Swift Orientation, Lewiston

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Sheriff1/6, Nov 19, 2012.

  1. Sheriff1/6

    Sheriff1/6 Medium Load Member

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    Boise, ID
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    Day 1- This orientation is an condensed version of what is normally given due to the holiday. It's a lot of information in a short amount of time. I have to say it is being presented very well and I feel like I'm understanding what they are saying.

    Pay-New drivers will be paid the Idaho hourly minimum wage while in training. This is $7.25 per hour. Don't freak out. You get paid for all of the hours you are on duty. If you are driving you get paid $8.25 for that. You will make more money if you our out of the WA terminal because you'll be paid the WA minimum wage which I think is $9.05 or so.

    Logs-We have to do paper logs the entire time we are in training and when we get our own truck then we switch to E-logs.

    Training Hours- We must have 240 hours of driving time before we can be certified solo. Basically they expect you to drive at least 6 hours per day. More is better.

    Right now I would say that Swift is professional and has high expectations for it's drivers. I'm looking forward to driving for them.

    If you have any questions, ask and I'll answer what I can.
     
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  3. DC10boy

    DC10boy Bobtail Member

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    Jun 13, 2012
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    Be here in two weeks to tell us whats going on, don't disappear plz
     
  4. DocWatson

    DocWatson Road Train Member

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    So that hourly wage is for the entire time we are in orientation (2 days I think) then the entire time we are training on the road?

    Is sounds like you are getting paid more for the hours you are physically driving and less for the hours you are sitting in the seat next to your trainer? I just want to make sure I understand it.
     
  5. str8rida

    str8rida Light Load Member

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    Nov 19, 2011
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    When I talked to Laura the Lewiston recruiter and Mike ? ( Can't recall his last name off hand - he is the terminal manager ) I was told the training pay was whatever your home state minimum pay is PLUS a dollar and hour. So ID minimum wage is $7.25 + $1.00 = you'd be paid $8.25 an hour. When I drove for Swift several years ago, while training you got paid the new hire mileage pay. Good luck with everything. Agreed keep this thread going, well after your put in a truck as a solo driver.
     
  6. Sheriff1/6

    Sheriff1/6 Medium Load Member

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    Boise, ID
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    The orientation isn't paid. You don't start earning money until you are with your mentor. Basically, they want the trainee to drive at least 6 hours per day and paying more for driving time is an incentive to do that.
     
  7. Sheriff1/6

    Sheriff1/6 Medium Load Member

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    We have drivers from Idaho and WA and nothing was said about being paid a different wage. I'm guessing it works like the time zone. Your time zone is set by where your home terminal is. It would make sense pay would be the same way.
     
  8. Sheriff1/6

    Sheriff1/6 Medium Load Member

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    Boise, ID
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    Day 2- This was the last day of orientation and no one went out with a mentor. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday there were no mentors picking up trainees. Just as well as I wanted to be home this year.

    There was a lot of information thrown at us today. There was a class on e-logs and the Qualcomm. According to Swift drivers are averaging an additional 500 miles a month by using the e-logs.

    Today was the safety brief. Basically everything you need to know that will get you fired. There is a lot of it. Lots of complaining from the students. Nothing is so bad that you can't overcome it. Just do what you are supposed to do and it will be fine. Having a roll over, rear ender, or running off the road will get you fired on the first offense. Basically everything else you get at least one more chance to get squared away. Swift is really about safety. They hammer it home. Nothing wrong with that.

    Speed is another big issue with Swift. If you are in a Company truck it is governed at 62mph. If you go over 67 for one minute you are in violation. This policy does change if you are an o/o, however, if you have a trainee with you then your truck must be governed at 64mph. If it isn't both the student AND the O/O must drive within the slower limit while the student is in the truck.

    Backing is another big issue. You must send a msg via the qualcomm that you have GOAL before you start any backing procedure. This is true for every driver.

    Finally, they are watching all the time. You are being monitored via sensors on the truck as to how fast you are driving, idle time, braking, logs, and if the the anti roll system has to kick in for any reason, they get a msg and you will be getting a call. The bottom line is BE SAFE.

    There were a few things the instructor could have done to make the day go by faster. We had a female who would not shut up and she slowed the day way down. The instructor lost us early on by not getting her under control. The other thing is the driver video you have to watch. If you took the pictures of the drivers out and put soldiers in, you wouldn't have to change a thing. I'm sorry, I just don't see that one is even close to the other. It might be just me.



    I should be getting a call by Friday with my driver number and hopefully picked up by Tuesday by my mentor.
     
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2012
    DocWatson and str8rida Thank this.
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