I know I'm going to regret this, but....

You're not even a newbie . You're still a wannabe . Wannabe's SHOULD come to this forum and know the odds . Just FYI about Swift .

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/jul/14/ex-swift-students-get-class-action-status/?print=1 . I'd say 8,700 Swift trainees have an honest complaint .

 

There are a lot of jobs that don't suck for rookies that take the initiative to do some research and not follow the herd to training schools . Anyone with sense would heed the advice posted over and over about the risk of training schools . If you fail to meet their employment requirements you will not get a training certificate and you will be billed several thousand dollars for the training .

 

Of course what hasn't been talked about is the guys who go through school start work and keep going. I think like my man they are too busy driving to be boosting the good ratings of Swift. I'll admit I am spoiled and my level of living couldn't be supported by my husbands Swift paycheck but it covers what our other income doesn't. My husband successfully made it through their school, drove as a company driver, and is now a L/O. He loves his job, I hate his job.... but he makes money. You can too.

 

Mostly, as long as you've been up front with the paperwork and recruiting process, and pass your physical- you shouldn't have a problem. After you get on the road and discover what it is really like- none of us can answer that for you- that's your call.

Mark

 

Hi Dave

Just relax and remain calm. You can do this. Driving a truck is not hard. In the early 90's I was a young country bumpkin that learned so if I can do it, you can do it. Now whether or not trucking will be best thing or the worse thing to happen to you, well only time will tell but take it one thing at a time and ALWAYS keep an open mind and be willing to learn....ALWAYS.

The trucking industry is no different from any other industry when you start talking to people who have been in the game a while. Some factory workers will tell you all factory work sucks while others will say it's not a bad job. Everyone has their opinion. Will trucking make you rich? Probably not. Working for anyone other than yourself will not make you rich but you can be successful and live comfortably.

Newbie, rookie, wannabe, veteran, old dog.....titles don't matter unless you got an office door to hang them on. Trucking is worse than most industries because of the "away time" but there are things that you can do to make that time easier for you and your family. Call them. Email them. Whatever. Just stay in contact every chance you get and always make time for them because this job will be as hard or harder on them then it is for you.

DO NOT LET YOUR NERVES GET THE BEST OF YOU! You are not the first person to learn to drive a truck and you won't be the last. Any mistake that you might make has been made thousands of times before. Hell if the truth was told, even the old dogs still make some "rookie" mistakes.

I have been out of the OTR game (got a class b job right now) a while but when I come back I will be going to Swift. You're right when you say that all the "rookie" jobs suck and that's true for any industry not just trucking.

Now if you want the real low down on trucking, you go to a truck stop and find a man that has more gray hair than black, has the glare of an eagle and his skin is like leather. That's the real road warrior and he will have plenty of miles and stories to prove it. Buy him a cup of coffee and ask him questions. He will tell ya everything you need to know and he will be glad to have someone to talk to.

This forum is good to a point and like already stated, it's a good place to vent.

Good luck Dave. Be safe. Calm down. You can do this!

 

ps- that old dog I was telling you to look for in a truck stop is the kind of guy that could have gotten out of the game years ago but stayed in because "somebody's gotta get the groceries, the steel, the TVs, the appliances, etc to the people that need it". That's where his job is.

 

This isn't rocket science man!!!! This job can be one of the most frustrating things you have ever done, and some days its the greatest thing in the world. Rookie mistakes???? Hell yes you are going to make them. I have made many of them. Strangely though, so have many of the experienced drivers I have spoken to. Be honest about everything, eyes and ears open, mouth shut and you will learn everything you need to know. The first rule on my trainers trucks was if he told me to do something, just do it and question him about it later. It worked out just fine. I was scared as hell when i started out. Sorry for rambling. You will be fine.

 

You have a good attitude, keep your eyes, ears, and mind open, and you're mouth closed, and you will do just fine.