Hi all

As the title says, I am new. I originally posted this in the Swift forum but its not getting much response there. Sorry for the cross post as I shoulda have posted it here first. I currently live close to Syracuse, NY. I am new to the industry altogether but it has something that I have been wanting to do since my early 20's. Im now 36 btw. I have been an auto technician for about 15 or so years and I am pretty burned out by it. The business has turned more into what you can upsell rather then keeping a car safe and on the road and making the customer happy.

I have been reading the forums for a bit and Swift or Central seems like the best two options for me. I cannot afford to pay for school so I will have to go through a company that provides training. I know that alot of people frown on this but if its my only apparent option to get my foot in the door then it is what it is. I am a very hard worker and can deal with lousy pay at first. I pretty much make lousy pay now anyhow. I have a few questions that I hope that you can answer for me. Keep in mind that I do not mind brutal honesty but if you are just going to flame for the sake of putting me or my choice in the business down then please dont bother.

That all being said here are my questions....

First, I am married and the wife and I have talked about doing this together. I would go first though because she wants to wait one more year until her son goes to college before she goes. Is this feasible for me to go solo for about a year and then the wife join and we can team after that? Would it be better for me to also wait a year and go together? Please keep in mind that we have discussed this alot and hometime will not be much of an issue. We both understand we will not see much of each other and we are ok with that until she can join me.

My second question and I probably should have asked this first, as well as my third question which will come after.... Please dont think too lowly of me because I did some terrible things when I was around 15. I tell you the brief of it and then ask my question. When I was 15 I was thrown out of my house by a very abusive step father (my mom left him soon after so you dont have to ask). I didnt really know what to do as I was only 15, living on the streets and I could not get a job because of my age. What I did was I broke into a couple houses and stole a few VCR's. Terrible, I know but it was a huge mistake I made while I was in a bad situation. A couple years later, when I was 17 my job screwed me out of 2 weeks pay and I broke their drive through window and got caught. For that I ended up with a misdemeanor tresspass charge that is on my record. When I got caught I felt the need to come clean about my past because it ate at me. I told them about what I had done when I was 15 and for that I recieved 3 c felonies but they are sealed because I was a minor. Now I know I did some rotten things and I paid for them. I swear that I have not so much have gotten a parking ticket since. I am not that type of person and I learned my lessons. I was in a really bad situation and I hope you all dont think too poorly of me. Anyhow the question is this.... My record is sealed. Im worried that if I tell them about it that I will be turned down. At the same time Im worried that if I dont that they will somehow see the sealed record and turn me down after I start the classes anyhow. I know its sealed but I also know that third party background checks have a tendacy to show information they shouldnt be able to. I think I should probably just be upfront about it but I am not sure. What do you suggest? Do you think, because of my record 20 years ago, I will be disqualified even though I have been clean for the last 20 years?

My third question is I had 2 heart attacks last december. I recieved 1 angioplasti and 1 stent. I went through cardiac rehab. I also take a bunch of medicine but I am in pretty good health now. I quit smoking and I eat alot healthier. Will this disqualify me even though my health is now good? Im sure I can pass a physical and my stress test was great a couple months ago. My bloodpreasure is fine and I do well with target heart rates.

Now on to questions about Swift and Central. This is mostly for those who are still with the companies or atleast with them recently. Are you happy with them still? Do you get decent mileage on a regular basis? Do teams get good mileage as well? Like I said, I am not too concerned about hometime and I am a hard worker so I wouldnt be turning down loads. If I brought home 500 to 600 a week solo I would be fine with that. I could probably even get by on 400 or 450 for a while, thats about what I average now. I understand I will not make much while I am with a mentor so when I speak of pay I meant after I was solo... provided I make it that far of course. Also could people list pros and cons of either or both companies?

Well thank you in advance for taking the time to answer some of my questions. Also please feel free to provide any input you wish to share. The more information I can get the better. Again I am open to brutal honesty but not the flames please.

 

Thank you Saddle. I didnt know they only go back 3 to 5 years thats good to know. As far as the health issue... Im good there. My doc will write anything I need. I am in good shape. I eat healthy, quit smoking and I work out on a regular basis to stay in shape.

Thanks kindly for your reply.

 

I appreciate the advice Chompi. I dont get stressed easy. I enjoy driving the open road... although I have never done it with a truck and Im sure its different. My heart attacks came from my poor choice in eating for the last 20 years, the constant smoking 1 to 2 packs of cigarettes a day for the last 22 years and the fact that the only thing I even drank was pepsi 24/7. Since then I have quit smoking and eat realitively healthy (i cheat once in a while I love pizza) and I drink water all day with the occasional sprite. I also work out atleast 1 hour a day to my target heart rate. I really dont think my health will be a problem. The company might think so, but I do not. I would think as long as the doc says Im ok and pass a DOT physical the company would give me a chance.

I understand its a stressful job. I dont get stressed easy. It takes alot to get me going. I would even go so far to say that my current career is pretty stressful too but I dont let it get to me. Im not really after getting rich. Im more after seeing the country. I dont care about getting home as Im at the point where I would like to view my home as to wherever I happen to be and seeing the beautiful world.