I applied for Swift and was accepted just waiting to set my dates for training. I would be training in Millington, and would have a base of my choice either there or Atlanta. Just looking for more updated info on their training and orientation, what trucks they're running, etc. Can anyone help provide this info?
Orientation is three days. First day is drug testing, physical, and a drive test. Last two days are paid. Swift will bus you to orientation and put you up in a hotel, two to a room (unless you opt to pay extra). Training is a total of 200 hours behind the wheel, the first 50 hours with the mentor in the passenger seat. After 50 hours the mentor, at his/her discretion, can qualify you to drive team. During training you will be required to keep paper logs (without a signature) and get at least 40 backs of all kinds in daytime and night (straight, angle, blindside, and parallel). Once you finish 200 hours BTW your mentor signs off and you will have a final drive test. After you pass that test you will be assigned a truck to go solo or you can opt to team.
trucks are international prostars, volvos, kenworths, and freightliners. most are 9 speeds, have a few automatics and 10 speeds
When they reduce the hours of training. Thought that it was a total of 240 hours behind the wheel. Also now parallel parking.
You'd better ask them about their idle policy before you commit yourself--friend of mine got his truck and they refused to fix his truck so it would idle after 5 minutes--told him new company drivers can't idle--
Then he should take it to a different terminal to get it fixed. Some terminals are really lame, while others will be better.
My mentor told me it was several students ago that she was informed of the new 200 BTW hours. So maybe 3 or so months ago? Fairly recent either way. Also, I do not have parallel parking on my backing sheet. It's just 10 Straight, 10 Angle, 10 Blindside, with half of the aforementioned backing as being day and the other half night backings; and then finally, 10 any for a total of 40 backings total. In addition to the final drive test, I have been told there will be a knowledge test and Close Quarters Training (basically a backing test).
this might be a dumb question but i am looking into swift training also (millington like you) and they say after your 13 days i believe you get on a greyhound to return to your home state to take cdl written/road test, so my question is how do you take a road test without a truck do i have to rent one or do they have a location where they have trucks for the test. and to JPearson wish you luck
I also did my training at the Millington Academy back in May. After the first 13 days, it really depends on where you're from. I was from Indiana; I stayed an extra week for road training in Millington because the road trainer in Gary, IN, was a bit behind. TN, MS, AL, AR, and KY students also all stayed in Millington. People from other states got sent to their closest terminal if there was room or also stayed in Millington. I guess to try and clearly answer your question, yes they will provide the truck, provide some road training, and then take you to take your cdl test. They'll also bring you back out if you fail. I managed to pass my first time, but another lady failed. She was sent home for a week and then came back the next week for some truck time and a 2nd attempt at passing the CDL test for her license. Which she ended up passing.
