That makes sense as to what I was told PHX terminal/training school.

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Subject: Dumbest Quote of the Century

'My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it.'

- Barack Obama

You are correct, the training pay went up but you still need to bring food funds and 150 for your CDL phys.,permit and test. I would feel safe to say 350,400 bucks just as a plan B.(backup) because in all reality you may need 4 weeks worth of eats and other expenses. Thats what the PHX guys recomended. I already have my CDL but I'm not combo because I tested in a 5 axle end dump.

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Subject: Dumbest Quote of the Century

'My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it.'

- Barack Obama

Some rats, when backed into a corner, fight back while others curl up and play dead.

RIP Tip.

And I saw a May truck take the mirrors off of two different trucks in the span of 10 minutes. AND I saw an independent o/o flatbedder put part of his side rail into the door of a dry van trailer ripping a hole in the door and taking out one of the hinges, not to mention what it did to the side rail, because of turning too short. So your point would be?

Good Luck to you...see u on the road

Dbook and Majik: I am a newb without CDL or recent experience. I'm starting from scratch like everybody else, and don't work for anyone yet (I'm a retired federal employee). Still looking at several companies, but Swift is looking better for my personal situation.

I think maybe some of the concerns about Swift driver training are valid! How could a 2-3 week course convey nearly as much information as a 6-8 week course? Even though I was told by the Swift recruiter I would need to have my CDL permit, DOT physical, and MVR report before arriving, this can't account for the missing 4-6 weeks of school. When you're teamed with a mentor after training, he/she is still trying to accumulate miles and make a living, so how much "training" are you actually going to get before they cut you loose? My guess would be minimul training. I doubt this is a good place for most newbs to start!

Each student driver must find a situation that best suits them. I have been through a lot of safe driver training in the military, and I have driven 18-wheels before, and I've always had an EXCELLENT driving record. With my past "experience", I expect good luck getting through this short school and getting on the road with Swift. I don't expect most newbs will have such good luck, but I do wish it on them, all the same.

BTW, what my recruiter tells me (bring my permit,etc.) is based on a school starting date I don't have yet! What your recruiter tells you is probably valid for an earlier starting date than mine will be, but you might want to question him/her about it anyway! It's possible (maybe even probable) that not all recruiters have the latest information. Riley seems to know about what was right, but has since changed. I dunno! Maybe he's the one without a clue. It doesn't really matter. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst, so you won't be caught off guard!

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"Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the one's who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would most likely be worth it."
(From a short story by Michael Gartner)
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Free information: Sometimes it's worth what you pay for it!
(Anon)
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In the real world, IF Swift were really as bad as most say, they wouldn't be in business because they probably would treat their customers the same way.....good luck to you. I'm hoping to go with either Willis Shaw or Central Refr.

Thats is part of the program 2-3 weeks in "school" you then continue your training with a mentor. The was the mentor training goes you start out with minimum of driving not a full shift. As you progress you get more behind the wheel time. Your mentor should be teaching you the proper way to log. He/She should teach you how to do a pre/post trip, adjust for weight how to handle different traffic situations (weather, heavy traffic). You are required a minimum number of backs. You will be out for 42 days (without home time) this happens no matter if you take Swifts 3 week course or go to a full 6 week course.
I have had newbes do good some not so good. Mostly they have problems with downshifting. Some with double clutching and of course backing. A few also had issues understanding what activity goes on what line for the log.

Good attitude always plan for the worst if it happens no problem if not makes it all good.

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Keep it safe, I might be next to you.

It seems like swift has been bashed about every way possible. I hope the new drivers and ones to be will search the web about the company's they want to work for. But as most of the experienced drivers know one persons gold is another's clay.
When I drove a long time ago it seems now. Swift had just bought out a meat packing company and was running only owner-operators. It was a small company and you had to know someone to get leased on with them.
Boy how things have changed they must have done something right to be as big as they are now and I think with only company trucks. I went local in 1996 so it was before then. I drove the eastern states after that. I don't know if it helps anyone thinking about going to swift. But I say trust your ownself and then you can't blame anyone but yourself if it isn't right.

When I worked for them ya I had issues, with the weekend DM, but my normal DM was real good.. Did not make any money with them, 13k. I figured it was because I was new, and they use to complain how slow freight was.. My trainer who use to get lots of miles, was now only getting around 500 week, and that was with a trainee.. So he quit, and went local.. I always had good trucks, even a new one 6 months before I left.

The one problem I had with the weekend DM was on a trip to Cal from Tennessee, they shorted me a fuel stop. I had less than a 1/8 tank of fuel left it was 98F, and I need to run my ac. I was parked at a flying J, and he would not let me fuel there. So I had to sleep with no AC and get fuel the next day, at a TA, just down the road.. I do know that when Jerry was on house arrest for his federal problems, they hired a CEO (can't remember his name), but this guy was terrible. He cut the DM staff way down, closed most shops at night and just about all on the weekend. So if you needed work done on a weekend you were stuck until Monday.. And they were terrible on reimbursing you for tolls, and other things..