local driver

delivery driver

truck driver

diesel mechanic

accounting assistant

Southwestern Motor Transport

I was lied to from the beginning about home time. During orientation the four of us were told we were temp drivers for the first 90 days. Three that were supposed to have attended orientation found out the truth before class started, all three abruptly left before they even entered the class room. Looking back, I would've done the same thing.

My first day on a route I was told to be at the Dallas terminal Wednesdayn at 8pm. I was there on time. I didn't end up leaving until after midnight. I was driven to El Paso for our only delivery. Not much opportunity to learn the proper way to do paperwork. The next morning I was on my own. Note I was told prior to arriving for my first day I would be home by the weekend. Once I was dropped off in El Paso I was to deliver my first load to Midland. The tractor I was given in El Paso had no fuel and I wasn't given a fuel card. Dispatch stopped short of calling me dumb for not having a fuel card. Needless to say fueling was a pain in the butt.

My biggest problem was with dispatch. They treated me like a driver that had been working there for years....assuming I knew their abbreviations and jargon. I kept telling whoever would listen I needed to be home Friday night.

Long story short...I didn't get home until Saturday afternoon. which would have been later if I hadn't drove the truck back to the terminal got out and left. I told company over and over and over again I had to be back and they expected me to make another delivery. I I told them I would make that one last delivery and then I was heading back. After which they expected me to make one more delivery which I did not.

once I arrived at the dallas terminal d person at the gate informed me that he was called and was told not to allow me to enter that I was to go back to denton to make another delivery. I'd told him I was not going back to denton and he had told me to pack the truck up in parking on the street in front of the building. I been gone all my belongings let the keys in armpit work in the truck and I went home.

now they're accusing me of abandoning company equipment on a public street. Really?

My coworkers are the best people I've ever worked with I won't change anything. My manager was the best. He always worry about the guys and he would making sure the drivers got what they needed to make that truck roll. Even though people did not know what I did. If you go ask the guys they would say I did a lot. I never mine getting dirty, help fueling for the next day. I would get under trucks just to get a part number. I wasn't always sitting in the office all the time. I worry as much as my manager did about making sure that truck roll. Where ever it might have been. Everyone who I had contact with always told me that I care to much. I told them if I didn't who would. Even drivers appreicate that I would double check if ever thing was okay with them when they were broke down.  I work with men all night. Sometimes they would be surprise I would not say no on helping out. Even if I had my nails done that day. Regardless whatever I was told to do I did it. I can say that my department was a great place to work. I wish I had the chance to say goodbye, but even to the last day I still followed orders from my manager on what he want me to do even if I really just want to stay goodbye deep down. The guys are the best coworker I have ever had to work with. If someone ask me about working in that department I would tell them that it is the greatest department. I have nothing negative to say about the company. Just thank you again...

A typical day at work:
I started with a pre-trip inspection, load your own truck in the mornings and reviewed my route, and made deliveries and pick up returns Every day was different depending on scheduling .

What I learned:
I learned time management, safety, and how to stay calm and adaptable when things changed quickly.

Management: However, the biggest challenge was the poor management. Communication from dispatch and leadership was often unclear, scheduling was disorganized, and last-minute changes added stress. manager doesn’t help out at all always relies on you to figure it out . Despite these challenges, tell you false hopes and promises . No leadership but I learned to stay adaptable, manage my time effectively, and rely on my own judgment to get the job done.

Workplace culture:
The workplace was fast-paced but unorganized. Most drivers worked independently and helped each other when needed.

To compare this LTL freight company to a being a team in the NFL, this company is like the Detroit Lions---they been around the league a long time, but can't never beat the best teams in the Freight transportation business.  

The company is like a mid-major college trying to compete with major colleges.  they trying though.  They just updated their tractors and have recently installed E-logs in all of them.  However, their trailers are outdated and need to replaced with better equipment.

Their workplace culture is virtually non-existent.  No yearly job reviews, no company get togethers, and no merit raises.

A typical day involves delivering and picking up freight locally in a semi tractor trailer with liftgates for residentials, jobsites, and other municipalities to go to.

As a local driver you will basically live for the weekends because during the week you are working from sun up to sun down.  

It is a good place to use as a stepping stone to a bigger freight company or other local driving job.

I enjoyed going to work everyday.  I was always busy and everyday went by so fast.  I dealt with Contractors, Company drivers and all levels of management throughout the company daily.  I was responsible for a variety of different jobs and duties.  I was always willing to do more and was very efficient in my work.  Although I felt very knowledgeable and accomplished in the 17 years I worked there, only the first 5 years did  I feel appreciated and backed up by my Supervisor.  The last 12 years The management at SMT Lines was both unprofessional and unqualified.  It could be a very uncomfortable place to work at times..being bullied or ridiculed by management if they didn't like you.  That would have to be the hardest part of my job, not being appreciated and not receiving our 10% pay cut back, as promised!!!

Southwestern is a great company to work for. The work is simple and straightforward. Management is very chill and hardly ever give you a hard time. 

The  pay is lower than other freight companies. The 29.50 looks good on paper but it’s all straight time. Then they take out a 45 minute lunch daily. Insurance is ballpark 120 bucks a week for the basics(depending on what you choose). 

Start times are between 7-9 but you may not get loaded until 10:30 or later. Sometimes dispatch pushes pickups on you before you’re finished delivering. Even tell you focus on pickups and don’t worry about the rest of your deliveries. Don’t plan of getting off until most warehouses close at 5. If you come back early (2-3pm) they’ll try to send you back out to do a swap.

Personally would’ve stayed with the company if they offered OT. Just felt a little cheated as a trucker working 45 hours for 1k a week. 

Clock in at 6pm go to my office witch was located at the front entrance of the main trucking yard.i would start the day off with some paper work and data entry then start D.O.T. (department of transportation)...  inspections for every truck and trailer that came in or out of the yard.at 12am i would report to central dispatch to log in  and start to coordinate local and national loads of freight until 6am.                                                                                                       They hardest part of my job was trying to get a hold of customers and distributors at 2:00 am - 4:00am because one of my drivers is either there to drop off or pick up a load and there`s nobody there to receive or fill the order.                                                                                                    The best part of my job was the people i worked with.They expected a lot but were invested in putting you in the best position to succeed.

I'm a current driver for SMTL. I have many reasons why I am actively looking for other work and why someone should not come to work here. 

Reason 1) no overtime. You're paid hourly at a rate of around $22 an hour. However, you'll work well over 40 in a week and you will not be paid overtime for anything over 40 hours.

Reason 2) they're benefits are extremely expensive. I have myself and a kid on my insurance and its close to $150 a week and that's with the cheaper plan.

Reason 3) Since I've started working for SMTL, we have gone through numerous terminal managers and a couple dispatchers. Being that I've worked here for less than a year, I feel like this is a bad thing.

I don't really have anything good to say about the company other than it will pay the bills while you're looking for something else.

Not a big company where you are only known as a truck number, but not so small where you are still a competitive LTL company. Hours are long but the freight is steady, more than others.
  Equipment is finally being updated with new tractors and trailers.
  Management team work and communicate well with all.
  A good starting place for young drivers to learn and grow, with good opportunities.
  Wide verity of job positions available in Local/OTR/Route Driver and or Dock work.
  Best thing about working here is you get to know your customers and build that strong customer company relationship.
  

What is the best part of working at the company?
You can mostly do your job without being bothered a loy

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Having pickups that are put on you late and are further out than your furthest delivery. Or, getting a pickup put on you early which is close by, but you still have deliveries and now have to maneuver around the pickup in order to finish .your deliveries . Instead of just driving,  feeling like you have to drive for the in-cab camera 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Not horrible, not great. Just work

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Just work, 8-10 hrs on the truck.  Mostly no-touch freight

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Local driver 2 salaries reported	$27.75 per hour
Delivery driver 10 salaries reported	$25.46 per hour
Truck driver 1 salary reported	$73,500 per year
Diesel mechanic 1 salary reported	$29.50 per hour
Accounting assistant 2 salaries reported	$22.00 per hour

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