new driver with swift

Good luck in your new career! I understand what you are going through with all the uncertainties. There will be adjustment for both you and your family. I found the first day out was the hardest. After that I would settle into the routine and the days began to move by.

For your 42 days with your mentor, make sure he covers everything in the checklist you should receive. There are several different backs and other things like trip planning. Though the mentor is to sign those off, I found it best to keep on top of it since it was MY training. For the training period you want to take about two weeks worth of clothes. Each of the terminals have laundry equipment and you should have time along the way to do laundry. You need to let your mentor know.

As for your mentor, that is like your driver manager, it is the luck of the draw. If you and your mentor are not hitting it off well, talk with your training coordinator and see if a new one can be assigned. Make sure you communicate.

As for the 42 days, those are days you are available for dispatch. If your mentor takes time off you will get paid but those days do not count to your 42. Those 42 days are important days. ASK QUESTIONS! Really pick the brain of your mentor. It is the one opportunity you have to learn as much as you can.

Again, good luck. Keep us posted on how it is going.

 

set goals for yourself.... practice backing up till you eat and sleep backing up... move the trl tandems forward and backwards on the dolly and see how the trl behaves when backing up... watch where your fifth wheel is... bend wings... take a notebook and take notes... figure out all the CAT scale tickets and see how the boggie pins will move the weigh around.. learn your PTI... both pre and post... never skimp on maintenance... if you have a problem... get it fixed asap.. keep your log book clean... learn how to eat in the trk... saves money.. never drive when tired... send your dm a msg.."safety break",,, no load is that important you need to risk your life.. and learn how to schedule your days and run times to mean the appt times... best of luck... and if in a trk stop.. sit at the "bar" and listen and ask questions..... if you have problems backing up or such... get out or on the CB and ask for help....

 

Great info, CC.

 

PawPaw I have a question....I'm familiar with the stick shift but is it extremely hard to drive stick shift in an 18 wheeler? I'm assuming Swift will show you right?

 

It may be more difficult for those that already know how to drive a vehicle with a manual transmission. It is different (double clutch) and you have to "unlearn" what you know about shifting.

 

well thats good because I don't drive shift Im just familiar

 

That is ABSOLUTELY true! Only problem is, now I have a tendency to double clutch the 4-speed in my old Camaro!

 

Once you get used to the double clutching it is fairly easy. I have been out of a truck for two years and went to a refresher. Within a couple of blocks it was like I had never left the road.