Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Swift Academy - Richmond, VA - My Experience Begins

Discussion in 'Swift' started by Rattlebunny, Jul 26, 2014.

Page 3 of 14
  1. Jul 31, 2014 #21
    DoubleR_Boss

    DoubleR_Boss Bobtail Member

    7
    0
    Jul 24, 2014
    0
    Still there aye mate?
     
    DoubleR_Boss, Jul 31, 2014
    DoubleR_Boss, Jul 31, 2014
    #21
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Jul 31, 2014 #22
    Rattlebunny

    Rattlebunny Medium Load Member

    438
    289
    Oct 20, 2009
    Elkton, VA
    0
    Day Four

    The stripping of our class started with a complete class wide failure of the straight back test. We had ten, we now have four. Our entire class failed the initial straight back test. I was pissed, but really only at myself. After lunch we had the opportunity to practice again and four out of ten made the grade including myself. Ugh!!!

    Tomorrow comes quickly and I am completely wiped out. Oh, I got mine done in one shot, no mistakes this last time. More tomorrow...,
     
    Rattlebunny, Jul 31, 2014
    Rattlebunny, Jul 31, 2014
    #22
    DoubleR_Boss Thanks this.
  4. Jul 31, 2014 #23
    Broccelli

    Broccelli Medium Load Member

    373
    198
    Jan 2, 2014
    Virginia
    0
    Good luck brother, like you said it is certainly not a hand out license they are a little tough there at the Richmond academy.

    I started out with 14 in my class and only 3 of us got our license. Myself and one other got our license a week early and the other guy who completed early with me is my co-driver the only person I would trust to drive my truck while I sleep.

    It it is not a hard course if you do what you are doing and pay attention and go into it with a willing to learn attitude, they won't let you fail, they will make sure you know what you're doing.

    I'm glad to see that you are doing fine, because most people with prior experience tend to have difficulty in that course because they think they know everything and have difficulty learning. It is hard to fill a cup that is already full.

    Good luck and keep doing what you are doing, it seems as though you have the right attitude and you'll do just fine.
     
    Broccelli, Jul 31, 2014
    Broccelli, Jul 31, 2014
    #23
  5. Jul 31, 2014 #24
    DocWatson

    DocWatson Road Train Member

    1,263
    1,006
    Jan 21, 2010
    Jersey shore
    0
    Hey Rattle.

    I saw your class out there today but it was huge! I was pretty beat after starting early this morning and dropping this load that by the time I got to Richmond I just wanted to start my hometime. I saw 3 people in your class (2 guys and a girl) and I circled around them like a hawk in my tractor asking if any of them were Rattlebunny. They weren't but they said they would pass it along that someone was looking for ya. I'll be back there Monday night, Tuesday morning so maybe then.


    Until then, have fun with this experience!
     
    DocWatson, Jul 31, 2014
    DocWatson, Jul 31, 2014
    #24
  7. Aug 2, 2014 #25
    DoubleR_Boss

    DoubleR_Boss Bobtail Member

    7
    0
    Jul 24, 2014
    0
    RattleBunny flunked out? :-(
     
    DoubleR_Boss, Aug 2, 2014
    DoubleR_Boss, Aug 2, 2014
    #25
  8. Aug 3, 2014 #26
    Rattlebunny

    Rattlebunny Medium Load Member

    438
    289
    Oct 20, 2009
    Elkton, VA
    0
    Naaa. I didn't flunk out. There are only four of us left in my class. The others are all second weekers from North Carolina. There are ten or so. I'm in the Virginia section this week. Just me and one other guy there for the first part if the week. Waiting today to see if I get a new roommate.

    I'll update later. Have been fighting a nasty cold.
     
    Rattlebunny, Aug 3, 2014
    Rattlebunny, Aug 3, 2014
    #26
    DocWatson and Puppage Thank this.
  9. Aug 3, 2014 #27
    DoubleR_Boss

    DoubleR_Boss Bobtail Member

    7
    0
    Jul 24, 2014
    0
    Oh snap, just realized i'm going to Central Refrigerated training school and not swift.I thought the third party recruiter was for Swift but I guess they circulated me to Central. I think Swift and Central traingin is totally different. For example, Central trains for the CDL permit and I think one has to bring it with them. Well, good luck!
     
    DoubleR_Boss, Aug 3, 2014
    DoubleR_Boss, Aug 3, 2014
    #27
  10. Aug 3, 2014 #28
    DoubleR_Boss

    DoubleR_Boss Bobtail Member

    7
    0
    Jul 24, 2014
    0
    Also, I need 7 posts to be able to PM someone. So listen up! When you are driving over the road make sure to protect your medulla oblongata (sorry). That is all :)
     
    DoubleR_Boss, Aug 3, 2014
    DoubleR_Boss, Aug 3, 2014
    #28
  11. Aug 4, 2014 #29
    Rattlebunny

    Rattlebunny Medium Load Member

    438
    289
    Oct 20, 2009
    Elkton, VA
    0
    Day Five

    Friday was day one of my messed up cold. Fighting this thing has been testing my patience, my resolve and a few other frayed nerves left hanging around in the wreckage that is me. But I'm getting there.

    We had some shifting training and spent a lot of time going over the pre trip. This is the next big test and it comes up fast. Ours will be Wednesday. It was otherwise uneventful. I missed DocWatson's visit, but he's better off since I got this plague of a cold. Ugh.

    Day 6 - Saturday

    More pre trip practice.

    We went over out set ups for our test maneuvers and we seem to be progressing fine. I wish there was more to write about but it's really been one step at a time.

    Saturday was a half day and we had Sunday off.

    Day 7

    Today was more of the same. We learned our second maneuver for the Virginia test and did more pre trip. During today's shift training I was told that I'm ready too be out on the road. It's nice to have done this before, but I feel a bit like I'm cheating. A couple of us haven't had any experience with standard transmission cars let alone big rigs. But everyone is getting there.

    My cold has gotten to the point where I'm worried about them sending me home for a while. I'm hoping to get better tonight. We'll see. Until tomorrow...,
     
    Rattlebunny, Aug 4, 2014
    Rattlebunny, Aug 4, 2014
    #29
  12. Aug 9, 2014 #30
    Rattlebunny

    Rattlebunny Medium Load Member

    438
    289
    Oct 20, 2009
    Elkton, VA
    0
    Update: Saturday, End of Week Two

    As you know I've been fighting a hellacious cold. It's still here as am I. After working hard, nearly unable to speak all week, the powers that be here in Richmond saw fit to test me out a week early. Yesterday myself and one other guy took our backing and our road tests. All went very well and we are scheduled to test at the DMV on Wednesday.

    The really cool thing is my wife's birthday is Thursday. And if I pass I'll be waiting in the house for her to get home from work that night. I love surprises.

    My experience at Richmond has been a positive one overall. They are strict here and it ain't no cake walk to be sure. But the instructors, all of them, are helpful and for the most part they're positive. If you're thinking about trucking, and like me you ain't got da cash to go local, you could surely do worse than Swift.

    I'll continue to update here until I get my own truck and keep you all updated on the second phase if training ... the Mentor Zone. Until then ...,
     
    Rattlebunny, Aug 9, 2014
    Rattlebunny, Aug 9, 2014
    #30
    DoubleR_Boss Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 3 of 14