Diary of a current Swifty

drive fast-smoke crack-and don't use a condom!

 

Well I passed my CDL test on the first try. I was told I had the hardest examiner the state has to offer. Another one of the examiners asked me if we used the sleeper when we did the emergency pull off. He also said that if you took 100 testers and let her give the test only 5 or so would pass. I guess the stars were aligned.

I start orientation on Monday and if there is a mentor available on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning I will be leaving out for my 5 weeks of training. I can't wait to get on the road.

Everything has been very good to this point. The training was intensive and informative. The instructors were fair and demanding at the same time. I would recommend the Swift Driving Academy to anyone. There were some people in my class that would have a completely different view, but it was because of the lack of thier skills.

I'll try and keep everyone posted when I get the chance and report on how my OTR training is going.

 

I will have to wait for my mentor until the 28th. I have to call in on the 27th to see where I'm supposed to meet him. I was prepared to go, but it being Christmas and all the mentors are running short.

I'll do my best to keep posting although I don't think I will take my laptop with me while in training unless the mentor says it's OK.

Take care and Merry Christmas to All.

 

They changed my mentor. I have to be in Greer, SC on Monday morning to head out. He said I could bring my laptop, so I'll try and post as I get a chance.

Wish me luck.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a safe drive.

 

Good luck.

 

I am out with my mentor. He is a very knowledgeable and nice man. I left the Greer, SC terminal on Monday evening (12-20-10). Met another driver at the T/A at the next exit on I-85. Took his load and delivered it in Louisville, KY (on the east side) on Tuesday morning (12-21-10). We got unloaded and dead headed to Somerset, KY to get loaded and head for Chambersburg, PA. We dropped and hooked in Chambersburg on Wednesday morning (12-22-10) and went to Parsons, WV to get loaded. Got to Parsons about 16:30 and was loaded within 45 minutes or so. We had to deliver in Louisville, KY (this time on the southwest side) by 0700 Thursday morning (12-23-10). My mentor lives in Cookeville, TN and was wanting to be home for Christmas so we deadheaded towards his house. Arrived in Cookeville about 12:00 (12-23-10) or so. We have to drop and hook trailers in Nashville Sunday morning (12-26-10) for a load going to Laredo, TX for an 08:00-18:00 delivery on Monday (12-27-10). I'll post again when I have time. Hope everyone has or will have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

Arrived in Laredo and are waiting for a "B" service and some recall work since it's a new truck. (2011 International ProStar). Hopefully they'll be done with it in the morning. It seems to take a while to get things done from talking to other drivers.

 

"B" service is the same thing as a PM. In case anyone was wondering.

 

We've been real busy lately. So here goes. We left Laredo heading for Charlotte, NC. Unloaded and dead headed over to Lincolnton, NC to drop & hook to a load delivering in Chicago. We managed to get that load "T" called on the Gary, IN yard and picked one up going to Beaver Dam, WI. (note: cold as hell there, 5 degrees and the wind blowing 40+ mph) Went to Arcadia, WI (not far from Black River Falls) with a load delivering in Ecru, MS (near Tupelo). We dropped & hooked there heading to Houston. Dropped the loaded wagon in Houston, got an empty and went to the other side of Houston to get loaded going back to Mississippi. Dropped that loaded wagon and got an MT, dead headed to Memphis where we dropped & hooked again heading for Jacksonville. Another drop & hook in Jax and now we are on our way to Seattle.

 

Just out of curiosity, what were you doing before you decided on this? Looks like you must have been in your late 20's when you started...