All Swift drivers must meet or exceed specific guidelines relating primarily to safety records, driving experience and personal evaluations, including a physical examination and mandatory drug testing. Upon being hired, a driver is trained in all phases of Swift's policies and operations, safety techniques, and fuel-efficient operation of the equipment. Swift bases its drivers at its regional terminals and monitors each driver's location on its computer system. Swift uses this information to schedule the routing for its drivers so that the drivers can return home frequently.

Job Summary And Purpose:
 
To transport and deliver freight by driving gasoline or diesel-powered tractor-trailer combinations long distances.

Job Duties:

• Hook and unhook trailers from the tractor itself or from converter gears, including pushing and/or pulling converter gear into place and cranking lever to raise and lower landing gear on semi-trailers and/or the front suspension on converter gears.
• Load and unload trailer, either individually or with assistance of dock workers, with or without mechanical freight -handling equipment.
• Perform frequent climbing, lifting, pulling, pushing, and carrying of freight.
• Secure load to trailer by tying down, chaining, blocking, supporting cargo.
• Inspect truck for defects and safe operating condition before, during and after trips and submit a written report on the condition of the truck at the end of each trip or tour of duty.
• Check shipping papers to determine the nature of load and to check for the presence of hazardous materials.
• When hazardous materials are present:
  
  
  • Check for proper preparation of shipping papers;
  • Check for agreement between information on shipping and markings and labeling on freight; and
  • Ascertain that vehicle is properly placarded.
• Install and remove tire chains as required by weather conditions.
• Drive truck to destination in accordance with Federal regulations, normally in periods of up to 10 hours of driving followed by all off duty period of at least 8 consecutive hours.
• Plan/schedule trips by reading and understanding maps, calculate distance, weights, hours, and measures of loads and destinations.
• Apply knowledge of commercial driving and skills in maneuvering at varying speeds in difficult situations, such as heavy traffic, inclement weather or in tight loading docks.
• Ensure that all shipping documentation (i.e. manifest, security seal sheet, bills of lading, shipping orders or freight bills, etc.) required to move with shipments is available for inspection and that appropriate paperwork accompanies shipment when delivered.
• Maintain records for compliance with State and Federal regulations including drivers' log, records of fuel purchases, mileage records, and other records required by law.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to sit and remain alert while driving for a continuous period of up to 10 hours.
• Must be able to shift manual transmission and operate foot pedals.
• Must be able to perform occasional squatting to handle and position freight.
• Must be able to perform occasional crouching to handle and position freight
• Must be able to enter and exit the vehicle's cab 8 to 10 times a day. Cab floor level is generally from 36 to 66 inches above ground level, with entry and exit achieved using the 3 Point Stance Procedure with the assistance of various configurations of steps and handholds; also requires occasional bending, twisting, climbing, squatting, crouching and balancing.
• Must be able to perform frequent pushing of freight weighing up to 200 pounds on a dolly or cart as well as occasional pushing of freight weighing up to 100 pounds without a mechanical aid.
• Must be able to perform frequent pulling of freight up to 200 pounds OD a dolly or cart as well as occasional pulling of freight ,weighing up to 100 pounds without a mechanical aid.
• Must be able to frequently perform lifting and carrying of freight weighing up to 75 pounds of varying size and shape a distance up to 56 feet.
• Must be able to frequently reach for freight at waist level and occasionally reach for freight above shoulder height or below waist level.
• Must be able to occasionally reach above shoulder level and below waist level for maneuvering and directing the controls to operate the truck.
• Must be able to help load and unload full trailers of freight weighing as much as 50,000 pounds. This could involve moving 100 pound containers to and from floor level to carts, stacks, conveyors on platforms over four feet high- It may also involve tipping 600 pound drums on their rims and balancing them into position.
• Must be able to stow cartons and other merchandise over your head that weights as much as 60 pounds each. This type of activity could precede or follow as much as 30 hours driving.
• Must be able to install and remove tire chains when required due to inclement weather. Must be able to spend at least 20% of the day standing and 10% of the day walking on surfaces such as concrete, wood and metal, and sometimes on slippery and wet surfaces.
• Must be able to hook/unhook various commercial vehicle combinations, manually lower and raise landing gear requiring up to 100 foot pounds of torque exerted on the landing gear crank, operate the fifth wheel release lever requiring a pull force of up to 105 pounds, lock and release pintlehooks, attach and release safety chains, open and close cargo doors, climb into and out of vehicles, fuel vehicles and check engine oil and coolant levels.

Work Environment:

• Drivers may be subject to irregular work schedules, temperature and weather extremes, long trips, short notice for assignment of a trip, tight delivery schedules, delays en-route and other stresses and fatigue related to driving a large commercial motor vehicle on crowded streets and highways in all kinds of weather.
• Drivers typically spend 70% -- 80% of on duty time in the truck. While driving, operators are exposed to noise and vibration levels which may be higher than those typically experienced in passenger cars.

**Statements included in this job description do not necessarily represent an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require different tasks be performed as circumstances change. **

New Drivers
 
All new drivers must pass a safety test and have a current Commercial Drivers License. In addition, Swift has ongoing driver efficiency and safety programs to ensure that its drivers comply with its safety procedures.

Swift is actively involved with the development and retention of drivers. Recognizing the need for qualified drivers, Swift has contracted with driver-training schools, which are managed by outside organizations as well as local community colleges throughout the country.

• Candidates for the schools must be:
  
  
  • At least 23 years old (21 years old with military service),
  • Have a high school education or equivalent
  • Pass a basic skills test
  • Pass the U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT") physical examination, which includes drug and alcohol screening
• Students are required to complete three weeks of classroom study and driving range time and a six to eight week, on-the-road training program.

Student Training Program:
 
Basic Requirements:

• At least 23 years of age.
• Must have a Valid Drivers License for the last 12 months.
• No DWl or DUI in the last 5 years.
• Need 3 years verifiable work experience (If self-employed bring documentation).
• Must pass DOT physical and drug screen.
• Maintain neat appearance and personal hygiene at all times.
• All gaps in employment must be explained and verified.
• Include schools, self-employment and unemployment in your work history Unemployment must be verified with 2 letters on Company Letterhead if it was 6 months or more.
• You must include all phone numbers on your reference. For employer's no longer in business, send a copy of your W-2's to verify work experience.
• A long form DD-214 must verify military service if within the last 5 years.

Professional Driving Academy:

• 20 days training school
• $150.00 Registration fee due on the first day of classes (Cash)
• 8 weeks over the road with a trainer
• Students will earn a minimum of $350.00 a week while over the road with a trainer After completion of 4weeks of training, second 4 weeks of training is with another driver at $.32 cents per mile (split is $.16 per driver)
• Students will be assigned own tractor after successfully completing all aspects of training and passing final road test
• School Cost $3,000.00
• Registration Fee $ 150.00
• School Cash Price $3,000 (To be refunded after 6 mos. of continuous employment as a full-time company driver)