bad swift mentor BEWARE

Powder joints.....if you're referring to my post.........my statement wasn't about you.

 

I'm glad he called Swift and didn't just leave. I'll be praying for y'all.

 

Butterfli; Again, Nana is right on the mark...Swift has built in measures to protect the student. The only problem is that the students MUST be honest in their Mentor evaluation...completely honest! Again you state the Mentor told your husband that he didn't need to be there, that he was just going to be terminated...sounds like another threat from the Mentor...and obviously the Mentor is fearing if the student attends the meeting the Mentors inappropriate and absolutely wrong way of doing things will be found out and the Mentor won't be Mentoring anymore, or possibly terminated (even an O/O will be terminated, at least his contract will) for violating company policy regarding treatment and abuse to others. Very clear section in the Driver's Manual and the O/O manual.

On the last page of the Student Packet, that details all 6 weeks of training, is a Mentor Evaluation Form...this form is completed by the student at the end of the 6 weeks (or whatever period the student was on the truck), it asks very specific, detailed questions about the training period about the Mentor and how he/she handled each aspect of the training. Also there is an essay section where the student can openly remark on situations during the training that wasn't covered by the direct questions. On my truck, my students were directed by me, to complete this page, back at the terminal, without me there, and without showing it to me or discussing it with me. I insisted that they be completely honest in the evaluation. If they aren't, what good does it do Swift and the Mentor program? It is the only way Swift can "police" their Mentors and the training the Mentor offers.

As Nana said, your husband should have had a weekly message from Driver's Services regarding the detailing of each weeks training. and this message is to be returned with a following Macro message from the student with a code to access the Macro that only the student and Driver's Services knows...a safeguard for the protection of the student from a "bad" Mentor. While the program isn't perfect, Swift has tried to put in place as many guidelines for both the students and the Mentors as they can. But without the honest return of information from the students, it becomes a moot point for Swift to monitor each Mentor.

You don't show what area you live in...but I will assume the Pacific NW, maybe Spokane or that area...Swift has several terminals you probably know...Troutdale, Sumner, Salt Lake, even down into Northern CA, so your husband would not have to get a mentor from the Lewiston Terminal. Lewiston has always had a "redneck" reputation...as you said you are of Korean nationality, (I am assuming your husband might also be) that could be part of the problem in the very beginning. Don't let this point throw you...use it to your advantage, not with anger, but with a "passing question" so to speak. Discrimination is also a well documented and covered topic in the Driver's Manual and very specific in the Company Policy Handbook.

Don't drop this issue, follow it through and don't let some pathetic excuse for a Mentor continue abusing other students. In a way, it is your husbands responsibility to inform Swift of what happened. If, as you say, your husband was the first student to last this long on this Mentor's truck...then he isn't a Mentor, but an abuser, and should not be Mentoring. but you two need to deal with this as soon as you can. Call Driver's Services main office in Phoenix, first thing Monday morning and ask for the supervisor. 800-800-2200, Driver's Services when the operator asks the extension. Try not to get overheated, stay calm and state your case clearly and precisely...it is always a good idea to make a list of the offenses...if possible date, location, and time of the instance will be best if you can...so after your husband gets home, calmly sit down together, and "map out" your response and points you want to cover...do it in a business meeting fashion...you should prevail!

Good Luck on your new mission!

 

Ok then you have two terminals maybe equal distance from you (besides Lewiston of course)...Salt Lake City and Denver...both good terminals as far as the people that work DM and Driver Services...my personal preference would be Salt Lake City...plus SLC has a good supply of freight going up into Montana...I would try for SLC if I were you!

 

I completely agree with OtherhalfTW. SLC is a good terminal. Lewiston isn't bad, but they do kind of have a "good ol' boy" network there. That's why I'm happy to be returning to Troutdale. I have an excellent DM up there who wants me on his board. When I was there as a company driver, he always had my back. And I always made him look as good as I could. Only a couple more things to do and I'll be on my way...

 

You know Injun...some of those DM's (everywhere)...they are sometimes hard to clean up to look good....just an enormous task to say the least!

 

My DM was from Troutdale after I started driving for a Swift o/o. She was good and kept me running. I about starved to death when I drove a co truck with a Fontana DM. What otherhalftw say's about the checks and balances is absolutely true! Swift does endeavor to make protect the student from a bad mentor as much as possible.
My first mentor got nervous because I wrote a lot in a notebook, but being a former techie, it was notes about macros, shippers and general trucking info, not about him.

 

Another good thing about the SLC terminal is that it's close to the Corrine UT W-M distribution center and Swift has a fleet there. Eventually he could possibly get on that dedicated fleet. (yes yes I know people I like the W-M dedicated fleets! LOL @myself)