OK so all jokes and horror stories aside, it looks as though I am going to join Swifts ranks.

I drove for a Refer company for about 6 months back in 03 fresh out of driving school. MY DM and I had some issues and well HE could not find a way to tell a truth even if his life depended on it so I quit. Yeah I know, prob not the best course of action but I had just spent 9 or so weeks out after being told 3...Pfft ok back to the real deal.

So I haven't driven since Nov. 2003. I have been talking to a recruiter, and yes I know if it isnt on paper it don't mean ####. Anyhow the recruiter told me that I could come to Orientation take the appropriate tests and then be out with a mentor for 42 days... Here is my First Issue. Im kinds mentally wigging out over this road test that I have to do. LOL I know its not that big a deal but the last time I had to do one I was fresh out of Driving School. Everything was still Crystal Clear. What Happens if I get out to the Orientation and hose this silly Road test? They gonna send me home then and there?

Also what else do I need to have fresh on my head? Should I have the Pretrip steps glued inside my eyelids? IS this something I might be tested on as well at orientation?

This really isnt like me to be worried as I normally the mellow guy that folks look at and say "Damn hes Calm" lol
I just figure Swift is giving me a shot to get back into Driving with a new and clearer understanding of the driving world after my quiting while pissed off years ago and I dont want to Screw it up and then never be able to get back on the road.

Advice would be great. I saw a someone I think the name was Vickw who I think works for Swift and isnt a Recruiter? If someone could maybe drop him a PM for me and ask him to send me an email or something since I cant PM or anythng since Im new to the forums that would be great. Oh By The Way. If you do happen to PM Vickw for me could ya maybe post in the thread saying you did so that they dont get 190874387590450 pm's sent to them for me. Thanx bunches folks


SO yeah what do you folks think I should do? Goto Orientation and hope it all comes back or should I pay the Crazy Money, (1400.00) for a refresher course? I dunno...

Stressed out and awaiting some guidance,
DIRTDART

Im assuming your talking about the road test during orientation, if so dont worry about it. Because if its like the on in Minnesota all you have to do is drive a day cab with a 53 down the interstate or highway for one or two exits turn around and come back, no pretrip no backing. This was done on the first day of orientation and it took each of us 10 minutes, its just basically to prove you can control the truck, I grinded a few gears and dude didnt even bat an eye at it. So dont stress over it and youll be fine man. Good luck and let me know if you got any questions, ive been with em for almost 3 months now.

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Keep them wheels a spinnin, and the beavers grinnin, IM GONE!!! East bound and down..............

Yes I am talking about the Silly Road Test at Orientation Like I said I dunno why I'm stressing but I cant seem to help it lol. I just hate to waste anyone's time by hosing a silly Road test and getting sent home is all.

Ive been trying to find someone local that would be willing to let me in their Seat for a few for Cash but that doesn't seem to be working out so well lol.

but thanx for the reply

Thought I'd chime in here.......

VickW is the terminal manager at the Houston terminal, he's a great guy, I drive out of the houston terminal and have been there for a year and a half now. I see you are in Oregon so I assume you'll be at the Troutdale terminal. If I were you I'd ignore the above post.......Swift has gone wild on safety the past few months and since there is no more driver shortage it's a little tougher to not only get a job, but also to keep it. They are trying to clean things up and get rid of unsafe/non productive drivers. Rightfully so, more miles for the rest of us Houston even requests a personal interview before hiring, not just a quick online questionnaire and you're hired. The best advice I can give you is to do what I did. Call up the driving schools in your area and ask for a half day with one of their instructors. I found one that charged me $240 I think but I got to drive around for 4-5 hours and practice. It would sure save you some stress and the road test really isn't that hard if you are confident in your driving. You go for about 20 minutes, do 2-3 left turns, 2-3 right turns and run up and down the freeway a few miles, then back to the terminal and back into a parking spot.....it would be alot easier for you if atleast got to have a little wheel time before the test

You will be asked to walk the instructor through a pre-trip......he'll point to a truck and say show me a pre-trip and let's go. When you drive don't hit any curbs and you'll be fine. I'll check back tomorrow and see if you have any other questions, other than that, I'm in Salt Lake City headed to Seattle.........good luck to you,

You got 3 Chances...don't worry about it. You've driven a truck before. If you go to Phoenix, chances are your road test will be in town. They want to see how you react to people stepping out in front of you, cars pulling out in front of you, cars hitting the brake abruptly, etc. Hubby said there were some pretty tight turns. I'm not real sure if they will make you drive down a grade or not...just make sure you are up to par with down hill grades and braking. Hubby seen them put a guy back through for being geared to high.


Yep, yep! The WHOLE pretrip inspection too. Someone had posted what a correct pretrip inspection would include over in the Trucking Regulations thread.....I believe it was posted under Logging for Pretrip or something like that. Along with 7 step airbrake....they are big on the 7 steps...and tug test....and GOAL. They will put you in a situation and you will be expected to GOAL.


Ummm, my best advice is ....learn to deal with it. Every body in the trucking industry deals with some form of BS or another. Heck everyone has to deal with BS...ain't no way around it, might as well learn how to deal with it.


Sure wish I could help ya on this one but I can't. But best of luck to you.

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Obama? McCain? I think Imma vote ME for president!

Good luck - and keep us posted on your progress!

ok so just an update as to the road test.

I asked my Recruiter, "Do I have a job or is this a conditional offer of employment and if so what are the conditions?"

I was told by "The Recruiter", that Provided I pass the DOT Physical, Drug Screen, and a "45 Minute Road Test", I would be kept as a Driver upon completion of orientation.

It would seem that the Talk of "Swift Cracking down on Safety" is starting to ring true, if even just in recruiting. Time will tell and I'll update as I can as well.

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Keep the Wheels Rolling and your Eyes Moving!

They call me DirtDart and I'm back out!

When I went through orientation the road test included, driving on the service road not even on the highway. But there were a couple of tight turns that you had to make. When it came to backing in I told the tester at the time, that I did not feel comfortable backing in between to parked trucks. His response was "at least you honest and don't worry about it, you trainer will take care of that for you" I past the test and that was that..

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There are only three women in this world that mean anything to me and they are Karen, Krystal, Amanda..

Chill out, relax abou the road test. You said you have only been out of the seat since 2006. It'll all come back to you so fast you'll feel like you've never been out of it. I road tested after having been out of the seat since 2000, and did fine. Company's insurance carrier still said 'no', so I wasn't able to go back to it. Couldn't find any company who would take me after being out that long.

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I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was going to blame you.

Dynamite comes in small packages, Nitro comes in smaller ones, take your pick!

LilBit is right. It will all come back to you. I drove 20 yrs took 12 yrs off. As soon I started the truck it was like I never left. Relax and enjoy........