My Time With Swift

I am on the cancellation list for Swift's 11/29 class also. If I do end up going to Swift, I will definitely need to go back to the school to practice my shifting. I don't want to fail Swift also...

 

well been on the road with my mentor for swift now 16 days. not all so good. he has only been driving 15 months. he does not know how to judge time needed to a rrive at our stops. started on the 4th i drove from eugene or to weed ca. he drove into our stop at woodland ca. arrived 11pm. up at 7am off on the road. the first five days i was up 17 to 19 hrs a day. he would get bored so he wanted to drive when i was to be. he would say i will drive couple hrs then you can so he would drive 5 or 6 hrs then i would drive 8 to 10 hrs. made long days. twice we got to our stop around 11 pm time different first time was two hrs. so we had to get right back up at 3am to make our delievery on time. same story again in three days. i ran out of hrs about 3 1/2 hrs out so he drove which he was out of hrs. next day we both our so tired from these hrs he drives into a town in ks that no trucks were allowed so we get stopped. state patrol comes goes over our logs. well i put on my logs where we changed drivers the night before he had where we were going. which was 3 1/2 hrs from where i was. not a good thing. he got in to alot of trouble. then he goes up the wrong side of the on and off ramp glad know one was coming so he jumped the curve to get on the right side. then he wonders why i don't sleep while he is driving. when he is tired and he hits the ramble bumps on the side of the road and pours water down his back to stay a wake. we were doing teams from the start. which i guess they say is to happen after 50 hrs. so of 15 days out i had 6400 miles of my own. he missed the snow storm i drove thru on I80 thru wyoming 22 hrs up that day for me. there is so much more that happen. it is sad they have mentors like this. one student driver i talked to in pa hadn't had a warm meal in 4 days and they slept most of the time at the shipper and pee out side the truck there cause the mentor doesn't want to waste time driving to a truck stop. i know that life on the road is not like this. so i know it has to get better. i'm home now for 2 days picken up another mentor so i can go to canada. i will be glad when this is over and i can get on my own. i hope all mentors out there aren't out there just to rush a person thru. if i hadn't had some experience driving before i would of got off in ga which i wanted to but dm said to stay. this guy will kill someone or his self one day. but i don't think swift cares how people drive or act out there. what they don't see they don't care. everyone is just a number for them. well that is my life on the road so far. can only get better.

 

Ok. I am out of this thread as Swift has rejected me as well. So far not offers. Time to fill out more apps.

 

onthefence did Swift give a reason?

 

At fault accident. If these companies would actually read my application, they would not have gotten my hopes up with pre-hire letters.

 

Ironrider you are going to enjoy the instructors in San Antonio. I just finished up my training there last week.

Wednesday through Sunday is classroom.
Monday is written cdl tests at DMV
Tuesday through Saturday is backing, Strait line- offset-Parallel
Sunday Off
Monday through Wednesday is shifting

Road training starts Thursday and lasts five days.
Saturday&Sunday off

Thursday Road tests at DMV

The days inn is almost downtown San Antonio and the bus comes and gets you everyday at 6:30AM. The motel is ok and has a continental breakfast in the morning.

The instructors:

Classroom

Miss Virginia
Mr Calloway - Favorite saying "Attention To Detail"

Range Backing

Mr Thompson favorite saying "Drive My Truck"
Mr Humphrey 50 years experience in trucking

Shifting

Billy-

Road Training

Mr Lawless
Mr McCain
Mr Thompson


Each one of these instructors all have excellent personalities and you will definitely remember a few of them.

There is a Wendy's and McDonalds right by the hotel and they take you to HEB twice a week. Rooms will have a fridge and microwave and if they don't you can request one.

I had a good time down there with my fellow classmates and met some good people.

Went to orientation is Lancaster last week and just waiting for my mentor to pick me up after Thanksgiving.

 

That's a great mentor where you are both logged driving at the same time when he will let you sit in his lap to get 'proper training'. lol I'm just kidding- sounds like an awful experience out there for you with this guy. I'm sure you're doing it, but just hang in there and get the required time down and you can go on your own. You said you already know how to drive, just survive the next month and it will be shangri-la.

I love the crazy mentor stories though!

 

Lancaster? did you mean harrisburg? but anywho i go to orientation the 29th with swift in jonestown (harrisburg) what ever you wanna call it lol. Im going in exp so with all hoping i pass the road test (alley docking will be the problem). I getting put on the N/E Regional position i should have my laptop with me so we can chitty chitty chat chat chat lmfao i know im a dork any mentor would love me be non stop laughs

 

whoops hit post to quickly. but i wanted to know from DODGE got any pointers for me on the road test? i pulled a 2009 Ravens 40' Frameless Dump Spread Axle so as you can see not much need to do it lol

 

why was i never told about a wellness test or is that if you go out on med leave?