SWIFT terminated me for accident while training. Advice needed.

str8, My opinion was simply to seek legal advice, not legal action (big difference).
It may not be as necessary in your case, if the damages were minor, and your DAC doesn't reflect anything "false or more serious".
But I have seen cases where a "slight bump" later turned into tens of thousands in claimed damage, along with falsely embellished records.

 

I agree.

I have a feeling the next time you will not hesitate to flat-out refuse to drive an unsafe tractor. Regardless of how mean the trainer is.

Hang in there, things will work out

 

str8, write a letter to Swift Safety. Explain the entire training experience and accident in detail. They will be able to see whether the truck was moving or not for the 30 minutes prior to the accident AND whether electrical issues were corrected at a Swift shop (if that happened).

As noted above, you certainly have the ability to land another job. However, I think you should consider that any other trainee that comes into contact with this jerk is going to be placed in a hazardous situation.

 

Make sure to send it certified.

 

I made a post on swifts facebook about making this a topic during their orientation about how trainers treat students.

 

Ok dude will you please stop it with the 400,000 driver shortage. If there was a shortage I wouldn't be sitting waiting for a load right now. Also they are not willing to hire people who can't make it out of the companies parking lot without tearing up big rigs.

I have had the problem with the dash lights going out all my career. Sometimes its a fuse. Sometimes its a short. Sometimes you can just stop. Cut off the truck, cut it back on and the lights come on. I have used the over head light many times, and I can normally see the speed easier that is on my GPS. I can also see out my mirrors. Yes there is a glare sometimes. But truly you can cut the light off and maneuver around a truck yard without needing to see the RPM gauge to change gears. Always know your surroundings .Dragging a truck 5 to 7 feet after impact. What is really going on?

Trainers always get the blame of being impatient. But people do somethings that would make the most patient person upset, and from this accident in your own yard. Probably going less then 10 mph(but again 5 to 7 feet). I truly wonder what he had to put up with. Put yourself in his shoes. Training is a very stressful job, and let's not deflect to the trainer when you have put plenty of miles on the truck already and I'm guessing this hasn't happened before.

You are going to have issues with getting hired. 1 for being in an accident before you finished training, and 2 for being fired for the accident. Yes some super crappy company will take you own, but if you think having the dash lights go out is unsafe. Wait to you see the tires, and equipment some of these guys will want you to drive.

 

Trainers should be trained on how to train a trainee!!

 

I wouldn't go for swift. I would rather go to vocational schools and get cdl there.

 

I understand what you're saying and you've very much correct on most.But when it comes to your exp and this students.They're not quick so think on their toes like you you are.He wouldn't have even thought the fuse because he is new that he was in the trainers trkTrainer should have knew what to do..Of course you can maneuver without looking at the rmps,I never do anyway.But students don't know enough to do what you do.True maybe trainer is all stressed ect as why hes that way.But the solution for that is quit training.Trainers don't need to take their anger out on ppl that's just trying to learn.All that does is mke it for a bad exp for the student as well as the trainer.I don't know what your training was like if you had to go thru training,but in todays training it sucks.Trainers use students for miles,companies for team loads before even they complete their first week..Training should be just that,trainer does not drive and observes in the jump seat and trainee drive his hrs then shut the truck down.Everything now days is a crash course,no wonder students don't learn anything.