1st week with Swift

This is interesting...The Swift recruiter I talked to said that I would meet with the trainer first before the choice is approved. Did you get this opportunity, or were you just told to jump in the truck of this guy?

There should also be a checklist training program which the trainer is supposed to follow. If he doesn't, then you're not getting trained.

All the companies I've seen, big or small, have a trainer system that gives the newbie miles to the trainer. I can see that this raises the incentive to boost the newbie freeway miles any which way they can, and then take over when the newbie doesn't drive fast--like in the delivery terminal or during urban driving situationsm, where the training is particularly important. Night driving on the freeway is easy...but training should involve all aspects of the job.

 

I used to be a trainer for Swift the recruiter is partly right. You should have time to meet your trainer but sometimes there is no time. I have picked up trainees while on a load. I try to at least talk to them a couple of times on the phone before we get together.
There is a check list for each week of training both the trainee and the trainer have to sign off on it. There is also a form to record all backs that the trainee does.
My way to train was to have "my partner" start driving during the day or early evening, then gradually drive over night. As for the slowness of the trainee ya I would get a little impatience but would only take over if he was taking to long to back into a doc and he was blocking other drivers from getting into their docs.

 

The only thing I want to add here is the same thing I have been preaching for years and years: GET A MINI-CASSETTE RECORDER AND GET IT ON TAPE. That little thing can sit in your pocket and record such episodes without the other person ever knowing.

 

Kilroy, your story is very very common. Seems to happen at most every company and it sucks.

 

Try USF Glenn Moore, Schneider, Lisa Motor lines and there a couple of others. All these are better than Swift. I know ATI hires from there. One member says they are a great company to start out with. I think Pathfinder is his s/n.

Hunter

 

I agree, that is not how a 'trainer' should act. Falsifying the logbook, not being respectful to the trainees is no way to train.
When I train a driver, I first 'assess' what the trainee 's skills are, and help that driver improve their skills.
If a trainer cannot communicate with the trainee during the dat...ie-radio too loud, he cannot help hone skills and teach new drivers the skills that are needed.
It takes time and patience for a trainer to note areas that need attention. Treat other drivers like what you would want to be treated.

 

When I trained, I found it frustrating as to how many students wanted to learn HOW to cheat.

I generally accomodated them, with a quick run down of ways. I wasn't worried about them grasping any of it. Hell they could barely do a legal log book. And they were driving and couldn't take notes LOL.

Most of them were happy with that, once they figured out it wasn't as "easy" as learning how to log legal...which they still couldn't do.