Swift newbie starting out

Hello all. First off I would like to thank this great community, I have been lurking and reading for the past 8 months and have read the good, bad and ugly of the trucking industry. With your words I feel I am not walking into this blindly or with undeserved expectations, and for that I say Thank You.

I have not driven trucks since I was in the marines back in the early '80s. Since then I have worked many trades from construction to computers and food service. Most recently I was a restaurant manager/chef but was terminated for being "too nice" as the owner wanted an ogre to manage his restaurant, someone that would yell and scream at the employees. Not my style as I gain respect by giving respect. I am not Chef Ramsey. There is enough stress in a high volume restaurant as it is, no need to be a hot head and make it worse.

Unfortunately I live in Michigan with the highest unemployment rate in the country and unless I want to train for the health care field there are no decent jobs available. Living off an unemployment check is not my cup of tea, and after a year of numerous interviews and still no work I decided to make the lifestyle and career change to trucking. Actually I had pursued this last fall and was accepted by CR England to begin training but after discussing it with the family I agreed to put trucking on the back burner and continue to job hunt for local work until the daughter graduated from high school this year. She couldn't stand the idea of me missing her senior year. Now that all the graduation parties, dance recitals, etc. are complete and she is set for college in the fall I am free to hit the open road and begin a new career.

Delaying the jump into trucking has given me time to do research and learn what I could about the current industry and different carriers. Needless to say CR England quickly dropped down my list as a prospective company to work for based off the pros and cons I have read. I know many will say I should get my CDL through a local college or private school but financially this is not an option so going through one of the larger training carriers is my best bet. I have read posts from many drivers that have been successful or at least are content with working for some of these companies and what I tend to notice is they have the same type of values, work ethics, and temperament as I do ... at least as much as one can surmise from the written posts. So I figure I have just as good a chance at success as anyone.

My first choice was Stevens Transport but they are not accepting applications from anyone in Michigan at this time. Next was Swift as I live near I94 and see plenty of their trucks traveling the road. Talked to a recruiter two weeks ago, submitted the online app, interviewed with Swift Investigation/Security earlier this week and got the green light today. Ran to the Secretary of State and took the cdl written tests today, including the tanker and hazmat tests. Passed all five tests on the first try and 65 dollars later I walked out with my permit. Still have to do the fingerprint and TSA background check for the hazmat endorsement but the test is done and recorded. Called the recruiter and left the voice mail that I am ready to go... now it is a waiting game. I will pester her till I hear something as she has never returned any of my voice mails.

I would love to hear any comments, recommendations, and advice especially from Swift drivers that might help me on this new path, Like how much out of pocket expense should I expect from now till hired and receiving a paycheck? Expenses that Swift will not finance. The unemployment check only goes so far after helping with current bills at home.

Thanks in advance,
-SgailDreugan

 

Sorry if my post confused you. I do not have the license yet, this is just the temporary instruction permit gained after taking the written portion of tests and is required by Swift before they will even schedual me for the school. Some of the schools will have you take the written tests after you arrive at their school, but that also means you are being licenced in the state the school is in and will have to have it changed to your home state after you are done. With Swift I will even take the driving portion of the test in Michigan after I complete their training in Tenn. Differant states, differant regulations.

Hope that helps clear that up.

-SgailDreugan

 

Thanks Schmidtrock, I was thinking the $150 was a bit low. I am very good at surviving on very little money when needed, and with my current funds I will be eating cheaply. I gave up cigarettes a few years ago but I still smoke a pipe. I can purchase enough pipe tobacco to last me a month for about 15 bucks at most discount tobacco stores. My culinary experience will help a lot as I can turn most cheaper ingredients into a great meal.

Toiletries I should have with me to last the time. Coin operated laundry I have no control over of course and must pay whatever it is. All of the list items I have on hand and just need to pack them.

I do have a question about the social security card. The one I have carried for many years was laminated eons ago. I read on one list (not sure where) that it must be unlaminated. How critical is this? I would hate to show up and be disqualified till I got a replacement. It has never been an issue before.

I spoke to the recruiter today, finally got through to her and got her cell phone number since she never calls me back from any of the voice mails I have left. Hopefully I can reach her easier now, and soon I wont need to speak to her at all. She set up my login info to take the Swift online cdl segments/modules this weekend and asked if I wanted to start at the academy on July 5th or the 12th. As much as I want to start right away I decided on the 12th, this will let me enjoy the 4th of July weekend with the family. This of course really made the girlfriend happy to have an extra week with me, but then she turned around and began working on a 'honey-do' list of things she would like done before I leave.


-SgailDreugan

 

Good to know and better to err on the side of caution. I will be at the local social security office first thing monday and fill out the nessesary paperwork. I will let the recruiter know just in case I don't receive the replacement before I am schedualed to leave.

I realize some of these questions could be asked to the recruiter, but I also know that most recruiters could care less and often will just guess, or blantantly lie as long as they get you there and signing contracts. At that point they have done their job and it matters not if your disqualified.

Information is power, and you all are helping to arm me to the teeth. I can't thank you enough.

-SgailDreugan

 

Figured I would post an update.
Took care of the social security card issue monday morning, pretty straight forward and no cost for the replacement (very unusual of gov not to charge a fee but I am not complaining), should arrive before I leave. I spoke to the recruiter to inform her of what was happening and she said that was fine as long as I have the slip of paper the SSA office gave me. I also asked her about the requirement on the list of what to bring of having noterized letters explaining why I was unemployeed over 60 days. She said not to worry about it as all the background stuff is done. I told her I could bring the paperwork from unemployment showing I have been receiving unemployment insurance. She kind of got short with me and insisted I not worry about it. Now perhaps she was just busy and I was taking up her time with needless questions, but my gut feeling says I should bring that paperwork with me anyhow, just in case.

She told me to call her next tuesday the 6th to set up transportation. So for now I just wait, work items off the 'honey-do' list, surf the forums and trucking websites for knowledge. I study things like pre-trip inspections, but without a truck for actual hands on inspection, I can only speculate what I am supposed to be seeing.

Here is an oddball question, Why do the regulations state tire tread depth as 4/32 steer and 2/32 others, instead of reducing the fractions to 1/8 and 1/16 respectively? Just seems odd to me, but maybe there is a logical reason that someone on here can explain... I know, logic and government don't mix.

-SgailDreugan