Planning to attend Swift Phoenix Az. academy in Feb!

Discussion in 'Swift' started by MedicTrkr, Oct 17, 2013.

  1. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2010
    Messages:
    14,673
    Thanks Received:
    18,442
    Location:
    Burnsville, MN
    0
    Actually, it is easy work.

    The actual 'work' part of it is very easy.
    Drop an mt and hook to a loaded, or back in to a dock and get loaded.
    Drive a ways and deliver the same ways.
    (That's for Swift, dry van etc. Tanker or flat bed is a different story)

    The actual work you'll be doing is a cakewalk.

    The hard part is the hours you will be working.
    Hours per day, hours in the seat before you can take a break, hours and days and weeks before you can get home, the odd hours that you many times need to operate in, the time-zone changes in hours.

    Another difficulty is trip planning, because you have to take so much into consideration.
    Time-zones - you might be 3 hours in difference between pick up and delivery.
    Time accounted for rush hour traffic, construction zones, slower roads with your routing, accidents, etc..
    You may have to detour because of a low clearance, or any of the above, and that will set you behind schedule.

    And if you have ever had a hard time being on time, you will have added stress.
    Because being on-time is all important in this business.
    Get a few service failures because you are late without a very good reason, and you will likely be out of a job.
    Probably a career.

    Gung-ho on getting there, and speed to make it?
    2 speeding tickets will end it all for you. And it doesn't matter if those tickets are driving a truck or your personal car.

    Oh, and how about living in a little box?
    You'll have to learn to cook all over again, because you don't have a stove and oven and microwave and fridge. (Well, ...)
    And fast food and truck stop restaurants simply doesn't cut it out here. You'll go broke, if you don't die from all the salt first.
    There are options, but you'll have to learn them.
    I had a pretty good meal tonight. A roast chicken from Walmart, along with steamed vegies and some rice - all with a little 12V lunchbox oven.
    I don't have a fridge, but I have a cooler. Almost as good.

    You will have to put up with, and work around, planners and DM's and programs that try to make you run harder than is safe.
    Also night and weekend people that simply don't care.

    That's the tip of the iceberg, as well as a few yards below. I'm sure there is more.


    Medic, you seem to have the right attitude.
    If you can learn the systems well enough to keep on the right side of everyone, you'll probably do well.
     
    Skydivedavec and MedicTrkr Thank this.
  2. SteveH85396

    SteveH85396 Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2011
    Messages:
    1,646
    Thanks Received:
    810
    Location:
    Waddell, AZ
    0
    Download a copy of the AZ CDL manual and study it! Nearly every CA student in my class FLUNKED the AZ CDL permit test their first try.

    Feb is a great time to attend the academy in Phoenix. I went through in July/August. I had the advantage of living 20 miles from the terminal so I got to go home every night.
     
    MedicTrkr Thanks this.
  3. MedicTrkr

    MedicTrkr Bobtail Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2013
    Messages:
    6
    Thanks Received:
    3
    0
    Moosetek13, Thank you for the advice. It's nice to actually hear something real and not just all the negative talk. I'm sure there are people that are unhappy where they are working at every company. My plan is to treat the whole process as an adventure just as I would any hiking or camping trip and hopefully that will make it as enjoyable as it can be.