Swift Driving Academy Questions.

Nictress · Jan 27, 2013

I had some questions reguarding the Swift Driving Academy In Millington TN. My boyfriend is looking for more information about Trucking School and how to go about getting started. Here's the questions we have. All help and advice is greatly appreciated!!! He has not submitted anything to Swift yet regarding schooling and has Zero Training as far as CDL or DOT. He is wanting to test to drive OTR freight.

1. Is there a waiting list when you contact a recruiter to begin trucking academy at swift? if so how long do you usually have to wait when contacting them and then be able to attend school?
2. What is the $150 sitting fee and do you pay it in cash or is it paid back to swift like the loan is for the schooling?
3. How much money are you to bring with you to the school for everything including food..etc.?
4. Do you have to pay for your bus ticket to the school and get paid back later or does swift buy and send you a ticket?
5. Do you have to go through a special doctor for a DOT physical that is requested by SWIFT or can you go to any doctor who performs DOT physicals?
6. Do you have to have your CDL permit before attending the Driving Academy?
7. Does Swift pay for you to get to the location where you will meet up with your mentor and do they also pay to put you up in a motel like at the academy?
8. Are you guaranteed a loan from Swift for schooling regardless of credit history?

Mattchu · Jan 27, 2013

Have you talked to a recruiter yet? I bet they can answer everyone of those questions for ya

Nictress · Jan 27, 2013

No not yet. He's gonna call monday morning.

pokerhound67 · Jan 27, 2013

according to this report, swift was in the business for years of stealing money from unsuspecting students and providing a worthless cdl. theyd be THE LAST place id go. if they werent thieves, theyd have at least refunded the money to the 8700 people to whom they provided that worthless, invalid cdl.

http://www.overdriveonline.com/class-action-cdl-suit-against-swift-continues/

ShamrockSalono · Jan 27, 2013

Answer to your questions.

1. Recruiter told me as soon as I had my DOT medical card and Class A permit they would schedule me for start date.
2. Sitting fee has to be paid first day of class (from what I have read).
3. Everyone I have talked to said to bring 200+.
4. Swift provides two tickets. One to get there, and one to get back after training is complete. If you fail the drug screen, you have to pay your own way back home.
5. The recruiter will tell you a Swift approved facility in your area to take the DOT physical. Yes it has to be Swift approved.
6. Depends on the academy you attend. I realize you are asking about Middleton, but you may not go to that academy. Yes for some, and no for others.
7. Swift will put you in a room, if needed. I do not know if they put you in a room to wait for a mentor. From what I understand, you may leave with a mentor after orientation or you may return home until one is available.
8. If your application for the academy, and your driving record is OK. They will get you started. I was never asked about credit history.

Hope this helps, good luck.

Sheriff1/6 · Jan 28, 2013

Nictress said: ↑

I had some questions reguarding the Swift Driving Academy In Millington TN. My boyfriend is looking for more information about Trucking School and how to go about getting started. Here's the questions we have. All help and advice is greatly appreciated!!! He has not submitted anything to Swift yet regarding schooling and has Zero Training as far as CDL or DOT. He is wanting to test to drive OTR freight.

1. Is there a waiting list when you contact a recruiter to begin trucking academy at swift? if so how long do you usually have to wait when contacting them and then be able to attend school? I didn't have to wait but I think it took about a month for me to get everything together, take the online classes, get my learners permit and get my physical.
2. What is the $150 sitting fee and do you pay it in cash or is it paid back to swift like the loan is for the schooling? I don't know anything about a sitting fee unless they are talking about the testing fee. I had to pay $60 in Idaho. The WA folks had to pay $100 for a form. It could different depending on where you are at.
3. How much money are you to bring with you to the school for everything including food..etc.? That's a hard question to answer. How much do you eat? Swift will loan you the money for the hotel, there may or may not be a breakfast there. Lunch and dinner are on you. They haul you back and forth. I think you could get by on $10 a day but that's eating pretty light. Figure in laundry costs as well. Probably be able to do it at the hotel or at the Swift terminal.
4. Do you have to pay for your bus ticket to the school and get paid back later or does swift buy and send you a ticket? Swift pays for the ticket to get you there. If you quit, I think it's on you to get home. They will buy the tickets both ways if you pass.
5. Do you have to go through a special doctor for a DOT physical that is requested by SWIFT or can you go to any doctor who performs DOT physicals? Yes, best case it to find out who Swift has approved for DOT physical and go through them. Talk to your recruiter, I paid for my physical but the ones who showed up to class without one, Swift hauled them to the Dr. and paid for the physical.
6. Do you have to have your CDL permit before attending the Driving Academy?
7. Does Swift pay for you to get to the location where you will meet up with your mentor and do they also pay to put you up in a motel like at the academy? Maybe. Your mentor may pick you up after orientation. Chances are good that you will be sent home to wait for one. The mentor may call you at home and ask you to meet them someplace. Getting there is on you. That's what happened to myself and two others I know of.
8. Are you guaranteed a loan from Swift for schooling regardless of credit history? To my knowledge they don't run a credit history for the loan however, I'm pretty sure they run credit as part of the background check. The loan is interest free and as long as you work for thme you should be able to pay it off. You are kind of like an indentured servant during that time but it's what we do to get where we're going.

Click to expand...

Check out the thread by DocWatson and go through the ones I've posted. A lot of your questions are answered there.

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