Unless they have changed the program, you will be out for at least 6 weeks wit a mentor. When I drove for them it was 42 days of being dispatched or being available for dispatch.

42 days WITHOUT a mentor? I wont have a place to stay after i come back from training. I am expecting to go to class, go home, then in a day or two, go orientation, then spend a few days waiting for a trainer. I hope i am not in for a shock.

You have to do 42 days with a mentor.

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I HAVE A NEED FOR GOD AND A GOD FOR MY NEEDS

Yeah its still six weeks with a trainer if you have no experience, I only had to go out for two weeks seeing as I had six months of otr exp and 3 months dump truck exp. Go out on my first solo trip with swift tomorrow morning, heading to good ole chicago, then will be home in one week. So far so good with swift, its just like any other large company. I am grateful I am based out of the minnesota terminal, seeing as its a smaller terminal they actually know who the drivers are instead of being a number, granted im still a number to the rest of the company. But I got an 07 volvo that still runs 64 instead of 62 for some reason but I wont complain. lol So if you get passed by a swifty going 64 it might just be me. Well hope everyone well on their ventures with swift, just remember go in with an open mind and be ready to go to work. Also dont go in expecting to see home right away just run the miles given to you, dont go hunting for the miles they will find you. Later yall.

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

trying to get on with them now for aug training. good luck on your first run tomorrow.

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And it's official: I Start school in Lewiston, ID - 15 Oct 08

42 days with a mentor. You should get day and night driving. 30 or more backs. You should be able to learn logs,qualcomm,trip planning, etc. during the 1 or 2 days a week you sit. There are good mentors and bad ones. The company has done reviews with students every week this year as a change from the past to get a better idea if mentors are doing their job or not. So hopefully some of the bad mentors get weeded out...

note.. New to this forum. I am a trainer for last 2 1/2 years. so drove 1 1/2 before training as I wanted my skill levels to be good enough for most situations. Make around $70,000 a year, stay out 2 weeks at a time as most, and am happy with the company. 3 of my students have become trainers themselves. Preventable accident free over 3. 1 non preventable of someone hitting my parked truck, never knew who.
Been to all the states in continental U.S. Prefer mid U.S. area.

Ref vickw's post.
He is telling it like it is, and always has been. Find out what the people in charge expect, do it to the best of your ability. Inquire if things are satifactory. Suggest things that might help you to get their job done quicker, better, easier, or cheaper.
Do your best in every way. If after all things don't work out; or it becomes obvious management is not recognizing your superior efforts and abilities, then give them two weeks notice and go elsewhere. Pand M'ing on and on benefits no one.
An old mans take on how to get miles and a good tractor that always worked for him.....

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Bye Y'all

all very good info. I just want to go from training, to orientation to in the truck with a mentor, with LITTLE waste of time. Someone somewhere said (think it was with schneider) they were sitting for 2-3 weeks without getting into a truck with a trainer. I am smack in the middle between KC, MSP, and Chicago. I would think it wouldn't be too hard to find a trainer to get me into their truck.

I know this is the wrong thread to ask this, but how tough is it to back at night? might it be a good idea to have a 1 quadtribillion candle power light to help shine some light? (something that bright might just melt a trailer to the ground)

I agree 100%. Watch ice road truckers, season 1 and 2. Determine which type of driver you are. The proffessional and the steering holders are really easy to spot. If you go above and beyond, you definately need to be recognized. Dont go above and beyond for the recognition itself, otherwise its like standing up in church and telling everyone your making a sizable donation. You need to do it for yourself. DM's and drivers have a symbiotic relationship, both need each other to be successful. I am estatic over the direction this forum has gone in the last year. I think this thread will need to be moved again back to the report a good trucking company section!

Wes

Or watch the current season of Ice Road truckers, that whines about not getting a load, then he gets one, and it is a load of garbage. Then whines about being in a POS truck, and takes time off to get adjusted by a doctor. Dude....you wanted to be up there, you KNEW it would be rough....physically and literally, so dont whine.

There are drivers who whine about not getting 3000 miles, some dont get 2000. Some whine because they aren't getting 40cpm, when otheres arent making 30. I would gladly work 2000k miles, and 25-30cpm....why? cause 1) it is a job, and 2) it is because i would be an OTR driver....ON THE ROAD.