Thanks, Steve, for your info. He got his CDL's from Truck Driver Institute but does not have time on his home time to search for other job opportunities esp companies hiring newbies with less than 6 months experience. If you know of any such companies, we would greatly appreciate the info. He is so disgusted, he said this may be his very last load. I understand him not being happy with Swift but certainly all truckers aren't treated the way he's been treated from Swift. It is his decision but I wish he would try driving for a different company vs stop truck driving all together esp after paying the price he did to get his CDL's.
Welp, After 3 weeks of being nervous (which was silly, but there it was) during practice, and settling down when it counted up to final road eval, I did what I thought was poorly to my standards on the eval, but still passed. MVD exam day, I was just settled right down, which has been my MO just as far back as I can remember. I did well and passed my CDL exam fine. Now at home for a week (or two) to get my CDL transferred back to CA. Either next week, or the week after I will be going to orientation and flatbed training in Phoenix. I say I'm going flatbed, and every time someone says 'Why?'. Mostly I start the explanation with "Well, it's widely been acknowledged that I'm just not right." Then I give them MY reasons. In the last 3 weeks, at 3 people on the morning bus have said after talking to me, they are now considering it. And that's besides the couple that said they thought about it and decided it wasn't for them right now, but hadn't thought about it like I explained it. That made me feel good indeed. Now it's 1 to 2 weeks of Honey Do's, and a trip to the DMV. 2 weeks would be better because then I'd get to make my VA glasses appointment, but we'll see how it goes. Only one thing left to say: YIPPEE YAHOO !!!!!.......... :smt041
Thanks. Confirmed, 2nd week at home, then Orientation in Phoenix on 8th, and FB phase 1 class 11th n 12th. Will get my ticket ordered later this week. Looking forward to being able to talk to you more than the 3 minutes we had that day. Shar
Confirmed: Orientation done, and start Swift flatbed phase 1 tomorrow. :smt041 Ahhhh.... A minimum of 60% of the stress I've been feeling for the last 5 weeks has just gone away. I wasn't this stressed out when I went up for either my Reactor Operator's or Senior Reactor Operator's licenses. Ok, I've been more stressed out in my life, but it IS a good comparison, as both of those were moving into new occupations. <chuckle> Shar
My son +I hope to be with swift soon , --- He wants to go van--- I did flatbed yrs ago --- Question ? How are the loads put on the trailer ? are they waiting on you loaded and u chain them down
There are a fairly wide variety of loads. Some are pre-loaded, but generally (as I understand it) they are loaded after arrival of the flatbed, then the driver would strap/chain them down and tarp if necessary. I do not have first hand data on this yet, as I am with a Mentor that is on a dedicated reefer fleet for about another 100 hours drive time. Then I will be with my flatbed Mentor. Shar
Well it sounds like your having fun , did they say how long u would be with the flat bed Mentor ? In till I retired I had been around trucks/trains my whole life. And what saved me was when I got layed off from the R.R. ( ever winter ) I got a job as a loader . We would take empty flatbeds to the local steal mill , load/chain/tarp. and bring them back to the lot for the otr drivers. We drove old under powered macks. thru town which had a 1/2 mile hill to climb , with a red light at the top. trucks were so weak if you stoped for the light , u were dead in the water. So got a lot of training on city/highway driving.
Good to hear all that. It's always interesting to hear a fresh perspective on another angle. I'm about to switch from reefers (one year) to flatbed. I need the exercise and the challenge. Thanks
