Serious Question for Newbie Trucking

My time with my mentor was one of the WORST times of my life. The first guy I got was really odd and said strange things all the time. He quit the first week of my mentorship anyway and they put me with another guy out of Mass. This guy would turn the AC off while we were going down the road and I would wake up sweating my butt off, he also tried to get me to drive over my 11 hrs while his fat butt was in the sleeper watching movies. One day I woke up in the top bunk while we were parked and he was boiling freakin' eggs on one of those portable stoves and all the heat and steam was rising up to where I was...It's a miracle that I didn't try to kill that guy..lol. On top of all that my girlfriend broke up with me becuase of all the BS that goes along with being a trucker. It's no wonder that most guys quit before they even get started..lol.

I also forgot to add that he tried to make me sleep in the top bunk going down the road...a big no-no with Swift at the time. When it came time to go home, even though he had to go past my house to get to his, he would say, "This is not a taxi service."....If I ever see that guy again I'm gonna punch him right in the mouth..lol

 

I'm pretty sure DOT has a problem with anyone in the top bunk while the vehicle is in motion. There's no securement nets up there. A good hard brake check and you're falling 5' to the floor.

 

With my luck I would have gone through the windshield and ended up on the highway..lol. I wasn't sure whether it was just Swift or DOT. That's actually the only truck I've ever had with a top bunk. I've been NE regional since then and only had a mid-roof.

 

some of the top bunks do come with belts and a net..im not sure if i would want to sleep or ride up there while the truck is rolling

 

I am getting ready to go to Swift academy in Lewiston, Idaho. From what I hear its a good program. That being said I've heard more than a few horror stories about their mentors. My wife`s uncle drove for them 6+ years and was a mentor for a while, he had an accident with a student sleeping in the top bunk.

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Now I feel safe sleeping when my mentor is driving.... Don't scare me like that....

 

Volvos are approved because they have the safety net up there.

 

I slept in the top bunk during my 5 weeks with my trainer. No net, no belt. I found a way to sleep so i wouldnt roll forward. I DID however throw my trainer from the bottom bunk. I learned to slow waaaayyyy down for rr tracks on back roads real fast after that.

 

I have a bud that got his cdl with Millis, He had to pat $500.00 up front and show up with his permit. They house you during school and "I think" one meal a day. Then out with a trainor 6 weeks I think, maby 8 weeks. He has to stay 2 years for his schooling to be paid, and if he leaves early it's incremento as to what he has to pay off. In other words the longer you stay, the less you owe. He is very happy, makes an average of around $750.00 a week. I will go on to say they have a yard in my home area and all of their drivers I talk to are happy. I had my schooling paid by W.I.A. but if it wasnt paid through that program I was going to go with Millis. I am with a decent company but if I decide to leave, Millis will be my first choice. If you are in an area they hire out of( it's pretty large) I would look into going with them as I have never heard anything bad about them.
Just two cent's worth.
Be Safe.
b

 

Does anyone have any comments/thoughts on US Xpress and their training program? Really thinking about going with them after I'm done with my trucking class.