to be a truck driver, there are plenty of alternatives should you decide to build up your experience before moving to Swift.

You can research what type of truck driving job you’d eventually like to pursue at Swift and then look for similar roles at other industry-leading firms such as Ryder, Schneider, and YRC Freight.