Helpful pointers for a newbie starting @ Swift.

Pay attention.

Take your time.

Good Luck

 

Don't worry about how long it takes you to back in.
Don't let anybody rush you when backing in.
Just make sure you hit nothing.

 

You're going to pull into truck stops and start backing in...

If you have a cb, turn it off. You'll hear lots of statements like, "hurry it up swift!" Or, "these #### Megas don't know how to back!" It isn't you, it's them. Keep your cool and take your time. I get them as an sni driver, but I keep mine on since I can ignore it.

Next, don't trust someone to help back you in, they likely aren't out to get you and do want to help but if you hit someone it's 100% your fault. If a driver is helping you back in, they'll understand.

G.O.A.L. - (get out and look) seen too many drivers not get out and look at the space they have. Just last week a Werner driver hit someone's trailer because they didn't do that.

Cya cya cya cya cya... I can't stress this enough, unless you can see it written in the rules or see it yourself, doubt its validity. As another driver said, trust but verify.

Pretrips are important... I shouldn't have to explain that one. Do them thoroughly and do them daily.

Couple more and I'm done...promise. It's okay to flash your lights to signal another driver to come over. BUT DONT USE YOUR BRIGHTS! Some trucks have a headlamp interrupt switch, use that, or flip them on/off.

Don't block the bloody fuel lane! Gotta go in to pee only? Okay, cool. Pull up to the yellow line and run in. My rule is that if it's going to take me longer inside the TS than it takes me to fuel, I park in a spot. 15 minutes or less, that's ample time to take care of business, grab a snack and a cup of coffee and check out.

Last one... It's your job and your license. If you get fired because you didn't pull an illegal load, you can find another job. Learn to say, "No!," and stick with it. If you get caught running outside the law, your company or dispatch isn't going to pay. You'll have to pay the ticket and you'll have to get the points.

Above all else, keep calm and drive on!

(Oh...I lied. Last thing. We are all nutty, all drivers. No exception. Except me. I'm not a nut. I'm a legume.)

 

Are you starting solo of heading to CDL school?

 

NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER

trust a GPS! Get directions to your shipper/customer from your company or by calling the shipper. Always check your route against your Trucking Atlas (get a new one yearly). Once you have it figured on paper, then you can verify if your GPS is taking you the right way or not and adjust the GPS accordingly. GPS is just a tool. If you don't verify your route, IT WILL PUT YOU IN A SERIOUS PREDICAMENT eventually. A low bridge. A bridge or road your way too heavy for. Etc.

 

In that case listen to the trainers I just finished two weeks ago at TDA/swift in Fontana. Just remember 95% of the things the recruiter told you isn't true.