Swift Academy Licenses Suspended

To: Tony282003
The police told me " Driving uninsured". I don't know what does it mean. Maybe it means that if you are driving when your driver license is suspended, then you are not covered by the insurance. They told me they'll mail the citation to me next month. I will keep you posted on this issue.
Thanks

 

More stuff they neglect to teach you in Har*v*v*v*ard driving schoool; Driving uninsured is a part of the drivers job to check permits, insurance cards, ect. and if your driver license is suspended too, you are toast. Driving uninsured is an easy fix and the safety department always has pretty young girls who supply proof of insurance to the proper authorities. If your driver license is suspended and no proof of insurance in the truck those pretty girls will send you a card to your new residence; jail.

 

I mean, by the logic of some on here, current drivers would have the right to sue the drivers who sue Swift if they are hurt by the results of the suit those former drivers bring.

 

That just gave me a headache.

 

Unfortunately, I don't think fees for everyone's re-testing are being waived. In MI where I live they are telling us we must pay for the re-testing as well as supplying our own vehicles (which for those of us who do not currently work for a trucking company is an additional expense in renting a vehicle).

 

What is sad about this entire mess is the impact on the family. All you drivers out there who have been driving for years I just wonder how many of you could pass your skills. Yes, you can back that 70' rig to the dock or the truck stop without problems but could you do it between the cones in the box and not have more than two pull-ups and within the space specified by the state DOT???? How many times do you really parallel in the real world or do a blind side offset?
My personal opinion (for what it is worth ) the students who have to re-test we can only pray they had good mentors like my husband did. Swift is not a driving school it is a CDL school just like Roadmaster and all the rest. You can not learn everything you need to know in 3 weeks and be a safe driver that is what the mentor training is for.

What ticks me off the money Swift received from people who trusted them. OTR drivers all ready have enough stress in their lives without this added burden. The best driver in the world could have an off day and knock over the cones or go out of the box, then guess what you wait to take the test again. Where is the paycheck then??? And what does your employer think, "hmmm, wonder if this guy is a good driver".

I am not one who condones sue for this sue for that. I would hope Swift will step up to the plate and assist the drivers who need to re-test. If you work for Swift you all ready are bashed on the air waves for working for them this is one more thing to make the skin thicker. The company is only as good as the employees and I think most of the employees are great to work with. If you are fortunate to work out of the Columbus terminal you are indeed in a good environment.
I just got my CDL first week of January and if anyone needs info on the Columbus, OH testing site let me know I will gladly share.

 

Oh boy you are brave to go after the experienced drivers like you did. Especially when you finish by saying you are a newbie. Congratulations on passing the course, and good luck on the road. Hope you and your hubby get into a truck together soon, because as a teem you will be much better off.
Now hold on girlie here it comes. 13 years I was a trainer/Mentor with Swift, those years ended not long ago. So from an experienced driver, let me help you understand the real life out here on the road. First, you will be told and told about backing, blind side has a good name, an actual name for a reason, BLIND, this takes practice, patience, and more practice. Why? Because we all avoid it at all cost whenever we can. It is dangerous to other trucks in proximity, and for the truck you are driving. There is an exaggerated degree of potential damage from trailer strikes to the next trailer and the tractor you are trying to manuever around. Also the fact that your concentration will tend to be focused to the blind area, and therefore other objects on your site side will now become unseeable due to the radical bend in tractor/trailer configuration.
Now parrallel parking, another thing we avoid if possible, somewhat the same reasons as blind side backing. To much risk unless there is plenty of room to manuever. But your Mentor will hopefully give you a good rundown on that.
As for us experienced drivers not being able to do skills. Think this one through please. Yes it was difficult for you as a newbie, but with experience comes knowledge, and a certain comfort zone here in the drivers seat. With that knowledge and comfort, driving, or manipulating cones or other obstacles is much easier with the experience. You will gain a sense of where your six points of contact are, and when your tires are getting close to the object. With experience being able to use mirrors isn't as confusing whether it be the two mirrors at door level, and the use of fender mirrors adds to the comfort.
All things get smoother with experience, including knowing when you are getting your chain yanked, or knowing when you should say NO to a driver manager. You have a lot to learn, and I wish you all the best, so please pay attention to your Mentor (hopefully you get a better than good one) and stay safe on the road. That is not just for you to stay safe for yourself, but also for me and all us other OLD FARTS out here.
As for the Columbus, Ohio terminal, you are right, a great group there. From the shop to the DM's and especially the Sears dedicated Planner, can't remember his name right now. But good luck, and as I said BE SAFE

 

Let me assure you I wasn't in anyway downgrading or going after experienced drivers, I stated how many times do you do a blind side or parallel in the real world, you are trained to avoid them as they are dangerous. I have listened to my husband constantly say you need to know how to do them but that is a last resort Unfortunately in some government office there is a group of managers who decide that these skills are needed to get your CDL. The skills mentioned need to be learned but once again as I mentioned in my original post the CDL schools are just that a CDL school not a driving school. They teach you to the test, the basics nothing more.
Thank goodness there are more good mentors out there than bad ones my thanks and appreciation go to you for doing it for 13 years. My husband is a mentor so I do have an understanding through his eyes of what it is like to share such a small space with a total stranger for 42 days. You are constantly challenged with your newbie and you are putting your life in their hands, it is a big responsibility and so many people think you do it for the money. You really need to like teaching and have patience to mentor for 13 years.
Once again it is unfortunate this happened to drivers and their families. I don't look at as a blemish on Swift just on the driving academy on their procedures.

The only reason I offered any info on the Columbus testing site was because the way Millington teaches the pre-trip and the skills is not how you test for them in Ohio. Every one of the guys that were in Millington with me failed the first time on their CDL that should say something of how well they were prepared. I am very soft hearted and
don't want this to have anymore of a negative impact on a family than necessary.

If there were more "old farts" (your name not mine, and I probably fit the old category) like you that have a positive attitude about Swift and driving wouldn't the airwaves be nicer to listen to?

Thank you otherhalftw for the advice, I have a long road ahead of me but I will be with my best friend.

 

According to Sirius Trucking News today, 1/26/08, the retests are being required because of problems with the third party testers on the skills portion only. In other words, it had nothing to do with classroom instruction, just that there were issues with the way the third party testing was conducted.