New soon to be swift trainee!

Congrats it's nice to read a good story. Hey - EVERY single trucking company has people working there who complain about it, just read it on here, people complain about Schneider, Roehl, Prime, name a company somebody has a complaint. People in general LOVE to complain about their job no matter what it is. Doctors making 200,000 dollars a year complain about their jobs every day. My girlfriend got her RN degree after working in a factory for 11 years, she makes $30 dollars an hour now, works three days a week and is off four, works 36 hours and gets paid for 40 hours and she is offered the chance to volunteer to work an extra day a week, if she works an extra day a week all month she gets that overtime and a $500 dollar bonus for each month she works one extra day each week and has perfect attendance that month - - and she complains about her job every day. When she complains and I get tired of hearing it I say, "Well you could always try and get your old factory job back I guess if you want." That shuts her up for a while. People just love to complain, and especially just tell one side of the story, people have to take all the complaints they hear with a huge grain of salt and not put too much stake in them - well except for the ones about C.R. England of course.

 

I just read this thread in one sitting, and what an incredible accounting of your first year. I have found the information to be very helpful and comforting. I am 54 years old, and after being unemployed for most of the last three years, I have been given the chance to apply to a trucking school which is run in conjunction with a local community college. Let me explain. With Federal Grant money and matching funds from a local Trucking Association, a Pilot Program was started to train new truck drivers in my area. Prior to acceptance, all prospective students must pass Step 1(10year DMV History, Background Check, Assessment Exams), then for those that pass Step 1, Step 2 is DOT Physical and Drug/Alcohol Screen, and for those that Pass Step 2, Step 3 is classroom training for DMV Class A Permit /Hazmat Endorsement and TWIC, and then on/off road training etc.

While I am excited about his opportunity, I am also very nervous too. As like you, I have never driven Trucks before and have all the same concerns about backing, etc. I have never driven in snow before, and I'm not to fond of mountain roads. However, with the proper training and safety measures taught, I am confident I can succeed in this industry for a couple of reasons: I am not opposed to hard work, long hours, or taking the crappy jobs at first because I know I'm new and will have to from time to time. I also might have a slight advantage that most may not have. My wife and I have talked about this, and if I have to go OTR at first, she will move in with family for a year, thus lowering our expenses immensely.

What I really liked about your thread is the insight you gave about your dispatcher or FM/GM, sorry but I don't know all the lingo yet. Anyway, it's something I have always believed in, if you treat people with respect, they in turn will do the same. Like you I have also done a lot of research and I'm not even in a class yet. I read a lot of forums on what to expect, and what not to expect, and I have been doing my research on various companies.

Thank you for your posts, they have been very helpful.

 

Thank you for reading. Appreciate it. I want to wish you good luck!! I hope you are able to go to the schooling in your area. Make sure you are studying your manual for your exams. A lot of people are nervous going into it, it happens, helps you to be wary of your surroundings, speed, trailer, etc. Im not talking out right fear but a respect for what the job entails. The snow and mountain driving, yes, definitely, when you get to that point of your journey just take it as slow as you can/want. Others will zoom past you down the mountains and sometimes in the curves but just hold your lane, watch what your truck and trailer are doing and don't worry about what other drivers around you think. The important thing is doing what you know to do to stay safe, and everyone making it down the mountain and through the snow alive.

I watch videos on youtube of this husband and wife who while he drives she rides with him. She doesn't want to drive as of yet. But they had a home, sold it or moved out of it, cant remember exactly, when he came on to swift. He started company driver but then leased onto swift and she rides and cooks and video records for him while they make a living out on the road without worrying about a house or note. Its pretty cool to watch. I bring it up because its something to think about if you and your wife ever thinking about her riding with you when its all said and done.

Right. Some in the field want to play wave the biggest stick around game. I see it all the time at the dispatch window sometimes. I understand in some cases but not all. I don't see how anyone gets ahead in the long run without respecting those who work in the offices. It goes both ways, they need drivers and we drivers need them. Its a circle of life in the industry. I always place myself in others shoes it helps to see the big picture.

Thanks again for reading. And for sure, read read read, study study study everything you can before so that you know what you are up for. backing is the most important thing to learn. once you get that down you are 95% on the way to being a driver. Learning to watch your trailer in curves, lane changes, merges, will go a long way as well. Always remember if you ever find yourself having to rush in doing something. You are doing something wrong. Never rush. Always give yourself time to make it to where you are going. And that is applicable to everything not just trucking. Good luck!! Keep me posted please? Thanks!!

 

Sitting at a Petro in Arkansas, mulling over whether I should take a 34 hour restart or not. Been running on recap hours for about two weeks now; was practicing on getting better at that aspect. Had a very good talk with my driver leader last night. It was refreshing. Me and her hardly talk on the phone. she noticed; called me to touch bases with me and get a feel on where I wanted to continue to go with the company. Great lady. Its a nice Saturday morning here. Looking out the front window of my truck watching the interstate traffic and the shiny parked trucks and drivers come and go. Life is good.

 

Also forgot to mention, my driver leader who left and went to work as a manager at a home depot distribution center returned about a month ago. So I am back on her board. Glad she is back.

 

Are you complaining about people who complain?

Priceless

 

Sure u don't wanna go be a cop hard to get peeps without a record these days. When I went to swift in tn way back a dude asked me to pee in a cup for him and he would reward me with 7 bucks.

 

Glad to hear all is good so far. I wanted to pick you're brain, if I may. I been doing some reading on the working hours, driving hours, 34hr restart and the 10hr break. Do you split the 10hr up into 8/2, or mostly a straight 10? When you take the 34, do you hotel it, or just stay in the cab? As for the cab, and I ask since you are driving a company truck, how are you set for electronics? Frig, coffee pot, computer, etc. Stay safe.

 

Chiver....that avatar you got ..............NICE

 

You may. I do a straight 10 hour break. When I take my 34 restarts I have done both on occasion. I don't drink coffee so no coffee pot for me and I had a fridge but didn't work that well for me so I gave it to another driver. Ill have to get another one soon. I have a computer, of course. :} When I'm parked I usually go into a truck stop and hang out for a few hours on the computer and if it has a dennys I use their wifi and whatnot. I go to walmart once or twice a month and stock up on food/snacks that last me two, three weeks. Once in awhile Ill get subway, or dennys. I don't have a lot of bills/overhead so I can eat out more if I wanted too. Just depends on what I want at that point in time.

I wanted a crock pot but realized since Im solo I don't want to be cooking something while Im driving and it spill going through traffic or up and down mountains. So I put that on hold until I get myself a ride a long.