Haven't driven for a year and some change.

How was your backing skills back when you drove?

 

Patty's right. Driving. even for a few months, produces muscle memory. You will do great as long as you remind yourself constantly to STEER THE TRAILER.

 

I think more times then not a refresher course isn't needed.One load with a trainer should be good enough.

 

You may need a refresher course which won't be so bad will it.You have to do what you have to do to get back into trucking.

 

You may have to if that's Swifts policy.Backing is the main thing you need to know how to do and companies won't turn you loose till you can back.You can try other companies and see if you can go with a trainer for a few weeks.Either way you do need to learn how to back.

 

Failure?

Swallow, man up with some moxie and have at it. You might be surprised that backing is like riding a bike. Only get out and look. Often. That truck will tell you where it needs to go. Just turn the wheel the other way that's all.

Im trying to be funny a little bit, seriously fear of failure paralyzes people and you to get up and go forth into trucking despite the fear shows me that you will be ok. Someone will learn you soon enough.

 

Muscle ... you may not even road test right away. I was an active driver, but less than a year. I road tested and had to do 2 weeks with a trainer after orientation.

While I was in orientation there were other drivers who had their CDL, but hadn't been actively driving for some time. Such as yourself. They went through orientation and then went out for the full training period of 5 weeks. They road tested after they completed their training.

If you are road tested during orientation, it will only be to determine how much time you need with a trainer. I you're really, really bad, they may recommend that you take a refresher course.