Swift orientation road test

You are going to end up out with a mentor for the full 240 hours and required backs. If you have never backed with a 53ft make sure you take your time on the test and G.O.A.L (Get Out and Look.). Also you need to tell us where your going to swift has more then one terminal. In Phoenix you take the road test in a Freightliner Columbia with a 9 speed Eaton fuller transmission and yes where ever you take it it will be on public roads you will have a backing test.

 

i am going through orientation at the lathrop,ca terminal on the 14th of may will i have to road test before going out with a trainer? havent driven truck since november so im a little nervous

 

I'm gonna be home the first 10 days in May, my truck will be parked at Lathrop. I will be in and out of the terminal various times, cleaning my truck, stuff like that. If you have free time (and I do too) I'd be happy to work with you inside the terminal using my truck, practice shifting, backing, and hook/sliding into the dock Bo and Luke Duke style. I can't take you outside the terminal due to insurance reasons so we'd be limited to 8 miles an hour inside the terminal. We could probably push it a little faster in the backstretch, should be good enough working through 5 gears to get the hang of double clutching.

 

you are from ma so you must be going to syracuse. test will be in a truck with a sleeper and a 53 foot trailer. the test is on public roads and should only be 20 to 30 minutes. they mainly want you to be a safe driver.

 

Dont worry so much...Your mentor will work with you on driving and you'll get plenty of time driving when ur out on the road...They understand that you haven't had much time behind the wheel. It will take some time to get used to backing a 53' but I think it's actually harder to back a 28' cause of the short distance to the rear wheels and it moves totally different then a longer trailer...Good luck and be safe.

 

You will not road test until you have completed your mentor time....6 to 8 weeks depending...You should get to drive in all 4 zones and do 50 some unassisted backs.
Dont be nervous and dont be untruithfull. Just a small word of advise, if you dont goal it is an auto fail.

 

Don't ever be afraid to get out and look at where ur backing into....There's still a lot of good drivers out there that will do it especially if they don't feel comfortable...Nothing wrong with that at all...Man I used to take containers from L.V. to Kent,Wa and I had to delv late at nite at this warehouse with very little lighting in parking lot.It was so tight in that parking lot that I had to get out at least 5 or 6 times to check where I was...After it was in the spot, It was so tite that I had to crawl down between trailers to crank down the gear....lol that was crazy....Never felt bad at all about that.