Swift Ocala

First of all, best of luck with orientation on the 20th. I see that you saw my post concerning Ocala. So if you get some time let me know what its like. I'm pushing the recruiter as much as possible but as a newbie I don't want to push to hard. I really want to work for them as they are not far from me and I don't relish having to take a bus anywhere.

 

They will pay for the hotel while going through the academy, you don't get paid during this time as you are not working for Swift. The Academy is a completely different organization that is owned by Swift. You do not get paid until you complete the 3 week class and the 2 day orientation at the end of training and go out on a mentor's truck. Day 1 of truck assignment with a mentor, you get paid.

Right now you'll be able to get a trainer right away as the number of students has been drastically cut.

 

Thank you for the info.
I assume the Academy you're speaking of is for acquiring the CDL?
I already have my CDL, but am a recent grad of driving school.
Just got off the phone with the recruiter and he tells me he is competing with 20 other recruiters to place people in orientation. Will be checking with him Monday afternoon to see where I stand on the list.

 

I called in late August and had to wait until Oct 20th. Orientation is 3 days now with no work well test. You get a continental breakfast at the Travelodge for free. Free lunch at Swift terminal and you pay for your supper. You will have a room mate at the motel. They told me a trainer would be there right after orientation is done. But, that being said I waited 10 days at Werner for a trainer. So, be flexable. Like it was said earlier, your pay starts the first day of training. Bring about $100.00 for the first week until you get paid. If you are frugal you can get by for less. Amongst your clothes and other stuff you bring, bring a snack like a box of crackers or something to chew on if you get hungry and you can't stop. Buy a gallon of water the first chance you get so you have something to drink while on the road. Other that that their is a packing list put together by current driver on another thread. Good luck.

 

At the risk of sounding ignorant, what is a "work well test" ?

 

It is in other threads i know i came across it anyway it is a series of lifting and pulling test with weight that is done with your pulse monitored but it isnt done so dont worry about it just go i got orientation on the 20th too so thats cool im lancaster

 

It was a strength and endurance test that Swift was doing... also, he stated that this was during orientation, ours was not. Perhaps if you were already a licensed driver I guess they would have done it in orientation, but I never saw people do it and we had plenty of licensed drivers there. Ours was done on the first 2 days of being in the academy, in orientation all they did was have us do a drug screen.

 

And stop by the walmart on state road 200, they have vaseline on sale !!! Kidding, just kidding. That Swift terminal is one of the better ones. Best of Luck !!!

 

Well after being told that there was at least a 2 to 3 month waiting list and that as of last Thursday I was pretty much out of luck till after the new year, I got a call this am and I'm off to orientation in Ocala on Monday. After 8 months of being unemployed I can't begin to tell you how relieved I am. I want to thank all those who have posted and will take with me all the things I have learned from reading them. I will go with an open mind, as much patience as I can muster, and with a positive attitude.

 

I went to orientation on the 20th with my Washington
State CDL, because my recruiter said it was alright. Well, it wasn't. They sent me home and I called the recruiter and she said to call her as soon as I got the Florida CDL and she would get me right back in. It took me three days and I called her and now she tells me it will be Dec. or possibly January before I can get back into orientation. So, I am looking for another job until then.