Just finished Swifts training academy

Well, I've just gotten back from orientation at the northwest terminal.
Two days of alot of boring stuff. I have to say, now that I have been to more than one terminal, that not all terminals are equal. I had a situation happened that was not too cool right off the bat. All in all, the terminal in Lewiston is the best so far.

Now I lay in wait for a trainer...
After I am done with my training I will probably transfer back to Lewiston.

 

Wow, I haven't seen any of those!
The mechanic took us out and showed us around while we were there.
He said that swift is starting to replace some of their Freightliners with Internationals. He didn't say anything about Peterbuilts.
That must be for somebody special

For anybody else who wants to know.... the mechanic also told us that we are not allowed to have inverters
The only thing we are allowed to do is get those puny things you plug into the cig lighter.

 

Well, I know some of you guys just hate it when I have something positive to say

but i just heard from my trainer yesterday. He sounds really nice and I get to come home after a week for a couple days so I can adjust my supply list then after that 11 days out and three days home every two weeks till I have 42 days of training. I am so relieved, with each advancement I keep waiting to fall into the pit of hell. I thought surely this would be it. But already the stress is off as I can come home periodically to take care of things. He is on a dedicated run up and down I5 so its easy for me since I live in grants pass. Whoopty do.

He sounds really positive and assures me that I will feel very confident by the time I am finished. I will post here again in another week, I leave day after tomorrow.

 

Hey, thanks for such a considerate, supporting post Grinbearit

I guess if I sound like I am second guessing myself its because I read so many bad things here about swift. And since I don't think people were just making stuff up, I keep waiting for the house to fall on my head. But nothing bad has happened to me. Part of it might be that this site really helped to mentally prepare me. Even so, I gotta say, the school was great.

Orientation left a little to be desired but my trainer sounds great again. I am feeling relieved and good that it has turned out to be as good as it did. Sorta feels like a miracle. I just wanted to come on shed light for anyone who ultimately has to go thru them. I was hoping to steer them thru the path that I went thru. Because I can totally see that terminals are different. You never really know what you are walking into.
And yes I have my cdl! I'm driving around and I can't hardly believe it!

But I probably won't stay. I'd like to stay a year tho to honor the repayment of my tuition.
Even six months would be alright. But they won't let us have big converters or let us have pets. I've got a pumpkinhead pitbull that loves me to death and I can't see leaving her behind. There is another company that I wanted to go to first, Watkins Shepard, that I have my sights on.

 

Well, I am back now after being out with my trainer. Was out for 6 days and am home now for 3. I have a really great trainer. I am so pleased with him. I asked for a non smoker late 30's or older. I don't know if I am just luck or somebody up there likes me but he is so nice. Patient, considerate, not a pig at all. The problem I do have is that I am freaked out to drive at night . Death grip on the steering wheel. and when I drive over that Shasta Lake bridge in CA on I5 with no sides feels like I am turning inside out. Like when you get so scared your mind is exploding. I have never felt so scared in my life. For 4 days straight I was twisted up.

In school a policeman came to class and showed us a video of tests that they run down in Idaho showing how little it takes to actually tip over a truck and trailer. I guess that video must have really freaked me cuz when I am driving on those corners in the mountains I am so frightened the truck is going to tip over.

Today I finally started to feel better. I drove for 7 hours from CA to Grants Pass. That bridge still scares the crap out of me. But my trainer is really great. He never says "Well if you're so scared you shouldnt be driving." Never gets irritated or short with me. And he has stayed in the seat the whole time I have driven. I have found the whole thing to be really intense. So much to learn. And I gotta try and figure a way to handle my fear. I am hoping that it will gradually dissipated with time...

At any rate I came home today and had a big huge bacardi and coke. Something I was threatening to do all thru school. Guess I finally got pushed over the edge