Swift Academy - Richmond, VA - My Experience Begins

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

  1. Rattlebunny

    Rattlebunny Medium Load Member

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    Elkton, VA
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    I can't speak for all of Swift's Academies as far as their training, but I can guarantee you that the training class in Richmond, VA is definitely not a gimme class. It seems like the mapping test is the one the derails most. They do go over the test and give you great examples which cover all of the types of questions on the exam, but you have to PAY ATTENTION ... and therein is the rub.

    It seems like a lot of folks come into trucking expecting it to be easy, requiring hardly any brain power at all. IMHO this is because of the bogus image that America has about truckers in general. Perhaps in years past it would have been accurate to assume that most trucker were poorly educated lay-abouts that took to trucking as a dodge or to hide from "the man". In the last twenty or thirty years that has completely changed. Having driven 18 wheels before I had a slight advantage, but I have met Stockbrokers, Lawyers, Doctors, Airline Pilots, ex-Cops, and a plethora of ex-Military out here. Some have just a High School Diploma, but a lot more than you'd think have at least one college degree (I have two), and some have advanced degrees.

    These days trucking is not a place to just take a job because you have no other option or because you're catching flack for being lazy. It's actual work. Yes there are jobs to be had, but this job requires Brains, Skill, and Brawn. Just keeping up with the latest DOT regs can make one try on the lawyer hat just to understand what's required in the legalese they spout it out in. Never mind the navigating (not all of us rely on biotching Betty and the GPS), the people skills necessary to not go nuclear at each and every stop (most places these days seem to have their hate on for truckers) which requires you to try on the therapist sneakers, and so on and on and on...

    The folks that come to Richmond expecting simplicity and an easy pass don't have a clue what their in for. My class went from 17 to 4 in as many days. Three were folks reentering to try again and they skipped the parts they'd passed already. We lost four due to the mapping (a recent class lost 12 I think), and we lost six due to the straight line backing test. It's not complex, and don't get me wrong this isn't nuclear physics, but they are serious about getting people with potential behind the wheel. They aren't looking for strays (btw ... why would you come to a trucking school if you had smoked crack the night before?? I'll never understand that one.).

    The instructors in Richmond are top notch and they are only interested in helping you, but they do not suffer fools. But, like I said I can only tell you about the Richmond academy. I have heard that the Swift Academy in Idaho is excellent as well, but I can not confirm that personally.

    My only advice for new truckers is this: Please understand that you are starting at the BOTTOM of the pool, and like spawning salmon you'll have many many hurdles to get over before you're where you want or need to be. Make sure that if you say you can handle a delivery you do so with haste. And understand that you must PROVE your worth before it can be seen and appreciated by a company as large as Swift. Keep the left door shut and the pedal on the floor. Stay out of the driver's lounge at the terminal and especially at the truck stops; you're going to have enough negative things going on in the beginning ... you don't need to willfully subject yourself to the poison sprayed in these places. Keep to yourself and get the job done. Save the socializing for your 10 and home time. And like I've always said: You can jump up and down, screaming at the top of your lungs that you are the reliable one ... the guy or girl that can get it done ... or you can keep your teeth together and show them that you are. Which do you think will get the better response?

    Ok, I'll step off the soapbox once more, until next time ...,
     
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  3. MsJamie

    MsJamie Road Train Member

    Because they think that they are smarter than the people doing the testing. They quickly find that they aren't. The people doing the drug testing for the carriers have seen *everything*, and can spot irregularities immediately.

    And then, there are people like the two we had in our class. Their itinerary was something like this:

    Day 1: Drug test.
    Evening of day 1: Sit in their car and toke up.
    Day 2: Get retested, because they came in smelling of pot smoke...

    There was no day 3.
     
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  4. Rattlebunny

    Rattlebunny Medium Load Member

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    As a personal rule I don't do anything illegal for recreation, but even I know that if you're going to do that then you NEED to at least take a shower. Those were likely the same sort that you can find stoned out of their minds wearing the same clothing for days. Some people's kids. LOL
     
  5. OceanDan

    OceanDan Light Load Member

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    Rock Hill, SC
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    That'sfunnyrightthereIdon'tcarewhoyouare!
     
  6. Eckoh

    Eckoh Medium Load Member

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    what happens if you do not have that many refrences??? i have been taking care of family for years and many are now did and i did not have time to have a social life...
     
  7. Rattlebunny

    Rattlebunny Medium Load Member

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    Elkton, VA
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    I'm not completely certain. I do know of one guy who used his Dentist, Doctor and Lawyer as friends because they pretty much knew everything about him. The best thing you can do is to go over your situation with your recruiter (advice I rarely give), but they're the ones that are supposed to have those answers. In most cases your recruiter gets a commission or bonus for each person they recruit, their paycheck tends to depend on how many they seat and how many continue to become drivers with whichever company they're working for. Otherwise they'll tell you that the Sun is purple and the sky is orange if it gets you to commit to attending training or orientation. Any other Swifties have any other advice for Eckoh?
     
  8. Rattlebunny

    Rattlebunny Medium Load Member

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    Elkton, VA
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    Well, here it is, Tuesday night after the summer-ending holiday and I am finally in orientation here in Richmond.

    I had a very interesting visit to Concentra this morning to get my new DOT physical taken care of. (I'm covering this because several threads have gone over how much paperwork you have to do in orientation ... and I'm not one for beating a dead horse ... so ...) I had expected the Doctor to be exactly like the one I visited back in the Harrisonburg area. The initial doctor (who gave me a 90 day cert) took one look at me, without really examining me (I'm a big guy 365lbs and 6'2") and declared that I definitely have sleep apnea. I tried to explain that I sleep fine and wake rested, I tried to explain that my wife has rarely complained that I snore, and I tried to explain that I had recently lost almost 60lbs and it all fell on deaf ears ... the Harrisonburg doc was convinced that I needed to have a $1,000 plus sleep study to determine that I knew myself enough to be honest with him. I mistakenly thought that I would receive the same treatment from Concentra.

    The physical took the usual course: BP - fine, Height - checked, Weight - checked, Peripheral Vision - checked, Distance Vision - checked, Hearing - checked, then the dreaded (at least for me) Doctor Visit. This is where things went pleasantly sideways. The Doctor came in and actually visited with me, asking about my medical history. He learned that I have had Type II Diabetes since 2006 and that earlier this year my weight was actually over 420lbs. He also found out that I sleep well without waking throughout the night, that I rarely snore - unless I'm ill, and that my doctor actually reduced my Diabetes meds due to my recent weight loss. All of this information caused him to take a close look at my throat and come to the correct decision that, while I am most definitely overweight, my overall health is improving and I show no signs of having sleep apnea. Amazing what a little time can do.

    In the end I passed my physical and was given a one year cert. It's so much better than having to try to get one done every three months. This is a major improvement in my personal situation and it shows that there are still some health professionals that are actually interested in talking to their patients. Not sure how much this has to do with Swift or their training, but it is a part of trucking that ALL drivers will have to contend with from time to time.

    Tomorrow ... more paperwork.
    Thrusday ... more paperwork.

    I'll update again tomorrow, but suffice to say that most of orientation is watching videos, doing paperwork and generally getting our collective ducks organized enough to be federally and locally compliant drivers that Swift feels confident will do well as trainees and eventually (immediately for the experienced drivers we have coming in this week) successful company / lease op drivers.

    Until next time ...,
     
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  9. Eckoh

    Eckoh Medium Load Member

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    when i did my DOT med exam lat week for my permit the doc gave me a 2 year pass, i am 6'4 320 pounds... She only ased if i ever had sleep apea and when i said no that was it...
     
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  10. OceanDan

    OceanDan Light Load Member

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    Rock Hill, SC
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    We are preparing for day three at the Millington School. Monday, yes we started on Labor Day, was paperwork only. Tuesday was physicals, drug tests and contracts at the Memphis terminal. Our instructor, a true professional, has been impressive so far. We were back at the hotel by 5 ish pm and don't hit the range today for first time in the trucks til 6th today. A quick aside, did my one "splurge" last night. Headed south of Memphis just across state line into Mississippi and dined at the Memphis BBQ Company. Owner is a judge on the cable show "BBQ Pittmasters". DELICIOUS! !!!

    I digressed. We are scheduled on the range tnite from six pm til 5 am tmorrow. I understand we'll do first couple steps of a pre trip, then initiate our straight line backing. Really looking forward to getting in the trucks. Will have to try to catch a nap this afternoon so the "all nighter" won't seem like a marathon.

    So far so good. Sure I could look for things to "bash" but I'm getting a chance to enter a "new" to me industry and I appreciate the opportunity.
     
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  11. daedric269

    daedric269 Bobtail Member

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    Jul 17, 2014
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    Very informative thread.
     
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