Mentor Blues!

Discussion in 'Swift' started by SteveH85396, Sep 15, 2011.

  1. SteveH85396

    SteveH85396 Road Train Member

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    I graduated the Swift academy Aug 12, had to wait a week for orientation and flatbed tiedown class (Aug 22-26), then waited until Sept 11 to go on the truck with my mentor.

    I thought things were going well when last night my mentor tells me that he wants me to start using the trailer brake (as opposed to using the tractor service brakes) to slow the truck. My reply was that I didn't want to do it (use the trailer brake) as it went against my experience (I drove for 200,000 miles in the 70s) and training.

    So we t-call the load in Phoenix and I head home for the night. This morning I drove back to the terminal with the intention of helping my mentor re-secure a load of lift gates (t-called to Phoenix) headed for PA. I stopped by driver development and spoke with one of their staff that I hold in high regard (1.6 million mile driver). He agreed with my stand on using the trailer brakes and added that trailer brake fires are an alarming problem with Swift.

    When I arrived at the flatbed area I found my mentor and told him that we needed to talk. I told him my stand on the trailer brake issue and asked him if he was willing to let me do it my way. He replied that he was not.

    After removing the rest of my stuff from the truck I stopped by driver development again and asked for another mentor. After writing a statement I was taken off the truck and am now back at home waiting for a new mentor.
     
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  3. Nubis13

    Nubis13 Light Load Member

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    Jul 1, 2011
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    That sucks Steve. I am getting ready to finish tie n tarp tomorrow. I hope my mentor (if I get one tomorrow). I did see 2 senior fb mentors today both with over a mil safe miles, so I hope I get one of them.
     
  4. otherhalftw

    otherhalftw R.I.P.

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    CA...gold discovery foothills
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    Don't delay your training too long....if it looks like a wait will take longer, try getting to your solo status with a van Mentor...then keep in touch with FB to finish up the training with them....that used to be the advice even FB gave the newbies getting started.
     
    Injun Thanks this.
  5. RAGE 18

    RAGE 18 Road Train Member

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    When I was training my trainer asked me to use the trailer brakes only and when I mentioned it to a veteran driver he told me thats just stupid he said that 4 brakes Vs 10 in stopping the truck 10 is way better and advised me not to do it. If your trainer was a O/O maybe he didnt want his tractor brakes to be used as much because after all the trailers are company owned. Its a bad habit thats all I can say.
     
  6. hosss

    hosss Light Load Member

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    Apr 12, 2011
    longview washington
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    i had a piece 'o sit trainer at may trucking .get another trainer,don't waste your time with this guy

    just sayin from experience
     
  7. fairshake

    fairshake Road Train Member

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    Where the hell do they find these moron mentors.
     
  8. harleymanjax

    harleymanjax Rookie Skateboarder

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    No wonder SWIFT has so many accidents!
     
  9. schmud0811

    schmud0811 Medium Load Member

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    Jun 2, 2010
    Phoenix,AZ
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    Sorry to hear that ,glad to meet you yesterday. Sorry for not being able to talk long I was kinda busy with a bunch of stuff....Good luck with a mentor
     
  10. SteveH85396

    SteveH85396 Road Train Member

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    Waddell, AZ
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    Swift has so many accidents because they are the largest full-load carrier in the country. If you have the most trucks/drivers then the law of averages say that you will have the most accidents.

    That said stupid practices (such a using the trailer brakes) doesn't help.
     
    DenaliDad Thanks this.
  11. SteveH85396

    SteveH85396 Road Train Member

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    Waddell, AZ
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    The problem with doing it this way is I would still have to spend time with a FB mentor AFTER I finished with a van mentor. I need to learn how to tie down certain loads and how to deal with Swift via the Qualcom.

    I hauled 3 loads in the 4 days I was on the road, 2 flatbed, and 1 van. Even though the van was pre-loaded the whole process (of dealing with a van) convinced me that FB is the way to go for me.
     
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