Let me introduce myself

Hello all,
I Know I should've probably posted this in the welcome wagon but there doesn't seem to be much traffic there and I've been lurking in the swift threads for awhile now so I feel like I know the folks here a little better , but you know nothing about me so let me give you some background. Before I start I think it's fair to warn you that this will probably be a fairly long read so get the bathroom breaks out of the way and grab some snacks 'cause this might take a bit.
Well I was born and raised in Tulsa, OK and my first job was in remodeling, I did that for a couple years then I joined the Marine Corps when I was 17 and got married to my beautiful wife a few short months later. I spent 5 years as a helicopter crewchief (a mechanic who flies with the chopper). I was honorably discharged in AUG 2013. I got out for various reasons i.e. military downsizing and promotions are slow, that and I now have two little boys (one just turned 4 and the other is 10 months) so having to move around alot is kinda rough on a family.
I went to the swift academy in NOV 2013 to get my CDL so I am all swift from the start. I chose swift for various reasons but mostly because they are the largest so freight is not usually an issue and if I stay with them for a year my training is free (prior military scholarship) I went to the Richmond Academy (I stayed in north virginia where I was last stationed ) The academy was great and the instructors were very experienced and I learned alot. I payed attention and with some hard work I was able to get my CDL one week early. If anyone has any quesstions about the richmond acadmey feel free to ask since my experience is so recent.
I hopped on my mentors truck in DEC and was fortunate enough to have a mentor who had 19 years experience and was a very good teacher. towards the end of my mentorship we helped out a target dedicated that runs reefers out of Denton, TX for a month and they offered my a team dedicated run. The consistency was great and the pay is good so I decided to go with it seeing as I knew a driver I went to the academy with who I could team with. With me and my co-driver living in Va they said it would be no problem to get us OTR runs home and back.
My co-driver just finished his training(he had some setbacks with his first mentor), meanwhile I've been running solo OTR for a month waiting for him and now it is just a matter of getting him on my truck. I had a prostar but it was broke down in the shop for a few days and swift saw fit to put me in a '14 cascadia with only 45k miles so I definitely want to keep this truck and figure out a way to get to my co-driver who is in richmond.
I plan on driving for swift for at least a year and then who knows but I have a job offer from a local company a buddy of mine drives for as soon as I have a years experience.

Well that's my story in a nuthshell any questions or comments are welcome. I look forward to hangin around with you swiftys for the next year!

-Matt

 

There is no "contract" if you have military experience you just don't have to pay for the school if you stay for 13 months. I can leave any time I want but I would owe swift for the academy, now anyone else without military exp. will essentially finance the the academy it is $300/mo but swift pays back $150/mo for 13 mo so after 13mo you owe nothing but they continue to reimburse you the $150/mo for an additional 13mo so if you stay for 26mo then your school will be completely reimbursed.

 

Yeah I have been fortunate and have a good DM which is what I believe can make a world of difference

 

I guess I may have been a little unclear in my reply. I added up the weekly payments/reimbursements for the month to try and simplify it but what inkeeper said is true, it is weekly payments/reimbursements and there is no contract other than the financing. You can leave swift at any time you are just obligated for the remainder of you tuition which is a total of $4,400 if you stay at the hotel but if you live close enough to commute to the academy it is $3,900. If you leave before your 13mo then you have to pay whatever is left on the remainder of your tuition financing.

 

Yeah I've been in contact with the guys at target. I call them every few days and they know my situation. They say the job is there waiting for me as soon as I can get my co-driver in my truck