Swift academy or not ?

Wow, just wow! 10 hours! That is ridiculous for $4000. That is like $400 and hour Swift charges for driving one of their old freightshakers. What a money maker.

You know the federal guideline for a CDL training is 40 hours behind the wheel time. That is with a class that is 160 hours long. Swift falls way short of federal standards and what most states require for the CDL.

Remember the CDLs that got pulled from the Tennessee Swift Academy. You know where the Feds. shut down the Swift Academy, pulled everybody's CDL, and did nothing more to Swift. It appears they just did not go far enough.

 

I recommend you do a bit more research . The problem was a third party tester who was not an employee of Swift or the State of Tennessee who had let his certification with the state expire .

Also , I'd like to see the link to the regulation requiring the behind the wheel hours to get a CDL .

 

It's not just Swift Academy. Trainees coming in from other CDL Mills had the same thing.

 

You need to do your research fanboy. Swift was the the third party tester. It was take the money and run for Swift. http://www.overdriveonline.com/class-action-cdl-suit-against-swift-continues/

You need to do your own research, but practice your reading first. I did not say there was a "regulation." I said "guideline." There is no federal regulation for CDL training as such. CDLs are issued by the States so it is not governed by a federal regulation. However, most states adopted the federal guidelines. Now you can look up each of the 50 states laws, or look up the federal register (around 2004) that set those guidelines.

 

Another one mis-informed.

 

Ask around for the better school and if you have to pay for it so be it. At least you would not have a company looking at you and waiting for you to make a little mistake so the can fire you. Also, the CDL questions are mandated by the FMCSR's and issued to each state with the instructions that they must included the questions in their testing. They can add questions but must include what the FMCSR's puts to them. See FMCSR's 383.5 Definitions (4) Commercial Drivers License It's right there in the pocketbook of the FMCSR's. It's good reading and recommended for all to read.

 

Did two years with Swift, I went through their school. Cant remember how many we started with but we finished with about 6 people. The time behind the wheel was easier for us because of the class being made smaller by some people not being prepared on the first day, and some figuring trucking was not for them the other days. I was almost bussed to Phoenix due to a school being closed in Texas due to some land issue at the time. Being the headquarters of Swift I reckon the trainers and staff would have things as top notch as possible so you would be in a pretty good location to get the training you need to get out with your own truck.

With that being said the first year they take out the 3900.00 and the 2nd year they basically reimburse you so itll be free. You would just be investing time. Which I didn't have a problem doing because the first thing I realized pretty quick was I did not want to jump around from company to company... ie 3 months here, 5 months there, that type of thing. So whatever you decide make sure that you are ready to put the time in and while doing so plan the next step in your career while you are driving for them and getting the experience and paycheck. ( best way to get a job is to have one while looking for the next step up) so to speak.

Going on a meager 4 years so far driving trucks I am glad I have two years with one company and almost a year with new company as of right now. I couldn't be happier with how things went, sure there were some hiccups but have the right mindset and learn, research and learn some more and you should be alright.

P.S. I would save my 2k. If you don't have a lot of bills at home you can survive and thrive with the work you put in and have a cushion for the slow weeks/months.

 

I don't see how you think it's free. The first year they take away and the second they pay you just below what the standard is. So if you pay out of your pocket you make that back (if your smart and do the research) your first year and the second is way ahead of swift.

 

I will be attending trucking school soon I hope all goes well

 

it's free because what they take away after fronting the money for their schooling they pay in the second year. Thus you don't lose anything because what was taken was paid back. Regardless of *low* pay it still added up to 3900.00. On top of what's made from miles. The two are separate.