Edwardsville, KS Orientation Jan 28

I have been reading this board with interest every night while I was in school. I didn't have the nerve to say anything before in case I didn't pass the CDL test, but alas I have my shiny new, well paper since Missouri just changed how they issue drivers licenses. I am going to Swift Orientation in Edwardsville, KS. I plan on driving since I am coming from St.Louis and greyhound wants me to leave at 945 Saturday night and get in at 725 sunday morning. But The real question I have is do the mentors understand the whole CDL school only teaching to pass the test? I am beyond green behind the ears, I have a pretty good learning curve but other then knowing the basics required for the CDL test I don't have any clue what I'm doing!

 

Nope, the changed the law very quietly on Jan 1. During the transition some offices still do plastic until they get the new equipment. I got to be one of the first to drive on the paper licenses. They had to give me a leaflet incase I have to use it for Id since not a lot of people know about it.

 

Oh I have no delusions about it being an easy paycheck, I have always been one to want to work for my money and from what I have learned about the trucking industry the harder your work the more you can make. We have also prepared to spend the first year learning the ropes before I even look at my paycheck for more then paying bills.

 

I do have a family and we are ready for being gone for as long as a month at a time.We figure we would rather stay out longer and then stay home longer. 30 days get you 5 off! I'm ready to prove to myself once I learn as much as I can from my mentor. Recently I tend to be hearing more good things about swift then bad, everyone doing good told me to have patience and just do my job. We had two current employees stop by while I was in school the first one was p&m about how he wasn't making any money, had only been solo two weeks. The next guy had 8 months in and said they money is there you must have to earn it. No free lunches in trucking!

 

I have the basics I could pass the road test no problem, I'm just worried about what the differences in when i pulling a load, I still need work both up shifting and down shifting just to prefect it, I can do it but its not always the prettiest thing! but from what I hear since I just graduated I wont even do a road test until I get done with my mentor? but again not a deal I passed the state with very little issues so not to worried if I do!

Thanks everyone for all the replies! I feel like I am getting a head start!