So I've finally decided to join the trucking industry after getting my CDL a year ago. I never used it as I had a manufacturing job making $13 an hour ( good for my area ). But alas I decided to quit a week or so ago as I simply had enough of standing at an assembly line feeding pieces of wood into a saw 8-10 hours a day. I'm going to orientation in Harrisburg this coming Monday the 16th. Apparently SWIFT now pays you for orientation. It's 3 days long, and you get paid for the 2nd and 3rd day ( but not 1st day ). Also I was told they're doing a pay raise for all drivers, as I'll be starting in Van, I was told for OTR I'd be starting out at 33cpm or 34cpm ( can't remember which ), and it use to be around 26cpm starting pay. Even though I'll only be making $400 or so a week while with my mentor around 270 hours of training, the 34cpm doesn't seem bad at all when I get out on my own.
My only real concern is the road test in orientation. I was told they're given the 1st day of orientation along with the drug test and physical. DTest and physical are no sweat for me, just the road test. I haven't driven a truck since I graduated trucking school last June, so 12 months since I've driven. What does SWIFT make student drivers with no exp do on their road test? Any backing? I'm confident I can do the road test, just curious really.
Harrisburg Orienation 6/16 RT Question
Discussion in 'Swift' started by PBlake987, Jun 10, 2014.
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Hi! I started at Swift back in 2004. When I did my road test, there was backing. It will be similar to your drive test for your CDL-A. JB Hunt was the same too. They just want to be sure you can drive the truck safely and know what you're doing. It's pretty straight forward.
PBlake987 Thanks this. -
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The road test is done after you've been out with your mentor, so you'll have plenty of practice. Experienced drivers coming in test out at the end of orientation, before they get their trucks.
33 cpm sounds suspiciously close to the current 32 cpm that drivers get at one year of experience, so I'm wondering if your recruiter mistakenly believes that you have a year of driving experience.
Since you should be out of orientation and on a truck by now, give us an update!
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