Newbies: At what point did you know, for sure, that you had a job?

My company emailed me airplane reservations to come and interview, after a road test, was sitting in the Ops Mgrs office and he got a call about needing a trailer picked up, droped at another spot and bring a full one back, he made a couple of calls to dispatch looking for a driver that was around, had none, then he turned to me and grinned. Thats when I knew I had a job!

 

So you was lost huh?

 

When I passed the range instruction and they threw me on a bus back to Gary, IN and then threw me in a motel room. And yah.. that first solo run is nerve wracking, so is the second, third, fourth, etc! Took me about 1-2 months to get the hang of it, then I knew I was in good.

 

Funny you should ask.....

At Sumner WA, there is a huge, Highly visable yard FULL of Swift trailers. It's the Costco depot and it sits next the far less visable Swift yard. Did I pull into the wrong yard on the 1st day of Orientation? Yes, I did!

 

I think most companies follow a similar pattern in dealing with new employees. They wait as long as possible to actually commit to giving you the keys because it gives them more opportunities to evaluate your behavior while they string you along.

I just changed jobs & even with my substantial experience, impeccable record and superb references it was a month of contacts with my new co. before I actually got the keys to a truck. And maybe it was all in my head, but I was still not convinced that I actually had the job until I called in last Monday AM & was told that they finally had a truck (but not the one I was promised) so come on in. I think the first week or two are tests as well. Will I do an all night, non-stop boogaloo on my first load? Will I pallet jack 44K of beer into the trailer? Will I drive an under-powered FLD instead of the 379 I was promised & not complain?

For pay, benefits & freight lanes like this, I'll do all that & more, smiling the whole time.

 

I always figured you pass the road test and the physical and drug screen your pretty much good unless you were hiding something on your application most companies will weed them out by the end of 1st day or 2nd

 

When you look in the mirrors and see a trailer and the jump seat and sleeper is empty...