Recruited At Swift.. THEN DROPPED?!? NEW RULES?? WHAT THE HECK?!?

Tankergirl,
Certainly you are right, not all advice is good and well intentioned.
I think, that what I am astonished by, is us newbies, who are so excited and eager to rush in and start driving across America and believe we are even remotely prepared to hop in a drive one of these 80,000 ton rigs if someone would only give us a chance an a couple weeks of learning.

I almost rushed in, I was set and scheduled to go to CRE, then decided to go to Central, then through advice here decided I really owed it to myself to not just go to any school and hope for the best, so I invested in myself and my future and went to a local private school.
At first, I thought the 4 weeks was long compared to the two and three week company courses, then after starting school and beginning to understand there is a lot more to driving one of these big rigs, I am now 3/4 through my course, I have my cdl, all my endorsements, and my shifting and maneuvering is getting better. However, I have only been driving empty trucks around the cities and towns I am familiar with. I realize that 4 weeks has only taught me enough to get my cdl and begin to really learn about being a truck driver.

I read plenty of posts about drivers not getting loads and not making enough money to even eat on the road. I asked a lot of questions, and found, that not only do you need to know how to drive the truck, you have to know how to work with dispatchers, shippers, receivers, and not knowing how can be costly.
During the 3 weeks that I have been in school, here locally we have had two semi-trucks roll over, one jack knife on the interstate, and a fatal accident when a car swerved in front of a semi-truck on the interstate. I am talking very locally,all within a 50 mile radius.
There are options out there, the other two guys in my class went through Work Force and Vocational Rehab and had their tuition paid for. I Financed my own tuition, there are companies out there that reimburse tuition, but either way, I wanted good training. There is a guy in the class that just started Monday, who went through a company school and training and drove for 5 months, and the company he is going with now doesn't accept the company school and training as legit so he is back at school.
So, rushing off to the first school that says yes just doesn't seem wise to me. All the recruiters who have come to our school have said the same thing, freight is slow right now, for flatbed especially, they can be picky about who they hire, and drivers are waiting for loads, some longer than others.

 

Yup after scanning this post I agree "Attitude is the key to success". If you want to get into this industry and be successful, you mus have a positive one.. When I started out in 05, I applied on line, and talked to the recruiters on the phone, and always was polite, and that was returned to me by them.. Yes I have had a rough time finding the right company, but in the end I ended up with Swift myself. This is after Werner, US Xpress, Action Windoors, and Jb Hunt.. After bad luck with the first 3 I almost ended up not becoming a truck driver.. I may have not made a lot of money with Swift, but over all they treated me very good.. After them I went local and have been ever since, and make decent money...

This is a tough industry, and to be successful you need to start from the bottom and work your way up to the top, if there is one.. When you find the right company for you, get your training, do your time, (do not job hop) and then go out and find a company who is not just considered a training company. Your young and have many more yrs in you to work then say most of us old timers here.. You might even be able to be a O/O one day if you play your cards right..

 

I don't think its necessary to jump all over the guy's case because he went to a higher authority. Especially when he was told. And who is anyone to tell him what he was told to do? Just because you never had a recruiter tell you to call someone in Security or whatever doesn't mean that HE wasn't told to. So cut the dude a little slack already.

 

I would never drive an auto shift.......I know eventually thats the future, so I'm buying my own truck.

 

That first step is an important one, it is very important to give yourself the right start. I have read to many posts from people wanting to become a truck driver and earn a living for themselves and their family, only to have it all go bad, they start with the wrong company and then find it hard to get on with another one.
To me it would be scary to go to a company school. You read posts about "well I made it through the third day, 6 more got sent home..." I am sure for some they may have lied on their app. or failed a background, but, it just seems that each week 50 potentials start at a school and by the end of the two week they are down to 10.
I like the options that a private school offers. I will still need to start with a training company and do my time, but I like having choices.

 

Well said. Problem is some people dont have the $ to pay for private school. One of the BEST schools here in the midwest (private) is $4100 for the 160hr 4week course. Unemployment can pay some of this bill I guess through grants and what not.. but I think if you hook up with a great company that offers training (can you say that in the same sentence?) you could have decent luck.

I have my license. I work full time, but need to hit a private school for refresher ($1000/wk) and/or the entire course to get back in or just sign my life away at a company school. Vocational schools are out of the question, at 10weeks long...Price is right though...



-H

 

I think you're out of their hiring area. The freight here is picking up and the miles are up too.

 

I am currently enrolled in AIT Las Vegas and am 22 years old. I had a pre-hire with SWIFT. Two weeks ago I called to set up my orientation only to be told I don't qualify anymore because I am under 23. This nailed both me and my team driver. Now we're chasing our tails right as school ends for us. I feel your pain.

 

I'm sorry to hear that you were caught in the transconfiguration process the company is going though..I was lucky enough to be the last class at millington before they changed the rules.. they called me done atound thw late september.i'm 21 btw.

wish i can offer some advice but i never went through what you went through. if you have questions about the school, road training, etc...feel free to ask.