Swift Transportation Services
Reviews and Complaints

boo hoo your stinkin state needs to update there roads.

I was a driver for 6 months and had to nag to stay busy. I was fired because I became insulin dependant diabetic and now they are fighting my unemployment.
Before that I was averaging 2000 miles a week but taking home $200 - 300 per week. Driving trucks that would break down without loaners, I was Heavy Haul out of Sumner) then they would stiff me on breakdown pay. Not to mention the milage shorts. They would average the load miles and every load was 10 -20 miles shorter than actual.
They also have no respect for their drivers.
Then add this to the hardship on the family for me being away a week at a time...
SWIFT is the worst company I have ever worked for and I have worked for some real flakes!

yes. i agree Swift caters to (more so these days) to the pets (which are relatives to whomever works in the planning dept or dispatch) owner operators (which are responsible for most of their own fueling) or which ever driver puts the most grease in ones palm (kick backs)

Swift also blatantly practices ripping off the new drivers by way of cpm. They can't seem to make up their minds on what story to tell of how mileage is paid per load and there is not a referrence anywhere in any of the written material or correspondance they hand to you when first hired
in oreintation you're told interstate miles.
then after you've been driving for awhile and notice that your pay seems too low for what your hauling upon examination of your pay check stubs, your told
something called "zip code" miles then the last statement that was made to me by my not too competant DM was that it was the miles stated on the qual-comm and it's up to the driver to check the map and make sure if the miles being paid were close enough...sheeesh! what a bunch of crooks. And they do it with such confidence which leads me to believe they have done this for years and never have been called to the proverbial carpet on it or that they are such a corporate hog and have the money to do what they like - you know the old adage - money talks, ### walks

Attended training at Swift Transportation in Phoenix in June/July of 2021 under VA scholarship. Was rushed through training and received my CDL in 3 weeks. Assigned to mentor for 4 weeks and found myself team driving while mentor slept by my second week. Made $13, 000 gross by end of October. Terminated last week in October. Received bill for $6000 from Paramount Financial in mid November. Feelss like I was the victim of a scam.

thats how they are get a driver in a trk so they get 5000 from gov and then find away to get rid of him and do it again.

Me also! Askeds for a board review and didn't get one! Now I'm dealing with this whole bad liscence deal!

Yes, I agree. Had same experience. An Accident and Swift terminated me on the spot, not has rumors going around that I was asleep at the wheel. I am a dedicated driver/worker and am very upset with the way I was treated. I am ready to file a law suit against Swift with anyone.

It's sad that so many drivers have are having problems out there. Worse of all, most on this sight and others are loser union reps that bash and slash nonunion companies. These tactics are the Norm for unions and most with half a brain cell can see through their BS and realize what unions are really about. To those that have been fooled by false post from union reps; know that, most if not all of the post made by union reps are a scam. Reality check, they don't drive a truck in most cases. To the drivers that research be for making a decision, continue using that 1% more intellect that it takes to get ahead of the game and see through union BS post.

I am a current Swift Driver. I am also retired from another career in law enforcement and I really do not have to worry much about the job security. I drive to see the country but I also believe in a good work ethic so I do my best even when I am frustrated. This job can get the best of you if you let it. Like any other labor service, not much is required in terms of education to do the job, so if you expect that kind of professional treatment, you in the wrong business. The same goes for most of the "management" in the company. DM's are not really managers, for the most part they are your mouthpiece to the real mangement which is the Terminal Manager and the Dept. Heads, Like maintenence, fleet, etc. These are the people who have the juice at the local level. If you notice, there is no real avenue to upper management unless you are bold enough to find names and email addresses. And in cases where those people are contacted by drivers, they tend to try and hide by contacting the Terminal Manager to intimidate you and your complaint. On the other hand, if you are merely posting your frustration on this website then you are not doing much to help yourself. Most drivers have gone through the usual intimidation tactics that DMs and others use. And it's usually your conscience that they target to get you to comply. Some of the lines include "Per company policy" or "This is the what the job is" or "You agreed to do the job" or my favorite "this is an atwill job". The truth of the matter is that you can be fired at any time from any job in the U.S., the question is; Can the employer say it was for cause? Thus not having to pay the unemployment payments to you. Corporations do not see you as an individual, "literally" you are a number. But not to fret, so is your DM and the rest. The real trick is "Proof" and legal proof at that. What is legal proof? First is direct testimony, Your word. Next is documentation; Did you write anything down? Next is tangeble; Do you have pictures or other documents such as receipts? Then comes witnesses and so on. Getting mad and venting on the phone helps a little in the heat of the moment but it is largely what is expected from you and really useless. So here is what I do: first, keep good paperwork. Your scans are great proof especially if you document arrive and departure times on the BOL. Second, use the email address of your DM/Dispatcher to communicate problems with them or anyone else in the company but don't use their system. Use your own email address. In most cases they will not respond directly to any of your claims via email because the lawyers tell them not to. Remember, emails are time and date stamped, create a folder for your sent and received and move them into it as you go along. But be very professional and do not use profane language. Be direct and to the point and even bold and name names. If you are making a claim for compensation then state in the email somewhere that it is a claim for, ie. "please accept this as my claim for $25.00 as detention on order #00001", This is considered legal notice. Now here is the difficult ones. If your company uses qualcomm then take a digital picture of all of your messages, use muti pics if the message is long. Then transfer those pictures to a folder on a computer and label them by the date and time on the message. Believe me, you will thank yourself later. This is a timeline in addition to your log and can be used as "direct evidence" in any proceeding. Record "all" messages you receive on the unit, even if you think it is useless. Next, if your company has a website and a way for you to see your pay statements and or performance evaluations, Print them or store them on your computer or get copies when the occassion arises. Write an email to yourself to record statements made to you by anyone in the company, remember, it's timed and dated and therefore admissible in most cases as a journal or diary. Next, keep up on your company and the complaints against it in the courts. Companies are always being sued by someone. if you have a computer then just type in the name of your company and the word lawsuit. You'd be surprised what pops up. You can join a lawsuit if it pertains to you and your situation. Usually the plaintiff attorney will be on it and you can contact them directly. You can also look at company activity if it is publicly traded to see how it is doing financially. When you research a company, look for patterns, such as the same kind of complaints and who is making them and why and where. This can give you great info on what to avoid.
Now here is a couple of don'ts, Don't rely on what you hear from other drivers or even from dispatchers or DM's. If you are serious about your complaints, then don't share them openly. certain drivers love to spread rumors and bragg. If you are serious about your job then be professional at all times and don't blame customers for your problems or time spent. If you are not sure of how to wod something, then seek help away from the business. Call an old friend or teacher and use a dictionary. Remember, your writings could end up in front of a jury. And always treat the people you are complaining to as if they were a jury, professional and to the point. That way your story never changes and is consistent. Now here is a tactic you can use if you want to. Recently, drivers have been informed about the the new CSA guidelines. You should always remember that if you are the one responsible for the truck then you dictate weather or not it is safe for operation. If you are being harassed by a DM on something, when you get to where you are going to do your hometime, Do a PTI and note "ANY" little thing you find and present it to the shop, not your DM. If it is a company truck then it has to be inspected and delt with before you go back out. We all know that aging trucks always have problems, and if the equipment gets enough reports then the company investigates it for liability. Again, remember, the company is about numbers and not your feelings. Business is business, it works both ways. Hope this helps some of you and if you work for Swift, check this out http://www.hbsslaw.com/cases-and-investigations/swift_transportation_lawsuit it is a link go on it and check the "related news". If you follow company news then you know about the recent message about Maptuit and the company has gone public and B service is now every 35k miles, all of these are related to cost. Usually a company that goes public is an exit strtegy for the owner. I could be wrong but then again...

Never vote for Unions. GM had a union and look what happened there. Do your research? Unions do not help the little guys like they used to. They are concerned with their own pocket linings and picking the next politician. Successful litigation can make a company change.

It was $3900. Now it is $6000. 7/1/2021

this is a bait and switch -it's against the law - swift is guilty of this - find others - file a class action suit against them

Swift is populated with dipwads and other things i cant post. The "GODS" they think they are is being challenged by people like you and me.Unfortunatly the whole country is adopting their attitude.Workers are a dime a dozen, so who cares what we do to them? Even in China the workers are starting to revolt against poor working conditions and low wages.How about here? We still eat the employrs [censor].WHY? No guts. I used to work at SWIFT, THEY FIRED ME WHEN A FED EX truck hit me on the left side of tractor cause FED EX COULDNT PASS ME in time to avoid a head on collision with an on coming tractor trailer.In other words the jack [censor] couldnt drive or didnt care, an all to common trait of some drivers out there.But SWIFT SAID it was my fault.THIS WAS A TWO LANE ROAD, one in each direction.

That guy that owns Swift, also owns Central out of West Valley, Utah. He's making millions scamming driver's left an right. Including building casino's in Nevada. Both these companies are a RIP OFF. The "G" should investigate both companies. Or I should say all of them, the poor driver out here just trying to make a living an its getting harder an harder to do so. Remember a company can put anything in your DAC to make you look bad. The hell with SWIFT AND CENTRAL.

one of my favorites, was going in to memphis where they make you drop your empty, they pass it to a friend, and when you get loaded you spend a full day driving around looking for another empty. This isnt just memphis either. I remember once in dallas they sent me out to look for an empty, I searched Dallas and Ft. Worth. upon returning after nine hours they sent me to the rail yard in Ft. Worth where I picked up a "NEW" empty that had been there for 3 days. didnt get paid a dime for the day.
Many more things done to me...

you really need to read the fine print on a contract that you sign. It more and likely told you about the pay going to be with held if you quit in a certain amount of time.
I was wondering if you have your cdl class A license. Because if you do your getting your moneys worth. I payed 2600 $ out of my pocket for mine and Swift is the only company willing to take me on with signing a contract.

i have detailed records of all my preplans, mileage and layover pay owed to me since 2006.

Yeah and also my mentor made me put the shifter in my bootyhole, he said I had to so I could learn to float the gears like a supertrucker. And he made me turn tricks at the flying j, I had to use my 105 dollar draw to buy lube and lipstick too : ( swift

We also had the same bad experience with the school. Would like to be contacted with a lawyer that is working with this, we were also very swindled.

Hello i am wondering if anyone can help me with the class action suit against Swift Trucking? I payed my loan off even though my license was revoked because of there illegal activitys. I am not very computer savoy and i just learned how to find oyhers after all this time. I have contacted Swift only to get the run around and even payed all fee because of threats recieved by the collection agency after stopping payment. I am a honest hard working person like many other americans scraping to get by. I feel it is a Injustice for a big Company such as Swift to take advantage of Americans who dont have the legal resources to battle them in court. I am also a American Army Veteran Is that how they Treat Vets who where there to help fight for them to be able to have a so called legit business? Someone please contact me and help me with any Information that you may have. I feel all alone in my struggle against this huge company. Please contact me at spiegelsteven@gmail.com Thanks and have a wonderful Holiday Season!

I payed my loan in full do i get any money back are am i screwed?

My husband and I went to the school he drives and was able to test in his automatic work truck. He also had to pay 100.00 for all of the fees even though we paid for these license when they were issued to us less than 2 years ago. I no longer work for a trucking company and am unable to find a truck to test in I will more than likely have to give up my license. I would like to participate in the class action lawsuit because they will more than likely try to get the student loan back from us even though we really do not have a license because we had to retest and you can get a CDL without going to school if someone teaches you to drive and you have a way to test.

I worked in the student loan dept. Any driver who attended a Swift Academy and terminated from [protected], if you had a balance on your loan, all your earnings were witheld. every penny despite minimum wage laws. You are entitled to get that back. The key is you have to call and request it they will not do it voluntary. Same thing with drivers that overpaid on thier student loan accounts. If you overpaid they will reimburse you but you have to call in. Call Kelly Lopez @ 800-+800-2200 x 3509. I f i can be of anny further assistance please post in your comment and i will contact you directly.
Sincerely,
Irreplaceable

this realy sucks i have been driveing a day runner truck for the last 2 years and then this gets throwed in my face, this action could have me lose my job if i do not retest after 2 years of driveing a 42 foot delivery tractor that is a automatic my fears are that i have not driven a stick, or a 53 footer in 2 years all the anxiety that came with going thru the school are back this mess is no fault of my own and i should not have to go thru this i am not the only one going thru this my wife went to school and got her cdl, luckaly this is not her source of income but we have other friends that this is, some thing has to be done swift need to be held accoutable for the trama that they have inflicted on so many people

Hello, I tried this email address listed in story-but was unable to get it delvrd-bad e-mail address-I would like more infro for lawsuit.I need to retest cdl also.thanks

I joined Swift driving Academy 07/21/2017. I went step by step as asked. I Already had a medical examiners card and had passed my Class A learners on the first try. 4 hours before leaving to attend the academy, I was struck by another vehicle going through an intersection. I was told I could not attend Because I was sited with a ticket. I was told if the ticket was dropped, deemed not my fault or if found guilty it would have to be considered a non moving violation. I have a +5 points on my driving record. No moving violations or tickets in 12 years. after the case was dismissed, I was told I was disqualified for a year . I was told because the damage between both vehicle could not exceed $2000. If the case was dismissed and nothing was put on my driving record, How am I disqualified? I'm very disappointed in this company. I waited 2 months to go to court when the recruiter could have told me about any damage claim. He claimed that they would have to contact my insurance company and get details. But it took 2 months for a representative to say that. If you will hold information that simple, what else will you hold back? Just remember, people have families. Be honest and clear and up front. If I decide to drive truck, it will not be with this company. They love you to death during the process of getting in. You run into one problem then they turn their back. Not good business at all. Cannot express how disappointed I am. I went against everyone's advice to seek a different company but I picked Swift Transportation. A choice I will never repeat and will encourage others not to waste their time.

i really want to sue swift my name is brison from ohio can anyone tell me how my number is [protected]

[protected] need help too please call clas466

have anybody took action on getting a class A lawsuit i graduated from millington tn of Class 570 somebody please get in touch with me where is Frank Watson his office phone is off as well.

to whom this may concern,
once again here we are crying about what swift did to us, it actually was the gov- but anyways
swift would have taken care of you as far as retaking your test, my husband and i also had to retest, passed with flying colors, do you really want someone on the highways with our families that doesnt know how his/her air brakes function? i know i dont, maybe instead of pouting and being angry study for your test and put your energy into making money the safe way,
we were also allowed to use our company truck through swift we have been with them now 4 yrs, ( not pay $400 to rent a truck and also, there was no fee to take the test, so it seems to me someone is stretching the truth here, get the FACTS !
but most of you left swift as soon as you got your training, my husband and i have bought a home and 2 sports cars since working for swift and our monthly bills are paid, we owe only on our home, in this job we drive coast to coast and more than doubled our income, oh and by the way your company is as good to you as you are to the job, foe ones who didnt get that, it means if you are worthless you will be treated that way, another bit of info for some of you truck drivers soap and water is cheap, try using it
deb

I have been throw the same stuff to i am driving right now for cvs i have to the end of the month feb to take and pass a skills test i had to pay 50 dollars last week to take the test and 400 hurdrend dollars to rent a truck becuase my comp could not let me use theres and i took it today and fail on my air brake test.I am very upset with swift to for the fact that so many of use took alot of risk to go to school for them and work for them to do this to us something has to be done poeple lifes have been messed up

MY NAME IS MICHAEL SHEEDY
FROM RHODE ISLAND [SSHEEDY4444@AOL.COM]
HOPE TO HERE BACK FROM SOMEONE

Sounds to me like their are a few of you upset, but if you really want to pursue your careers then you will find a way. Some of the fault that falls because of life has to fall on ourselves, you have to keep up on your licenses no matter where you live or work, if we all relied on the govt we would all be screwed.

Any one knows whats going on or any body taking our info, let me know jameshgoff@yahoo.com I'll be there to help them go down for this business fraud!

I too have received the dreaded letter. I got 90 days to either re-test or downgrade. I live in Mississippi. I quit SWIFT right after graduation and went through 3 more months of training at Stevens Transport in Dallas. I drove for various companies over a period of about 2yrs. I have over 150, 000 SAFE miles with no accidents. I had planned on going back to trucking this year. But it's not to be. There are only 2 locations in the state to re-take the driving test and both are over 2hrs. away from me. It's impossible for me to borrow a truck and trailer to get to the re-test site. IT'S NOT FAIR!

I'll continue searching to see if there's a class-action suit already started. I just moved out to TX from unemployment-FL...got the green light from a company, went to change my license today, and there it is...the compassionate state of TN pissing on my attempt to support myself and son because they allowed crooked-a$$ Swift to get away with 'substandard training'. Swift and TN need to go to Hell and stay there.

Yeah ok! Swift sucks! Payed for Class's in 2007 come to find out after 3years of driving that they didn't administer thier tests properly! Now I have to pay even more on top of thier wrongfull termination!

I just left Swift and I won't bad mouth the company they do have there problems.But if you take cash advances yes you won't get much on you pay check.I spent very little when first going to Swift limiting myself to five to seven dollars a day for food and you can do it. New drivers think they are going to make a ton out of the gate. I used to sit in the terminals and just listen to drivers complain and moan I would keep hammering for a load but when the DM couldnt give out loads anymore is when I had to go.I was hired to drive not sit in a terminal or truck stop.You don't see a lot of Swift trucks on the road the Memphis terminal still churnning out new drivers and for what I don't know. The drivers who have invested there time get screwed by the new drivers since they drive for less money once you get into being paid over thrity six cents a mile look out you will start sitting so the new drivers can go out wreck the trucks and just make Swift look bad They are the joke of the trucking industry.You know how many drivers I have met that have been out with a mentor and still can't scale a load or back into a dock I used to see it all the time. I now drive for a company that cares about there drivers. Free XM five weeks paid vaction a year no forced dispatch [protected] miles a week paid hospitalization dential vision and home on the weekends. So get your experence at Swift and GET THE HELL OUT

good for you, maybe your one of the few. Give it time, you will be a victim and then tear's.

dear curlythewiseguy,
for your information we are not ### kissers, and we do not pay for our loads, the name of the game is doing your job and getting paid for it, we do not sit at the terminals nor at the truck stops,
swift gave us a 2009 freightliner in feb and we have already put a 100, 000 miles on it, we are not out here for our health but to make money, all i have to worry about is my husband and swift, without my husband we wouldnt be getting the miles and without swift i wouldnt have a job that EQUALS PAY CHECK!
i am 41 yrs old and where i live jobs are few and far between and the pay isnt as much as im getting now,
im not about to bad mouth a company that signs my check when they have done nothing to me,
all im saying is we do our job safely and get to our deliverys on time, therefore that keeps my boss off my back,
thank you deb

you must be paying for your loads. Or your just an ### kisser.

why does it seem that almost everyone who has something bad to say about swift, has either quit or has been fired, 1 if you take advances that is DEDUCTED from your pay, , , means you have less on pay day,
2 if you currently work for swift and have to take cdl over again, its paid for all you have to do is deal with the head ache of retaking the test, i read in one of the complaints posted by a past swift driver he had no semi to take the test over, and they company they worked for wouldnt allow them to use a company truck, well once again swift DID ALLOW my husband and i to use the company truck we currently drive, every trucking company has faults, no matter what one you drive for,
and like i put in my last post, we currently drive for swift and have for 3 yrs, with no problems,
wish you all the best
deb

Two answers: Hire an attorney and file a civil suit versus law enforcement for false imprisonment if you have evidence. Use medical information to seek medical damages. If you were wrongfully terminated, seek a correction to the wrong at the same time, but the company likely has good reason to strongly suspicion you due to your law enforcement involvement. You must fight this one in court.

Swift trucking hire too many illegals from mexico they the worst company to work for.

On or about noon on 25 MAY 2006 while driving for SWIFT Company I had a trailer failure/break down. I called “ON ROAD” SWIFT for assistance and spoke to Pat who told me to wait for their roadside person, which was Southeast Trucking. I waited over 1 hour and a man pulls up in a pickup truck who did not identify himself. I told him what the problem was, as we walked in to the rear of the trailer and he said “What the ###? I can’t work on this trailer”. I asked him if the company told him that the trailer door needed new hinges. He said, “### no”. Then the roadside assistance person (Max Woods) left and never came back. I wait for sometime and then walked to a business office of Martin Transportation and asked to use their phone to call my company back to get onroad out here and to see what is going to happen from here. I spoke with Michael, SWIFT and told him how their onroad people that they sent out, on how they were acting. Martin Transportation told me that there was a trailer repair shop about a quarter mile down the street. The manager stated that they are really good on their work that they do. So I advised Michael, SWIFT about Mechanical Solutions and he told me to call them and gave me a reference number 210 to give to this new shop. I drove to Mechanical Solutions and they said that they would work on the trailer and for me to call my company to see if it was ok by them to drop the trailer off with them so I can go on my way. I called onroad back up from the owner’s phone, which is Shelby Smith and spoke to Carla, SWIFT and she said to not leave the trailer there and we don’t deal with Mechanical Solutions, because they are too expensive. So I walked out and the owner’s assistant, Donna Noble was giving me directions to Southeast Trucking.

All of the sudden the onroad person, Max Woods from Southeast Trucking who came out before drove up and jumped out of his truck and said, “ there you are, what the ### are you doing here. I am going to beat the ### out of you, I am going to kick your ###ing ###, no I am going to ###en kill you”. I asked him, “what did you say”. He repeated himself, and said, “ I am going to ###en kill you”. Then Max Woods pulled out a pocket knife and started to chase me with it. I tried to get away from him to call 911 for help. I did not know what address I was at, the 911 operator could not trace my call on the location where I was so I told the 911 dispatcher what happened. The onroad person Max Woods chased me in to an office. I was forced to lock myself and Donna Nobel, Mechanical Solutions in an office for several minutes to escape from Max Woods. I was on the phone with the 911 dispatcher. I yelled at Max Woods to put the weapon down. Then Donna Nobel also dialed 911 for help.
Mechanical Solutions, Shelby Smith the owner came out of his office and told Max Woods to calm down. Max Woods ditched the weapon (knife) somewhere before the Ashley County Sheriffs Office came out. The Crossett Police Department was called out also for back up. Prior to the Police arrived Max yelled to me “I know the Sheriff and he won’t do anything to me”. He yelled this while I was on the phone with 911. The sheriff requested for Max Woods to do a Breathalyzer test. The sheriff did not have a testing kit. So the Crossett Police Officer went in the back of her trunk of her car and got her testing kit to see if he was drunk. The sheriff searched of his truck (Max Woods) and found a weapon but not the one that he tried to use on me. The sheriff found a large knife in Max truck. The weapon, Knife he tried to use on me was a white handle and about 4 to 5 inches. Then Max Woods family arrives and talked to the sheriff for about 15 to 20 minutes. It was very hot and muggy and I was dehydrated and hungry.

I waited in my truck and about 3:55 PM I got out and walked around Max Woods truck to snap a picture of his tag number. Max Woods son ran over and stood in front of the truck tag so I could not get a picture of it. The sheriff said, “stop-taking pictures”, So I flipped my phone closed and walked back toward my truck. While walking back to my truck I felt someone grabbing my arm, so I pulled away because I thought it was either Max Woods or his son grabbing and attacking me. When I turned around I realized it was the sheriff. Without saying a word the sheriff pushed me against Max Woods truck, slapped handcuffs on my hands skin tight. I was thrown in the back of the sheriff car for about 15 minutes with the AC on low and which caused me to sweat like a pig. Officer Hughes (City Officer) came over to the car and talked to me. She turned the A/C up because it was very hot in the car. I called my mom using my cell phone and told her what had happened. The police officer gave me information to give my mom about the sheriff’s office location, phone numbers, and the sheriff’s name. The sheriff came over and asked, “what the hell are you doing?” I told him I called my mother. The sheriff asked me if I was some dam photographer and left me go.
I was escorted to Georgia Pacific company to my drop my trailer. I cleaned out my trailer, got my paper work, dropped the trailer and started to head to the trailer pool yard. I drove to the trailer pool yard, and was able to locate the new trailer with the load that I was going to take to Virginia. A SWIFT driver met me at the Georgia Pacific Company. I hooked up to the trailer, and he then pulled up and blocked my truck. We talked about what had happened several hours before. While I was there I still had a hard time gripping anything with my hands, because when I was arrested earlier in the day, the sheriff’s handcuffs cut off the circulation in my hands and wrists. I decided it was not a major problem to call rescue out from the city of Crossett. The purpose of having rescue to look at my hands was to have an information report to provide to give my doctor for evaluation if I continue to have further pain. I waited for EMS with the other SWIFT driver who was waiting for his load. We both were going to leave at one time regardless if EMS got there or not because we felt that neither one of us was safe to be in that county, because of what had happened to me before.

When I was ready to take off, I received a call from a person claiming to be a police officer who worked in the city police department, stating that his EMS and officer can not find me. I gave him directions on how to locate me. Within an amount of minutes the deputy sheriff who I had a problem with earlier that came out to the call about Swifts onroad person several hours before, he drove up with a Crossett police officer. I was standing there still talking to the other Swift driver. The sheriff drove up and got out of his vehicle with his handcuffs in hand ready to arrest me for a second time. I asked him what is the problem now? He said “ I am arresting you for what had happened several hours before”. The deputy sheriff said to me “you did not do anything this time, either you can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way”. Right there I took that as a threat. So I let him arrest me again, not knowing what the charge was. My rights were never read to me, neither time I was placed under arrest. He put me in the back of the sheriff car, I called my mom and told her on what was going on. The deputy sheriff then took my cell phone from me. He searched my truck and was in there for several minutes. His cell phone was ringing and did not take the calls. He called his sheriff from his phone and told him that he had me and stated that if he lets me go this time I will leave the county. His sheriff said, “no bring him in”. The sheriff deputy told me that his sheriff wants him to bring me in. Also the deputy sheriff explained to me that it was his sheriff that requested for him to come all the way out to where I was to take me in. While on the way over to the sheriff’s office from Georgia Pacific Pool Yard, the deputy sheriff held a casual conversation with me and started to talk to me and asked me what was the purpose of me calling EMS? I explained to him again I was having severe pain in my hands and wrists, and when I get back to Florida, if I still have the pain I will see my doctor and he will know what to do. He said “no, you were trying to get us in trouble by slapping the cuffs on you too tight”. I told him that he was incorrect. Still talking we heard a call about a person in a school parking lot that was running his head to the ground. Then the sheriff asks me why would anyone do that. I told him I don’t know. I suggested to him that maybe someone needs to go there to stop him. He said “ no, someone else can, he won’t”. Still he explained to me that it was the sheriff requested that I be picked up, not him.

When I got to the sheriff’s office, the EMS was waiting to see me. The sheriff said, “you’re not seeing them”. The sheriff was there and they put me in the hallway for a long while, and finally I was seen between 2000 and 2030. They told me it will be $800.00 to be bailed out, for disorderly conduct, and refusal to submit to an arrest. I ask what was the disorderly conduct, and what was the refusal to submit to an arrest. The sheriff refused to answer the question. I called my mom and explained to her what happened, and what was required for me to be released. The sheriff said if you have $800.00 right now in your pocket, we will let you go. I offered to put the charge on my credit card, or take me to the ATM machine to with draw some funds. They said “no”. The sheriff walked up to me and said “ you see these keys, your not going to need these anymore, because I just got you fired”. I asked him why would you do something like that. He told me that he was a truck driver before and that the terminal manager believed him of what he said to them. I made a call to my mom on my cell phone to let her know what had happened and what I needed to get out. Again my rights were never read to me neither time when they decided to arrest me. The sheriff would not explain to me what the disorderly conduct was or the refusal to submit to an arrest. They cut my conversation with my mom very short. I was then put in a holding cell with 4 other people that were in there for felonies. I was not offered anything to eat nor had the opportunity to get anything to eat or drink all day. I was kept up for most of the night and treated like a criminal. When I asked the sheriff about the guy who pulled the knife on me, I was completely ignored. I was refused medical treatment to my hands and wrists. I spent the night and more than half of the next day in that holding cell with those felons and was not offered to speak to any attorney. The food I was served was poor quality until I was transported to the new county jail.
I waited at the new county jail until my mom obtained my release on Saturday morning 27 May 2006. The sheriff office told me if I paid the $800.00 the charges would be dropped and I would not have to show up at any future hearings. I found out that this statement was not true after my release. My mom paid the $800.00 bail and initially the young lady at the county jail would not give my mom a receipt for the $800.00 she paid to get me out. Then the lady gave us receipt but refused to put a name on it. After she was asked several times, the lady put both names on the receipt.
I called my employer on 27 May 2006 and asked to speak to someone in charge of employee relations, and but there was no one to talk to concerning my situation. Devin, SWIFT was the only person that I could speak to. So I explained to security what had happened, and I was advised that I was placed on a security hold. I was advised by him to get my stuff from the truck and leave the truck at Georgia Pacific and I won’t be penalized. I called SWIFT company again and spoke to Billy SWIFT in Ocala, Fl. He told me I was fired for what had happened. I tried explaining to him what happened to me by SWIFT’s contractor roadside assistance people, but he did not want to hear it. Billy told me law enforcement does not lie. So I called back to speak to the SWIFT terminal manager, Scott and he was not in until the next week. I called Phoenix, AZ Swift’s corporate office and spoke to a person name Scott Mason in employee relations and he listened to me my side of the story.

SWIFT charged me $242.43 for a truck recovery fee. Devin, SWIFT told me to leave my truck in Arkansas, while they (SWIFT) does an investigation. As to this date I still have numbness in my hands and fingers. Also I have severe pain in my left wrist which comes and goes, which I may have permanent damage.

My mother called and spoke to the Ocala terminal manager Scott Johnson on Friday morning and she asked him if he knows what was going on, or if he heard anything at all. Scott Johnson said no, I did not hear anything. Then my mother told him what she heard. Then he said that’s not what I heard. Then my mother asked him I thought you did not hear anything. He stated that I refused to take a sobriety test, and I was arrested for DUI. He stated to my mother that he wont back up his drivers and that he gets his drivers for a dime a dozen.

I called Swift down in Ocala, Florida not too long after this and requested to speak to Scott Johnson myself. A female named Sunday picked up the phone and when I told her who I was, Sunday said to me we know all about you and heard what you did, your nothing but the company drunk. I asked her why would she say that and where did she hear that from. She stated she heard it from the terminal manager Scott Johnson. I then hung up the phone and never called back.

email:hollywood954@yahoo.com