Originally Posted by GhostRyder

Hi everyone,

I've been reading in all the forums for a few weeks, and I must say that I've learned alot. I feel like from doing a lot of reaearch that I would be going towards a trucking career with my eyes open. I'm looking into Swift company training out of San Antonio, TX.

I've read all the horror stories about CR England, Swift etc.......can't afford to pay for CDL. I want to get retrained into a new career and move on to a better company after 13 months if necessary. I know from what I've read that the first year is tough at most companies; just want to get the experience and find my niche, maybe (dedicated or regional.)

Has anyone been through the training at Swift in San Antonio? Any info would be appreciated. I'm waiting to hear back from Prime, Schneider & Roehl, but I'm from RI and am not sure how much these companies run into New England.

The Swift recruiter told me drivers could take the truck home....can any Swiftys confirm that?

Thanks,
GhostRyder

You can take trucks home..there are i believe 3 areas on the no take home list, Augusta GA and Jacksonville FL are two of them.

Seems a little out of the way to go from RI to TX...I went to the Richmond VA academy, sure they cant take you there?

Brad-

That's what I asked the recruiter; but she said San Antonio was the closest??? You can be sure if I end up there at Swift in San Antonio that I'm not taking the bus all the way to southern Texas. I'll buy my own one way ticket on Southwest before I spend 24 hours on a Greyhound bus.

Originally Posted by GhostRyder

Brad-

That's what I asked the recruiter; but she said San Antonio was the closest??? You can be sure if I end up there at Swift in San Antonio that I'm not taking the bus all the way to southern Texas. I'll buy my own one way ticket on Southwest before I spend 24 hours on a Greyhound bus.

thats insane...i just remembered that the Richmond School only does VA, PA, and NC for some reason.

Swift will repay you the price of a bus ticket from you to San Antonio so save that plane ticket, you can get SOME of it back at least. They pay you back once your hired and assigned a truck. As about it at orientation.

And from you to Texas would be more than 24 hours lol...wise choice!

I will also be heading to the Swift school in San Antoino. I wish I could be of help but I can't get my questions answered either. Good Luck to you.

I'm actually here right now.


The Classroom Stuff (1st week) was pretty easy and the different tests at DPS were pretty easy too I thought.

We just did 1 week of backing/parallel parking.
That wasn't too bad after I got the hang of it.
Monday we are going to the Shifting Range.

So far all of the Instructors have been nice and they seem pretty knowledgeable.

Oh, btw the Days Inn sux.
Days Inn does take us to HEB (Grocery Store) twice a week, thats kind of a screwy deal also.
Only 2 places within reasonable walking distance too.

Hey anyone out there still at the San Antonio academy? Wanted a lil more recent info. Any will help, Thanks

Ghostrider be careful. I went to NETTTS in Pawtucket and they told us that some states in northeast won't transfer an Arizona license. Massachusetts in one and I think they mentioned Rhode Iskand.

I just joined this site and I'm trying to check into getting into trucking. I moved here 18 months ago, and was always in the steel or manufacturing with steel business of some kind. Now, here at Toyota, we are cut back and I'm getting too old for job bouncing! I was considering Swift so i can get the training. how does all of this work? Someone said their base was Dallas. After training do you get assigned a base and relocate? Do you earn an income during training? Can you do the training before quiting your day job? Are they age discriminate in this field, I'm 56. In general, any other newbies out there like the decision you made by joining swift? If you go long haul, how long away from home? Yes, I'm really clueless!