FBI & DHS raids on Swift Transportation - Day 2
The day after a multi agency raid on Swift Transportation offices in Memphis and Millington Tennessee, authorities are keeping quiet on the reason for the raids and Swift management are doing the monkey dance proclaiming their innocence of any wrongdoing.
Seven federal agencies and the Tennessee Highway Patrol raided Swift Transportation’s terminal operations in Memphis and its driver-training school in Millington.
Also, the Tennessee Department of Safety has temporarily closed a commercial driver’s license center housed in Swift’s shipping center on Brooks Road near Memphis International Airport.
Authorities would not confirm whether the probe centers on the commercial licenses issued from the license center on Swift Transportation property.
At that center, state Department of Safety employees administer the written and eye examinations, while Swift personnel conduct the driving-skills tests.
The Department of Safety announced Monday that it was cooperating with the FBI in an “ongoing investigation of Swift Transportation in Memphis.”
Swift officials countered that, despite the search warrants and raid, the company was not the target.
Swift spokesman Dave Berry said, “Swift chooses not to comment any further because we do not want in any way to impede or interfere with the investigation. We’re cooperating in every way.”
No arrest have been made. Evidence seized is still being sorted and cataloged.
In [cref fbi-raids-swift-transportations-memphis-terminal yesterdays post] announcing this event, we had a comment posted, that if true, could shed light on the reason behind this action.
Billy wrote:
I’m a Swift student. We have 5 Muslims in the class trying to get their Hazmat endorsement. Why in this day and age are we allowing this to go on? Any company that does this needs to be investigated. As far as the investigation goes Swift claims that they are not the center of the controversy, but that DMV location is strictly for Swift students. You can’t tell me that Swift doesn’t have some influence over what goes on there.
Good question Billy. If this is the case, this would account for the varied Federal Agencies which are involved in this action.
We’ll continue to keep an eye on the story and report the truth as it becomes available. Already, the trolls of the blogosphere are coming out in mass with the bullshit about illegal aliens (read that Mexican’s, of course. Are there any other kind) being hired and trained by Swift. Of big rig accidents where 9 people were killed by a Swift rig being driven by and “illegal alien”, (not true, never happened by the way) and other xenophobic horse shit.
But that’s normal in today society isn’t it!
UPDATE
Talk about bad reporting and reporting the facts without the facts, I looked at the Fox 13 News Report about this, and discovered where some of the misinformation was coming from. Cori Lake reporting the story mentioned the investigation was triggered by an accident involving a Swift Transportation truck in Ohio being driven by an “illegal alien”. But as she said, “We don’t know where it happened or when it happened” but an illegal alien was involved!
She went on to report that Swift Transportation has a Mexican affiliate called, now get this, NUEVO LAREDO! (Could she have meant TRANS-MEX )
This is how rumors get started folks and of course, the trolls are having a field day with this one. Perhaps Ms Lake should be sent back to the secretarial pool.
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About Author
PMC
35 years in the trucking business and living in Mexico for the past 15 years, make me uniquely qualified to offer my insight and opinion into the Mexican trucking industry and other border issues. A contributor to SiriuxXM Road Dog Channel 106 and to the award winning Lockridge Report, Mexico Trucker Online continues to publish the unvarnished truth about the subjects we cover.
The fact that ICE was involved would lead one to believe illegals were involved, but there's nothing to indicate that they would be hispanic illegals. Given that BATF is also involved, I would be more inclined to think that there was a terrorism-related charge in the investigation stages somewhere….doesnt sound mexican to me.
Speculation about accidents is bound to happen since these large carriers are very good at hiding unfavorable news reports regarding their drivers and equipment and everything ends up in the rumor department. Ms Lake needs to define her info as speculation rather than news. Her comments simply serve to trash the trucking industry in the eyes of the public. I suspect she'll be getting a call from Swift's legal department over that report.
Consider this: Jerry Moyes just paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $2.74 billion cash to buy back all the stock to take Swift private. That money was backed by Morgan Stanley. With that kind of money, I could pretty well control the news reports, too. I bet we never find out the entire story on this one!
You have an excellent point there Linda.
Also, in 2006, the Vice President in charge of Workers Comp claims in the MEmphis offices was convicted in Federal Court of defrauding Swift using shell companies she set up and directing payments to these companies and into her pockets.
So Swift has had there share of problems in the past.
My comments concerning “illegals” was in regard to peoples attitudes these days that anything Mexican must be illegal and the stupid idea that these companies are bringing illegal Mexicans into the country and putting them behind the wheel of these trucks.
Hell, if these companies wanted to do that, they could do it legally using H2 visas, which they are not doing.
This is for both Linda and Porter.
What will you say, if it should come to light that it is indeed an ‘illegal’ “mexican”
(dear lord forgive me for using such terrible language)
involved in an accident with a swift company truck, and was hired illegaly by swift?
Can we then call the person an “illegal”?
The FACT is neither of you know ANYTHING more that what is being reported in the news; but you can take this to the bank: whatever it is….ITS BAD! SWIFT has slipped through the cracks too many times, only because of its size as a company. You know and I know that if it was a small fleet, it would be permanantly put out of bussines long ago! I dont beleive SWIFT should even be allowed to exist… not only because of all the blood on their hands from letting “cant drive” babies behind the wheel because they will drive for free, but because they have contributed to the current hardships for the small bussines owner in the trucking industry.
SWIFT, and ILLEGAL mexicans, are two things you should NEVER….EVER defend. STOP BREAKING THE LAW!!
Nobody knows the story yet, so PLEASE stop telling people they are stupid and ignorrant for speculating, you sound pretty stupid yourself now.
Today is 2-29-2008. My husband is an OTR driver, and in 500 miles, has only seen 1 Swift truck. He heard that they shut them down. Is it true, or is it just the 2 places in TN? (His trip involved all around ATL and in SC, where Swift has dedicated accounts. None at the truck stops either.)
No Melissa, to my knowledge, they haven’t been shut down.
I am in Florence SC at the moment, and coming over here from Laredo, there were plenty of them on the road, as there are at the moment, fag lights and all, as usual.
I’m preparing to return to Laredo and will be through Atlanta later tonight. I’ll keep my eyes open.
On Time, I happen to agree with you, in theory.
Swift is just another one of the “bottom feeder” companies. While not defending them, all I am saying is wait and see what the problem is from official sources.
And you are also correct about Swift being a “shifty” company. If you’ll look at their history, Jerry Moyes has indeed led a charmed life.
But I have my doubts if Swift, or anyone else, would knowingly hire and “illegal Mexican” to drive their trucks.
For one things, the illegals that come to this country or low skilled laborers, or skilled craftsmen in the building trades, not truck drivers.
It seems, historically, when companies are busted for “illegals”, they are illegals from Eastern European companies.
UPDATE!
Oops! Cute hero (On Time). You post a fairly literate and intelligent response yet at the same time, post your garbage as MOVIN ON, whining about your free speech rights.
Nice to know you’re still reading this blog in your eternal search for the truth. Perhaps at some time in the future, you will decide to mature, grow up and act as an adult. Must be something in the water in Kansas City
Now that we know this is our resident troll, it is easier to respond to this comment.
You have no idea the sources I have at my disposal on both sides of the border.
This has nothing to do with “illegal Mexicans” which seems to be your fixation in life.
Not the following:
Illegally issuing licenses. Perhaps they fail a portion of the written test, or some little something on the skills portion and are passed. Who knows! Nobody at this point, but I don’t imagine it has anything to do with Mexicans.
And my track record is better than 99% being correct in my assessments I make on this site.
A little bit out of Spokane, Washington from January 2008. http://www.kxly.com/global/story.asp?s=7769205
(excerpt)
SPOKANE - The Federal Bureau of Investigation busted a scam Thursday that was helping Bosnian men get Washington Commercial Drivers Licenses in Spokane.
The Inland Northwest Joint Terrorism Task Force executed several search warrants in Spokane related to the operations of commercial truck driving schools in raids that netted at least two arrests.
Indictments unsealed late Thursday afternoon say a local Bosnian man was running a scam to put commercial drivers licenses in the hands of other Bosnian men from around the country for a price. That man, identified as Brano Milovanovic, has been arrested on mail fraud charges.
(end excerpt…see more at link above)
I am an independent author and researcher who decided to do some fact checking on my own, and have several contacts in Tennessee state law enforcement. Contrary to the public statements issued by Dave Berry, spokesperson for Swift Corporation of Phoenix, Arizona, sources close to the investigation, speaking on background and on condition of anonymity, stated that “the relationship between Swift Corporation and this trucking school IS A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION”. My sources made it plain that “law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation HAVE NOT DETERMINED WHETHER OR NOT SEARCH WARRANTS OR SUBPEONAS WILL BE ISSUED TO EMPLOYEES AND FACILITIES OF SWIFT TRANSPORTATION’S PARENT COMPANY, SWIFT CORPORATION OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA. As such, it is too early to determine whether or not Swift Corporation will be a major focus of the investigation”. At this time, the investigation is ongoing, and my sources refused further comment.
nice reporting!u think jerry shuld hve lft it alone been working 4 swift 4 9yrs out of memphis termil been a mentor 4 6yrs seen it all
My husband works for swift and has not had a truck for 3 weeks we were told to drive to memphis (300miles) and they would have one ready on Saturday when we got there no truck and wasted trip. I am upset He has only been working there 5 months. Perfect driving record
He would like to find another company to work for but not enough experience…….any ideas
if you live within 75 miles of nashville, go to COIfood.com
good company and more miles than you can handle, ask for jeff or
hi terrie hve ur husband call kllm transport thy hve office n laredo 1800 925 1000 good luck
IT DOESN’T MATTER ANYMORE THE LAW BREAKERS HERE,ARE THOSE THAT MAKE EVERYONE ABEY THE LAWS,{COPS} BUT THEY DON’T HAVE TO ABEY…I HAVE A D.O.T. REG IN MY TRUCK AND I READ THE FINE PRINT. THOSE WHO WROTE IT MUST BE GETTING PAID GREAT MONEY TO NOT ABEY THE LAWS WE ALL HAVE TO GO BY…LEAVES US TO BABYSITTING AND WATCHING OUT FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T READ OR UNDERSTAND THE BASIC LANGUAGE ON OUR ROAD SIGNS.PLUS SAFETY ISN’T A ISSUES HERE. WHO CAN SAVE A BUCK OR TWO ON CHEAP DRIVERS.
MY LAWYER AND INSURANCE AGENT ARE READY TO TAKE ON SWIFT AND COMPANIES LIKE THEM IF ONE OF THEIR DRIVERS HIT MY TRUCK AND KILLS ME. WE DO HAVE RIGHTS TO PROTECT OUR SELFS.THEY WON’T BE GETTING OFF EASY EITHER. FRIENDS AND I ARE WORKING ON A CIVIL SUIT AGAINST A STATE FOR ALLOWING D.O.T REG. TO BE BROKEN IN THEIR SCALES HOUSE. WATCH THE NEWS ON THIS ONE COMMING UP.
You should learn how to spell it’s obey not abey you idiot you sound like who your talking about
Justin McCall? What the hell are you blubbering about?
What does any of what you had to say have to do with the subject of this post?
The basic language of our roads signs is called “univerasl” The same as it is in most civilized countries in the world
Lawsuit against a state for allowing DOT rules to be broken? Son, you need to get a life! Who really gives a crap
Bet you one of those out there hollering strike, aren’t you!
Well the way i see things is we all need to wait to see whats goin on forsure about this whole thing i have seen bad things from swift as well as other company’s by letting student’s run ramped on the major highway’s and not know a thing about driving a big truck we have all been in the same place at one time or another but we all know that swift needed to steep up in thier efforts to make thier drivers alil safer on the road all this has to do with safety and you guys are all right in a sence not about the illegel’s it has nothing to do with that it’s the fact that they stick any idiot behind the wheel of a 80’000 lb bullet and expect them to just know what to do just like every trainin company out there so i think not just swift but all of these company’s should be under investigation not completly shut down just the trainin part they get 5 grand from the government for every student they can put on the road after training and they charge the student the same amount out of thier own pocket as well so why do u think all this is goin down really because they are takein from people that need it the most so i will just sit back and see what happens in stead of sayin this and that im just sayin what i know from personal experiance hopefully they will get something done that will keep the industry goin despite the riseing fuel prices
well i have my cdl class a but no exp.and people tell me to go to swift trucking to get me some exp. and i had a chance to go with swift back in nov. of 2007 and read some things off the internet about swift i didnt like… is there anyone out there can tell me is there anything good about swift is good to go with swift or not please let me know thanks rodney
i went to swift and i had to study my ass off to past my test how can u cheat the dmv they was sending people home left and right police records was bad no green card yo ass was gone i failed my first driveng test but focus and past my second they r not given cdl's awa u got to earn and i'm piss how america do a nigga i'm house school drop i earn money like a college grade but now i'm fuck lost my job no trade now i got to find another trade to pay my bills i had my cdl for 6 years no accident nonthing so why make me suffer