My Swift Academy Journey. Will it be a swifty one or not?

Sorry I haven't posted for awhile. I am quite alive and kicking and my single room situation has been exhaustively explained, sorry you don't get it. I assure you I am not a prima donna whiner like you guys seem to imply about this. It was simply if you had a company that made a promise to you, several times, I think you'd kinda expect that company to honor it. Wish you guys would lay off about that. The whole thing about the room was in reference to Swift keeping a promise (I guess I'm old school in that if a promise is made to me, I expect it to be honored, I honor my promises), not me whining and saying I'm special or privileged and need a room to myself. I have one concern regarding who I share a room with and who I train with. I never implied I wouldn't share a room and of course I know I'll be in a 'mentor' or 'trainer's' truck during that portion of my training. Please lay off guys. it's getting boring having to explain the same thing multiple times.

OK, onto my progress. I did end up in a room with horrible cell phone signal and wasn't really able to get online. The hotel charges for access to their WiFi and funds were too tight during the first week. After that I was able to get the WiFi and have access. However, the second week of training we are outside standing in the heat and sun without much shade while the temperatures have been hovered in the 110 degree range all week. I've simply been too tired to do much online (also had some family stuff requiring my attention during the evenings and last weekend).

OK, our class started with 17. By the end of Friday of the first week we were down to 9, which included 1 who had already accomplished week 1 previously and was finally able to get back. Since then we have lost one other student and our 'class' is down to 8. Surprisingly, WE HAVE NOT LOST A SINGLE PERSON FOR DRUG TEST FAILURE!!!!! It has all been either failing learner's permit exams or difficulties with getting medical certificates. In good news, the 8 of us left are really a much tighter and close group than I expected. We all kinda seem to genuinely like each other and support, encourage and aid each other. I'm really happy about it.

I am the oldest in the class and basically also the "Tigger" of the bunch. I have been having a blast and seldom failed to let it be known. That is not to say I am not taking all this seriously, because I am. It is simply I have sincerely enjoyed learning all this stuff and it has made me happier and more joyful than I've been in some time.

The Academy teaches what needs to be learned and tested on to acquire our CDL's. That includes the Pre-Trip inspection. 3 maneuvers; straight line backing, left side offset back and a blind-side parallel back. Lastly driving on the road. At this point today, I am without question having difficulties with the offset and parallel backing maneuvers. Blind-side back, road driving and pre-trip I'm doing OK with. Also, I now have only 999, 932 miles to get my million mile badge (for those math shy folks, I've officially logged and driven 67 miles thus far)!

Our instructor is more John Wayne than John Wayne. I'm an unabashed hippy liberal and normally don't really click with such country and conservative personalities, but for whatever reason, I've learned really well from him and enjoy his tutorage and simply like having him as my instructor more than I think I'd like the other instructors. He was gone on Thursday and having different instructors fill-in for him is one (NOT the only or the most impactful) of the reasons I'm having such difficulties with the offset back and parallel back. Each instructor has a slightly different way of explaining the maneuvers and more importantly how to correct your position if you aren't where you need to be. And, those differing explanations are confusing me more than helping I think (I am not the only one who feels like this). But, as I said, that is not my only difficulty and not even close to the biggest difficulty. That difficulty would be myself!

I had a friend years ago explaining something to me and he said, I've never met anyone too stupid to get this, but I've met a lot of folks who are too smart. I'm not the stupid one in that analogy. I evaluate myself as 'intelligent' and those that personally know me will vouch for my ability to have several brain cells that work together simultaneously. I have been trying much too hard to really understand the geometry of all this and grasp the different aspects involve with operating and backing a semi tractor combination rig. The pivot point in the middle, the trailer tandem axles and trailer swing out, etc., etc., etc. In the end, I've made it much harder on myself at this stage than it should or needs to be. I've also tended to excel and excel quickly in pretty much anything I put my mind to. So, I've placed some pretty high expectations on myself that I'd 'get' this and I've been getting frustrated with myself for not 'getting' it quickly. That frustration has naturally compounded the problem. So, I get this weekend to chill my roll, TRY to get my ego in a more realistic place and allow myself to be OK with sucking at those maneuvers so I can actually learn how NOT to suck at them.

Anyway, I'll try to update things a bit more often. As for this point in my adventure and journey, I'm really happy and glad. I am sincerely enjoying trying to learn this stuff. There are a few bumps in the road, but I'm pretty confident that I'll be able to acquire a CDL and actually learn and become proficient in driving a semi. I just have to put the work and effort into it and stay out of my own way enough to get there.

 

I have one 'thing' about myself that is not 'normal'. What that 'thing' actually is, is private and especially not for a public forum. But, because of this 'thing', I have apprehension and concern when it comes to arrangements like sharing a hotel room and being together in a truck for a period of time. Most folks I think wouldn't have any problems or concerns about it, but some will. My concern is for what happens and what to do regarding those that have an issue with my 'thing'. Swift is aware of the 'thing' and not only offered (I didn't ask for it) to give me a room to myself during the training academy time, they have also ensured me that whoever I end up with for a trainer will be OK with my 'thing' and that any concerns (on either side) are comfortably worked out and both myself and my trainer are comfortable with being in their truck for that phase of my training. That is my 'appropriate' trainer.
In normal activities and interactions, my 'thing' has no impact, effect or concern. It is only when those boundaries become closer than normal social interactions.