Swift Academy - Richmond, VA - My Experience Begins

When I went there, the trucks had Eaton Fuller 9 speed transmissions, which I believe is the company standard.

 

OK so you go to school for 3 weeks. When you come out do you have a CDL or a learners permit like when you first pass the DMV tests for a car or motorcycle. 3 weeks seams like a short time to learn all that and get enough time behind the wheel to do well with the driving instructor for your road test.

 

When you leave the school you will have your CDL if you are successful. You get your permit within the first few days. All the school is responsible for is getting you your CDL.

After school and orientation is when you go out with your mentor. That's when the learning really starts. It's no big deal, you can do this!

 

So you are saying that within the first week I will take the state DMV tests and have a learners permit. I'm working on that now with study materials I have found. So i do need to be ahead of the game. Should I be concerned with hazmat or not a focus in school. I just want to start with a dry van.

 

You can get your hazmat later if you want.

The tests are easy. Look at the test section on here, the blue tab at the top of the page.

 

When I went to Academy last year, they required me to have my permit in hand before heading to Richmond.

Even if you don't have to have it, I still recommend getting it at home. That's a heck of a lot of stress eliminated, and gives you more time to study things you'll need for the skills test... like the pretrip inspection.

 

they are Eaton 8 speeds, i am in the school now

 

Actually not. They are 9 speed; 1 through 8 numbered and an unnumbered low gear which is straight back from reverse. Gears 1 through 8 are an overlaid "H" pattern separated by low and high range shifted by air with a paddle on the front of the shift knob. There should be a shift pattern sticker in front of the shifter that says, " 9 speed".

If the sticker says 8 speed post a photo and I'll buy you a steak!
Frank

 

I found one. . Looks old though

 

That's not the one if there is a low is it. Perhaps this one.