Hey, Drivers!

I've completed my Swift Orientation and have learned I have a mentor who is on a dedicated account around the Southeast. I'm just glad to have a mentor at all to learn from, but I have to admit I'm concerned about my future: quite likely going OTR after training without OTR training with a mentor and one day trying to find a local job with just Southeast regional experience (it's possible I could earn a dedicated route fresh out of training).

Am I crazy to even consider OTR? (Seriously, the roads of the 48 are calling out to me.) Would I be cheating myself of valuable OTR experience? Am I looking a gift horse in the mouth and just completely overlooking a potential blessing that I'm not recognizing? And can I actually get a local job, ie hauling fuel, with just southeast experience? Honestly, I'm thankful for this opportunity, but I'm a little concerned.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

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"Just an old sweet song/Keeps Georgia on my mind"
-- Ray Charles, "Georgia On My Mind"

"Edit Ignore List" is the HOTNESS
Reformed MACK truck hater. Now, we're in like.

I had concerns of the same thing when I forst drove.Just make sure he goes over trip planning with you..The logs are probably gonna be the same most of the time...But you should get familiar with the route and all that....so it could be ok for you..

Just watch all them mountains in florida. Our chain law is not in effect, at this time !!

Since you are already at SWIFT, you may as well go ahead with it. For one thing it is a job. For another, it is training. It will give you experience that you desperately need, to further your career.

I really don't see where it will hurt your chances for going OTR in the future, perhaps even with SWIFT. That being said, do the best you can, try to get through a year or two with them. Perhaps by that time the economy will have turned around a bit, and you can move on to a better company.

Good Luck!

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My wife asked, "What will you be doing today?"

I replied,"nothing."

She said, "but you did that yesterday."

I said, "right, but I haven't finished it."

Thanks for the replies. I've thought about it and inquired in my own network, and I've heard some of the same advice.

However, I'm still concerned about the lack of training I'll get on driving in snow, ice, and mountains. If I finish dedicated training and am thrown over the road, then I'll be relying on prayers to keep me safe because I might not get training in those other conditions. Even knowing that, I think I'll still go for it because I wouldn't be the first rookie to train dedicated and start solo over the road, and I bet most of them survived.

I think I'll be okay, but I'll still consider requesting an OTR mentor if I think it's needed.

__________________
"Just an old sweet song/Keeps Georgia on my mind"
-- Ray Charles, "Georgia On My Mind"

"Edit Ignore List" is the HOTNESS
Reformed MACK truck hater. Now, we're in like.

I trained in the Central US, with Swift. Then I ran the Central US with Swift, and sometimes the east and west coast.. Went local now for 2 1/2 yrs. If I can do it so can you...

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

Thanks for the encouragement! But did you encounter snow, ice, & mountains while training? I think I may encounter some ice & snow in December in some parts of the southeast, but I've only experienced mountain-like terrain once while in usual driving school. I went up & down the mountain very well with my instructor, but I bet Pine Mountain, Ga. has nothing on Colorado's mountains! Lol That's what concerns me most.

__________________
"Just an old sweet song/Keeps Georgia on my mind"
-- Ray Charles, "Georgia On My Mind"

"Edit Ignore List" is the HOTNESS
Reformed MACK truck hater. Now, we're in like.

The mountains are nothing to be afraid of. Neither is ice and snow. That being said though, you need to keep a lot of respect for them. Take it slow and easy, use your head.

You will probably have enough experience in handling a rig, that it will be easier for you, than if you were to suddenly go to driving, and do it in mountains. There is a lot of advice on this forum about winter driving, and mountain driving.

No, it's not the same as having a trainer beside you when you first encounter it. OTOH, you might actually be better off, as you can sort of judge for yourself. Don't let anybody else push you to drive over your head. If you feel that 35 is right, and somebody is yelling at you on the CB that you should be doing 70, turn off the CB and stick with your gut feelings.

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My wife asked, "What will you be doing today?"

I replied,"nothing."

She said, "but you did that yesterday."

I said, "right, but I haven't finished it."

I am finishing my training with Swift next week. I am also being trained by a driver on a dedicated account. We covered trip planning and I feel confident about it.

After training you are required to go otr for 30 days.

I don't know if I want to get on a dedicated account when I finish otr. There are 2 distribution centers in NY for the company. They have another one in CT for a different company that is also pwned by the dc's in NY. The dedicated runs are getting good miles and usually 1 day home a week.

My trainer wen training me had us sent on runs out side his area, just for mountain driving.. The only time I hit snow in my yr otr was when I was on my last trip from before going local.. It was from Salt lake City Utah, and they had serve snow storm the whole day.. For someone not use to driving a semi in snow I did pretty darn good.. It was so bad my wipers could not keep up with the snow. I drove no faster than 35mph straight down I-15 then they had me cross US 6 what a nightmare.

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