Swift "Mid-term"

Discussion in 'Swift' started by Dagger, Mar 29, 2012.

  1. Dagger

    Dagger Light Load Member

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    I have to go to a terminal really soon and take what they are calling a "Mid-term." Does anyone know anything about this?

    My trainer has no idea what it is for. I've been getting a lot of driving time but he hasn't spent any time on trip planning or logging. I am very weak in these areas.
     
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  3. inkeper

    inkeper Road Train Member

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    Most likely just a sims class. nothing to worry about.
     
  4. scottied67

    scottied67 Road Train Member

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    They used to call about every week to ask the student how the overall experience of training was going, how many times the student backed up to a dock stuff like that over the phone. Maybe this is their new policy to bring the student in half-way thru training for a face to face where they can gauge a true assessment of your feelings without the worry that you might be kicked off at some random truck stop if you said the wrong thing on the phone in front of your mentor.
     
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  5. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    You might want to ask your 'trainer' to teach you some trip planning and how to do logs correctly.

    At least you won't need to mention those aspects during your mid-term.

    And if he doesn't, you should mention them. They are very important, and if he hasn't taught you by now you may be high and dry when you go solo.
     
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  6. MysticHZ

    MysticHZ Road Train Member

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    Uhhh ... how are you driving without logging??
     
  7. MicaBay

    MicaBay Medium Load Member

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    I was given the log class before I even stepped onto my mentors truck. As for trip planing... Get a road atlas and start studying... This I did every chance I had while on mentor's truck... While waiting at shippers/receivers.. Each time you stop, figure out where you'll stop next, plan 50mph or slower if you'll be going through a big city during the day/rush hour... check every 30 mins or so to see if your on schedule. Check your clock to be sure you have enough time left in the shift to make it to next stop.
     
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  8. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    And invest in a trucker GPS.

    If nothing else, it gives the ETA for the next stop (in the correct time zone) and allows you to plan more effectively.
     
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  9. blsqueak

    blsqueak Road Train Member

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    Why spend the money on a new trucker GPS, especially when first starting out. The GPS on the QC is great. You just have to plan a little more. Can always do like me, before start in the morning, if a load that is lets say 1200 miles and 4 days, plan 8 hours in the morning before stopping, until the new HOS takes affect, then a 30 minute break after 8 hours. That is going to mess me up, and think about it, it is really going to mess up alot of the Plus 1 loads, where the computer does not figure in breaks.
     
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  10. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Maybe I'm dense, but that makes no sense.

    1200 miles in 4 days.
    That's like, 300 miles per day.

    Not much planning to that load.

    And I would never go 8 hours driving without a break.
    Unless I am on a hi-val load, which has to drive 200 miles before stopping, I take a break every 150 or so miles. So, every 2.5 hours on average.

    In a full day of 600 or so miles I would plan for 2 short breaks and 1 long.
    The shorts would be 15-20 minutes, the long would be 30-60 minutes.
    That gives me 2 breaks to relieve myself with a meal at the middle.
    I also plan for a 12 hour (not 10) sleep break, because I need time to wind down and fall asleep and a couple hours to wake fully and do a pre-trip before driving.
     
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  11. scottied67

    scottied67 Road Train Member

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    I just had a 1500 mile run, picked up Monday afternoon and delivered Thursday morning. Piece of cake right? Should have been if I were a robot lol. I took one 11 hour break for the 10, took a 2 hour break in there for shower and sit down meal during the active 14 plus a few pull overs for me and the dog, we got to the final 1 hour late. Thank you Plus 1!
     
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