Originally Posted by Nighthawk34

I could almost understand someone gettin in the sleeper and sleeping/not paying attention while the other one is driving... but ONLY if they are to the point that at any given time they could already pass the test on their own !!! By the sounds of those rumors the class is going to be getting a little smaller shortly LOL..

Originally Posted by Nighthawk34

keep up on the praciticing to get the all important wording of the pre-trip memorized.. I know from experience that they tend to frown on just pointing to things and saying that your making sure its "prudent" LOL..

Originally Posted by ford390pwr

It would be hard to sleep in these trucks. They removed the bunks and installed a bench seat with 3 seat belts. This was done to discourage sleeping when you could be learning from someone's mistake, or just studying.



Washington state is a lot more strict than some of the other states. They want to hear certain words, and if you miss too many you can fail. I never was very good at memorizing a speech, so i will just need to study even harder.

Originally Posted by ford390pwr

It would be hard to sleep in these trucks. They removed the bunks and installed a bench seat with 3 seat belts. This was done to discourage sleeping when you could be learning from someone's mistake, or just studying.



Washington state is a lot more strict than some of the other states. They want to hear certain words, and if you miss too many you can fail. I never was very good at memorizing a speech, so i will just need to study even harder.

Originally Posted by ford390pwr

Today was day 9 of school, and day 2 of shifting. We spent about two and a half hours driving around town, and through the hills. A lot of different driving situations for us to experience.

This afternoon we spent an hour doing a Pre-trip practice test where I learned what I needed to practice even more. I was able to hit all the different parts, and did the inspection but I missed a lot of words and Washington wants to hear those words. So we will take the actual test for the school on day 10, and I will pass after more practice tonight.

Spent the next 3 hours on the range with backing, docking and offsets. I have a pretty good handle on the skills maneuvers, so I should do just fine there.

We did hear a few stories about the other students. Apparently there are a few that are getting on the instructors nerves with the way they are driving. It sounds like some of the instructors will be a little more anal so they can weed out a couple more students. Apparently one guy is getting in the sleeper and well he is sleeping. When he is not sleeping he is playing with the phone. Now add this to the fact that he is not doing so good with the driving, and he is about ready to get sent home.

Another student is having problems with managing the trailer. He is running over all the curbs, and getting real close to some 4 wheelers. Apparently the instructor needed to use the emergency brake to avoid an incident. The trailer was getting dangerously close to a sign when turning the corner.

So at the end of the day, I went back to the motel and surprise I have a new roommate. Only time will tell how this will go. Apparently he went home last week and is now returning so he can get more time shifting.

That is all I know! Started the day with 9 students, ended with 9 students and will ad the 10th on the morning of day 10.

Originally Posted by Colorado-K

Actually, if I may interject for a moment, I find this thread to be quite interesting as well as entertaining. Now, I'm not a gambling man, but I think Ford is going to make it all the way through his training with Swift. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders especially considering most of his classmates are now gone, yet he is still there. So I want to see if Swift is as terrible as everyone claims it to be or if it's just sissified drivers with a chip on their shoulders because they couldn't handle the job. Ford, I'm on your side, brother!! Keep up the good work and let us all know how your doing!!!


Colorado -
With all due respect to your comment, it would be helpful for future posters to understand that one can be displeased about a situation without being accused of being a "sissy" or having a "chip on their shoulder".

From my point of view, I have been trying, albeit, somewhat futally, to lay down some facts without editorialized hearsay. I've simply been stating what happened to me. Re "sissified" - I was pulling flatbed and anyone who has done so will quickly tell you there's nothing sissy about it. It's damn tough work and at 57 and with a less than good back, I did the job and frankly did a good job always on time with perfect freight. That is not what drove me away from Swift. It was a bunch of things, all of which have been written here.

So, to be clear - many of those, if not most of those who have left Swift most likely, did not leave because they couldn't handle the job, but rather couldn't handle Swift for various reasons. This would be documented by their transfer to another carrier....not necessarily another job description. No "chip", but again, just providing another point of view.

Originally Posted by ford390pwr

I thought this would be a cool little addition to the thread. I downloaded a program called GPSED to my Blackberry. Started a tracker once we started driving. This tracker includes the driving that both Dave and I did on day 9.
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Originally Posted by bill122250

One of the comfort zones looks like it is east of the mississippi. should this be good for miles?