Starting Academy in Lewiston, ID (25Mar2013)

Anyone else starting the Swift Academy in Lewiston next Monday?
Has anyone been through that training recently?

Thank you.

 

Thank you.

 

How was the experience for you?

 

I heard a lot of good and bad things about Swift, but that goes with any and every company.
I figure that if nothing else it will be at least a great place to start.
Swift, like only a few other companies, hire drivers with no experience.
I am going to utilize their Veteran's Scholarship for their driver training.
A local terminal is another small benefit.

 

It has been an exciting week!
The first few days were were paperwork and getting to know classmates.
We started straight-line backing Wednesday. Pre-trips are stressed throughout everyday.
Luckily I have pre-trip experience on a bus training course with the military;
not the same as tractor-trailer combo, but some similarities none the less.
The instructors are very helpful and everything.
The Swift Academy practice tests raise the bar on the test over the actual state tests.

 

Week two is complete. We're hitting the road training tomorrow!
On my Swift practice tests I missed zero on the straight-line backing,
missed two on the off-set, and five on the 90 Alley backing.
Since that I have been getting the off-set by missing zero to one
and the 90 Alley missing zero to three points.
It takes practice. Some it might be quicker, some longer.

I got a 99% on the Swift pre-trip practice. Getting a bus endorsement on my
government driver's license has helped a ton here, especially for the pre-trip.