Diary of a New Swift Driver

Discussion in 'Swift' started by Gold_Miner, Nov 16, 2011.

  1. Gold_Miner

    Gold_Miner Medium Load Member

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    Nov 4, 2011
    Burnet, TX
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    Well me and mentor are in Augusta, Georgia. I have drove for about 30 hours so far. We deliver a load of Fiberglass tomorrow at 5am. So I got to get up early. Driving is going good so far. Backed several times, once in a real tight spot. I am finally having fun. Not grinding gears as bad either.
     
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  3. Stoney

    Stoney Medium Load Member

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    Mar 15, 2011
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    Good deal. Keep a positive attitude. Good luck.


    Conservative to the Bone.
    R.I.P. Ron Paul 2012. Hahaha!!!
     
  4. Gold_Miner

    Gold_Miner Medium Load Member

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    Nov 4, 2011
    Burnet, TX
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    Well it took 5 days to find a mentor that had a legal inverter and I have been on the road for 10 days. Mentor does not trust new students, so he drove 1st day. He had a 34 hour reset, so that set us back a day. We have only been getting short runs. Our truck went to shop and is on a parts hold, due to instrument cluster melting. We are waiting on a new truck now.

    So no matter how hard I try to get driving time, everything is against me right now. It figures, I have had such horrible luck the past two years, why would I think that I would get lucky and get this stupid mentor thing done in 6 weeks. Heck at this pace I will be out with mentor for 8 or more weeks. Life sucks right now.
     
  5. southernride

    southernride Bobtail Member

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    Jan 13, 2012
    muskogee oklahoma
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    gold miner do not sweat it your time will be up before you know it.you will have ups and downs.it wont happen over night but it will happen.we always have to to take the good with the bad it will work for you and be for you know it you will be in your own truck and be proud of what you have done and been trough to get there.I and most here have been right where your at.if this is truly what you want it will be worth it.keep a positive at attitude and know what waits at the end and you will make it trough just fine.
     
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  6. Gold_Miner

    Gold_Miner Medium Load Member

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    Nov 4, 2011
    Burnet, TX
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    Thanks Souther, We are still in Lancaster. We finally got an old junker Volvo that the shop sprayed Armorall all over the inside. It is so slick on the floor that when you get in and out of the truck the steps are slick. The shop is installing an inverter for me and my mentor. Today is day 11 and I only have 37 hours behind the wheel. I am supposed to be up to 66 hours, so looks like I will be with this mentor thing for two months.

    So you newbies when it says up to 6 weeks, Swift advertising is a lie. You will need 240 hours behind the wheel and 40 backs. Just another thing that I found that was not what I was told in the begining. Also the mentors are very disrespectful of new drivers. They have an attitude that we are idiots and can not wipe our ### unless they show us how to do it. I just hate the attitude that most mentors and people in the offices at Swift have. Very disrespectful.

    I am still trying to keep a positive attitude and finish. I realize now that I have to do what I have to do to get a year of experience, then I will make a decision on which way to go. But I can tell you this, if I keep getting attitude after my 1 year is up, I will find a smaller local company to work for. NO NEED FOR THE ATTITUDE MENTORS, YOU PUT YOUR #### PANTS ON THE SAME WAY I DO!...
     
  7. DenaliDad

    DenaliDad Retired Wheel Dog

    It seems strange to me that a driver who doesn't trust new students would become a mentor...or that the company would allow it. We're all "new" at some time and we have much to learn. The mentors should have much to teach, right?
     
  8. Gold_Miner

    Gold_Miner Medium Load Member

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    Nov 4, 2011
    Burnet, TX
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    I agree, I think the mentor thing is just a scam that allows Swift to get slave labor to run teams. The slave is the new driver and the only one that gets anything out of it is Swift and the mentor. So far everything, (I mean everything) the mentor has shown me, I could have learned in a 30 minute video...
     
  9. Injun

    Injun Road Train Member

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    May 15, 2010
    West o' the Big Crick
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    If it was for labor, you would be doing all the driving. You have a guy who apparently shouldn't be a mentor. If you feel you are not getting adequate training or your mentor is mistreating you, maybe you should be talking to your driver services coordinator rather than judging an entire company of over 20,000 employees based on one idiot.

    There are students who knock out their training in less than six weeks. Many times. It's only an average. Your mentor is lazy. He doesn't want you to finish up your 50 hours too soon, because that means he will have to start pulling full shifts. That's not Swift. That's him.

    Suggestions: Talk to him about your frustration and let him know you want to get this finished. If he refuses, talk to DS. Or request a new mentor, but keep in mind, with your inverter requirement, it might be a bit of a wait.
     
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  10. Tapeworm

    Tapeworm Medium Load Member

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    Nov 18, 2010
    Upper Midwest
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    I agree with Injun and DD, and respectfully have to disagree with you Gold. A good mentor should be teaching you something new at every opportunity. A good mentor will teach you stuff that you cannot learn from watching a video! At the 11 day mark, you should be overwhelmed with the amount of things you have learned.
    If you do not feel that you are receiving proper training, please request a different mentor.
     
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  11. capthook

    capthook Light Load Member

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    Jul 16, 2010
    NC
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    Just bite your tounge, swallow your pride and get it done.
    Learn the qualcomm. Get your backs in.
    Think of it as army boot camp, heck... way easier than boot camp.
    The time WILL come that you will be your own man with your own truck.
     
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