Swift - Starting the New Year training with Swift 1/7/13 - A long read...

Hell yes. Love hot cocoa. Thanks!

Thanks!

Lol, thanks but yeah I will have to pass! I was going to consider just bungeeing myself to the outside rear of the tractor but I guess I won't need to now.

 

Yes! Today was the day.

Woke up to a phone call by my mentor this morning saying I needed to come to the terminal. They had my old CDL permit expiration date in the computer so they needed that straightened out. Packed my stuff up as quickly as possible and rode down to the terminal locking the bike back up.


Went inside and gave them the corrected expiration date on my CDL license. But wait! My expiration date is this May on my birthday!?!? I'm not sure how I never checked this date before but obviously the DMV made some kind of mistake as my CDL can't possibly be valid for only a few months. #### you Washington State DMV!!! It won't affect me driving for Swift right now but obviously I'm going to have to get this figured out when I get a decent break, probably between coming off the road with my mentor and getting my own truck. Not sure how or why this happened but at least I'm here today and ready to get going.

Met my mentor in the back of the lot here at the terminal. The truck had been sitting for days and needed some CPR by the mechanics. It seems to be ok now. It's a Freightliner. Not sure of the model just yet but seems to be the same truck I went back and forth straight line backing and alley docking back in Idaho. Never drove that actual truck on the road though so it will be a little different than the Volvos we used on the road training back in Lewiston.

My mentor and I sat in the cab for a long while BS'ng while the truck EMTs did their work. Man, what a relief that this guy seems cool. He is pretty laid back and knows his stuff. He's been with Swift for a few years and mentoring for about 1.5 years (I think). Great news!!
Look forward to being his trainee. Can't say how much a relief this was and he is not an owner/operator so that is better as well.


We had a pre-plan (I think that is what it is called) for a load to Illinois this morning but since the mechanics were still working on getting the truck started he (we) had to decline it since we couldn't quite commit to it. I spent a few hours hanging around the terminal eating an overpriced breakfast sandwich from the lunch truck and just reveling in the fact that this day has finally come. No more King Oscar! Not gonna miss ya ol buddy.

He told me a few minutes back that we have a trailer to pick up locally tonight. We are going to go pick it up (him driving), make our way back to the terminal, park, sleep and then begin running this trailer out to Nebraska tomorrow morning. Should be a 2.5 day trip with just me driving. Can't wait!! I'm nervous but anxious to drive. This has been in the making since about August of last year so I'm pumped to get going.

I'll update as I am able since I don't have wifi just yet. Right now I"m posting from inside the terminal using their wifi. Probably going to upgrade my phone to something less Fischer-Price once I get paid and get my upgraded wifi plan so I can get online.

On a different note...
I was texting my buddy whom I went to training and orientation. He left on the road late last Saturday with his mentor. Since being on the road the truck has broken down three times, the most recent this morning. Not sure what the exact mechanical problem is but I feel sorry for him. He's getting pretty frustrated. Not sure at what point someone asks to be trained in another truck but it sounds like he is just about there. Not sure what to tell him but it sounds pretty excessive. I guess they broke down twice in Montana and now, most recently, in Utah. Sucks.

 

Yes, finally!!

 

Thanks! Well, we are almost out but not quite...(see below)

I am pretty patient these days. Must come with age and a new locale. I was anything but patient years ago in my cabbin days back in J.C. But now I take things a little more in stride. Plus I'm still just happy to be here and doing this.

So I would say maybe we would cross paths but as of the past hour we are heading to "No More Load, Nebraska". Ever hear of it? Yeah, it's a pretty sucky place

My mentor was fueling up at the terminal spot and texted me to meet him there to get on the road to pick up the trailer locally. Once I got inside the truck we were sent a Qualcomm msg stating that our load to Nebraska was cancelled. No explanation, it was just nixed. So now we are back to waiting.

My mentor went back to his house to go to sleep and I am going to try out the first night in the truck with this CPAP machine. I was almost considering going back to the motel since I think they forgot to charge me for a week of stay but then it was reconsidered and figured it would just be easier to stay here. I really dont feel like taking the cover off the bike and taking the 3 locks off of it and riding back to the motel in the drizzle anyway. This way I'll be ready to go as soon as we get a load tomorrow.

Gonna see what its like to actually sleep in a truck (while it is stationary) tonight. Gonna set my alarm for a reasonably early hour and do my first terminal shower as well tomorrow morning. Got my flip flops, toiletries and towel set for the morning.

Hopefully we will get a nice long distance run tomorrow. Only Qualcomm will tell. I learned "Macro 27" a little tonight so that is a plus.

 

Good info. Currently waiting on a load.