Swift Academy Licenses Suspended

tony took rd test on 1/20 /09 got results back just a bit ago was told i passed. to any and all involved with this tn /swift problem we should set a web address and start really getting something in motion on this hey info on pretrip very helpful its a big part of Ny road test

 

"wjf1957", congrats on passing the road test! It is my understanding that you had the same DMV examiner (#501) that failed me on my initial road test, so WAY TO GO!!!

"panicrooster", I fully agree with you that responsibility lies within TDoS also. Yes, I have mentioned Swift many times, but obviously if TDoS had been doing their job overseeing the third-party examiners AND their staff operating the licensing office in the Swift terminal in Memphis, it's highly likely that the broad invalidation of our licenses would never had occurred.

TDoS certainly dropped the ball on this one. And, look what it's done to the hard-working men and women nationwide who've scrambled to schedule re-exams for written and road tests! I've already lost several hundred dollars in wages due to lost time and the loss of my commercial driving privileges!

You mention you've been attempting to contact TDoS. What info are you looking for? Maybe I can make some calls, write some letters, or somehow speed the process along for you? I was able to reach the top brass within NYS DMV, maybe I can help you out with TDoS.

"panicrooster", IF you have the ability to rent a tractor-trailer AND are able to find another licensed CDL-A holder to accompany you, then that would be the course of action that I would advise. I know that Ryder and Penske rent those, but I'm sure that for the average person, the cost would be prohibitive. Again, if you're able to network with friends, family members, or former co-workers, perhaps you might stumble upon an owner/operator who might be willing to help out a person in your situation. Finally, it seems you're already exploring the third option of using a contract employer's vehicle for the test.

So, how bout it guys - does anyone else out there have any suggestions to help out our friend and fellow driver in Virgina, near Fairfax?

"h.pepper", thanks for the post! That's a likely issue regarding the third-party examiners.

"rikdev50s", thanks for the update regarding the OOIDA website - I'll take a look at that once I finish up here.

To all: I took road test yesterday (Jan 20, 2008) and YES, I PASSED THIS TIME!!!

Anyone needing guidance on pre-trip exam portion of road test is encouraged to check the post I added: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...-academy-licenses-suspended-8.html#post744620

The checklist I posted is for STRAIGHT TRUCK use (note lack of checks for fifth wheel/kingpin, glad hands/air lines, tandem axles, etc) but would be a good starting point regardless. If I get any requests, I can post the same for tractor-trailer. (I'm going to edit the post to indicate that it is intended for STRAIGHT TRUCK USE.)

Finally, "wjf1957", I agree that all of us affected need to unify somehow, perhaps with a website of our own, an online service group (such as Yahoo! Groups), a social networking page (such as Facebook), or through some other method. Any reader out there with good ideas of how to go about this?

Personally, I like the idea of a hosted website, with an easy-to-remember name, but I'm not sure I have the time to invest in a large-scale project like that. If there are any readers, or perhaps their spouses/significant others, out there that would like to devote time to such a cause, then by all means.

Otherwise, at this point I'm leaning to the Facebook or Yahoo! Groups idea, because if it's ultimately left up to me to do it, I won't have to deal with site design or web hosting issues. I know little about Facebook, but I have used Yahoo! Groups in the past, although that method would (I believe) require affected drivers wishing to join to have (or create) a Yahoo! member account.

THANKS TO ALL!

 

TO ALL:

The LandLine Magazine article "License testing shutdown leaves "thousands" of drivers in limbo" is VERY interesting, even though it essentially confirms what has already been said in this thread.

I've contacted The Trucker's Report forum staff with a request to post the link to the article - I'm not sure if it constitutes a trucking website or a news site - if it if I get approval I will post for all to read.

Tony

 

"License testing shutdown leaves “thousands” of drivers in limbo"

"Thousands of truckers may soon be traveling U.S. highways on expired CDLs without even knowing it.

"Drivers who obtained a commercial driver’s license through an unnamed third-party tester in Tennessee between May 2005 and January 2008 may be required to do a complete retest, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety. . . ."

http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2009/Jan09/011909/012009-01.htm

Many thanks again to "rikdev50s" for finding this article!

Tony

 

Tony... I recieved one of these letters today from the Michigan Dept. of State. According to what I found on their website, there are approximately 600 drivers in MI that are going to or have received these letters and must be re-tested. I am not currently driving, so it won't affect me immediately, but I had plans to go back into trucking at some point. Because I cannot afford to take the tests or get a semi to use, I am going to have no choice but to let them downgrade my liscense. The letter I received said nothing about suspending liscenses (in MI), but it says if you don't show proof of third party testing by a certain date, they will automatically downgrade the liscense. Several people I went to school with at the Swift Academy who also live in MI have received these letters. I have contacted several friends who live in other states, and so far certain people have not heard anything. But, it seems each state is sending them at their own time and so some people do not yet know if their state is going to do this. I can't post the link here, but if you go to the michigan government website and search for CDL third party testers you will find the information.

 

actually... I think it was the MI dept of transportation I found this on... you could probably try it on either though.

 

"safety1st", to my knowledge, nothing in this Forum's prohibits publishing the link the the information you found.

"IMPORTANT NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY TESTERS
"January 15, 2009

"The State of Tennessee has determined that knowledge and driving skills tests provided in Tennessee to obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL) were not given in accordance with the Rules of the Tennessee Department of Safety, nor Federal Regulation 49 CFR 383. Consequently, Tennessee intends to retest a large number of drivers. . . ."

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Notice_to_TPTs-_TN_retesting_263562_7.pdf

 

Also, here is a sample letter being mailed to affected Michigan CDL holders:

"The State of Tennessee has provided us with information that the knowledge and skills tests provided in Tennessee to obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) were not given in accordance with the Rules of the Tennessee Department of Safety, nor Federal regulation 49 CFR 383. Unfortunately, this means you must be retested in Michigan in order to maintain your CDL. . . ."

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Notice_to_drivers-_TN_retesting_263565_7.pdf

 

Swift should be sued for this mess!

 

Tony, Thank you for posting so much information on the Swift mess.
I am one of those 313 drivers in NYS, whose license was suspended. On 1/2/09 I was in California. The police checked my driver license and other documents and finally they told me that my driver license was suspended two days ago. They towed my truck about 10 miles to a truck stop and charged $320 for the towing. I am an owner operator. As i was supposed to deliver the load in Northern California the next morning. I had to find a local driver to deliver the load for me. The Californian police will charge me "Driving uninsured". and they told me that they will mail the citation to me in Feb 2009. The next day I called NYS DMV and found out what was going on with those Wellington graduates. I told NYS DMV that I was in California and I how could I go back to NY to take the tests. NYS DMV told me that they would lift the suspension after 24 hours, pending the result till the date of my road test.
I took a road test on 1/20/09 and fortunately I passed it. Otherwise I really don't know how can I handle this disaster.
I found this forum one day before I took the road test. It really gives me a lot of information and insights to get over this mess.
Thank you again, Tony, all other members who posted on this forum.
And I really hope those victims of this mess will pass their new tests soon.
CDL2006