Packing List for Students

Oh I am not out there yet. I hope to be soon I will take anything just to get out there.
I see a lot of good offers out there close to home but you have to have experience.
I just hope to get a trainer that is patient with me. The recruiters that come to the school
will tell you anything to get you out there. I have heard they will hire you on as a team right
from the first day making you drive while the trainer is sleeping and that is a bad idea.
Sounds like they prefer you to clutch.

 

Oh I see. I thought when you said your recruiter told you if you needed additional training time that wouldn't be a problem you were already in talks with a company. What companies are you considering?

We have to bight the bullet the first year and work with a company that is just ok. But after that, a whole new world of opportunity should open up.

I've never understood how a company thinks a person can train a new driver if the "trainer" is in the sleeper sleeping. Swift is one of those that expect you to run as a team from day one.

 

Well I better not go to swift then for that reason. If I was the trainer I would be scared to be sleeping while they
were driving. But I expect the worst the first year. I think they are all similar and most run you as a team towards
the end of training. I bet its hard to sleep while they are driving. I will just go to anyone that will take me.
I liked the H O Wolding company but they only take those right out of school within 30 days and they make you
park a truck parallel and if you don't get it they bus you right back home the first day so I am told.

 

If I were a trainer, I would be scared to death to sleep while a brand new driver was at the helm.

There are starter companies that aren't too bad assuming your background, work history, driving record etc are in good shape. I don't know anything about H.O.W. It's sad to think they'll send you packing over a simple error.

 

I agree its not good for beginners to be in the drivers seat while the trainer is sleeping.
I heard that H O W will get you there and first thing you do is test skills and road tests and parking and
those who don't pass have to go home that same day.

 

I would recommend you take out a debit card not connected to your bank account. . put money on it for a given amount say $100 and when it gets low put a $100 on again. so if it is stolen or lost your only out the money you put on it. Not your bank account too. When we are going to buy a large ticket item we do that so even if the salesperson is shady they don't get much. It has been tried but we lost nothing.

 

When I trained I did not and would not take runs for a team as I did not think we were a team. I was the driver teaching someone the trade and not a team. Motels and short runs until I felt the time was ready for me to be in the bunk while my trainee drove. I did not expect 8 or 10 hours behind the wheel as many new drivers get fixated after 3 or 4 or 5 hours. So I worked with that. I could not and would not hold that against them. When a company expects a trainer and a trainee to run as a team is heading for a big fall.
It should be for as long as it takes to TRAIN not make big bucks for the company first.

 

If you're running as a team right out of the gate at Swift it's because you get a trainer that's using you. He / she should be reported immediately. You are supposed to be "Super Solo" for at least the first two weeks with the trainer on duty and in the passenger seat whenever the truck is in motion. Swift DOES NOT run u as a team until the trainer or mentor as they call them, has decided that you're ready for that.

 

I am not talking so much as protection from fraud, my bank does that already. What I am thinking is for those purchases that may be less than $10, for vending machines, or when the place either does not accept cards, or attaches a fee for the transaction .

 

When I went to their orientation in Richmond they told us all we were to run as team within a couple hours of beginning training.