Should I just pay for a refresher or just try Swift orientation in Gary

if they said only a road test then its just to check your current experience at driving. Im in california and attended Fontana terminal.

 

At orientation, you're going to have to pass a road test to ensure you can shift gears and are trainable. If you fail this road test you'll be sent home from orientation. Thats what I saw years ago when I went thru it.

Since you have no experience, take the time to get the refresher course. Any number of CDL schools should offer this to you. Make sure you learn as much as you can and pay attention. Practice the steps for shifting gears so you'll pass the test. This job can be dangerous. It demands your full attention. Good luck to ya!

 

also make sure you can double clutch, one older guy got sent home since he could not do it.

 

Did CRE tell you you'll still be going out with a trainer for about 6 weeks, then you'll run as a team with another just solo'ed out driver for perhaps another 4 weeks?

 

Why Swift ? Have you considered expediting ? Panther will put you in a straight truck at full pay with 0 experience . Just pass the road test . You might rent a Ryder truck for a day or 2 first to give yourself a refresher .
I'd recommend trying to team with an experienced driver for a few months.
Expedite trucks have larger sleepers with a microwave , fridge , and sink .
http://www.successfulexpediters.com/madsen/

 

and of course, on the expediters forum is another guy trying to recruit for JB Hunt, and on that forum is some one trying to get drivers for U S Xpress, and on that forum, and so on.

take Swift up on an offer, its a great company and you can't go wrong. Lots of opportunities, you'll see.

 

Don't get into trucking..Save yourself now and runnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

 

My 2 cents -
I was talking to the Swift recruiter at theLewiston ID terminal. I have been out of a truck for 8 years, so as far as anyone is concerned I have zero experience anymore. She strongly suggested a refresher course at a local CDL school. Just so that you can pass the drive test at orientation, which is going out with a driver around the area just to make sure you know what you are doing and can safely operate the truck. Then it would be out with a mentor for 4-6 weeks as mentioned. Swift will have your physical and drug test done at orientation if you need it. I would suggest getting your medical card and taking a refresher course at a school, but make sure it is a school that Swift accepts. Also get your medical card from a accepted provider as well. I know the Swift school in Lewiston does not offer a refresher course at all, it's all or nothing. Good luck

 

Fontana and Lathrop terminals haven't failed a single student post mentoring in three or more years. Atleast thats according D.D. The backing in the final road test is guided backing, much the way it is with the third party testers who initially stamped many of our cdls. I was actually shocked at how easy the final test was, especially considering that everyone made it sound so daunting. Long story short, it's nearly impossible to fail unless you're completely incompetent, and if you are, chances are you wouldn't have made it 240 hours with a mentor anyway, nor would you have achieved the required 40 successful backs. Swift WANTS you in that truck, you're cheap labor and they can't fill their seats fast enough. They'll look the other way on just about anything, trust me, I was one of "those" students. Other than that though everything you wrote was good...