Advice for Swift

Generally, they don't verify your background until you show up. You could be sent home because they can't verify your work experience, because you don't pass the physical, you don't pass the drug test, or any other reason. Texas Nana just started a thread about her adventures in the Swift academy that you might want to check out.

 

What course were you studying in college? Why thake up truck driving? Leannamarie point to that thread, sounds like good reading expecially if it is coming from Nana.

 

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...ther-adventures-texas-nana-swift-driving.html

See if that works.

 

What they will pay attention to are;

Your MVR
Drug Test
Background Check (prior convictions, etc.)

They will also want to know any unemployed periods for a considerable amount of time.

Other than that, you will (at the academy) complete a physical, a work well stress/endurance test, and they will check the above info. If you make it through the academy, you get your CDL. You will also fill out paperwork agreeing to pay for the class, or you can pay for it up front and it will be reimbursed to you after 6 months of being employed.

If you fail the physical or drug test, it's a big fat "See ya". You go home and don't pass Go or collect $200.

If you do the work well strength/endurance tests and pass the stepping/pushing/pulling tests, you pass van. For flatbed, they have a weight training session which can be a bit of a butt kicker if you aren't expecting it, but it's not too bad. If you fail the flatbed, no biggie, just not running flatbed.

Once you have the CDL, you go to orientation By the 2nd day you will know if you have a job or not. If they don't even plan on hiring someone, they won't schedule orientation. If you make it to day 2 and they find something on your history that they may have missed or have a problem with, they will turn you down if they can't work with you on it.

So just to clarify... yes. You could complete the course, get your CDL, and not be scheduled for orientation and still owe Swift for the training academy. Is it the best way? Well... if you are currently drawing unemployment, chat with your unemployment office. There are grants that you can get to cover it.

 

Don't lie on the background check, you don't want to be on a mentor's truck and be put off in Stinkwater, AR because something came up. I had an evading arrest case dismissed in 1981, I made sure to ask about it anyway. Since it was dismissed, it was a non-issue...