Swift Lewiston starting Monday 8/1

Back in Lewiston. Took a week off to take care of some family business that came up. Really only needed 3 business days off but since orientation starts on Tuesdays had to take a full week instead of just 3 days.

Taking State exam again today, wish me luck, no whammies!

Tomorrow I'm supposed to be in orientation but even passing the State exam late this afternoon I'm not sure how that will work because I probably won't be able to get my CDL-A until tomorrow. We'll find out I guess. I might end up getting another week off just due to scheduling.

Hope not. Ready to work now.

 

I would *love* to but part of the problem is this examiner wants you to commentary, for example "speed limit sign coming up, speed limit is 45, my speed is 43", "pedestrian crosswalk, I'll watch for pedestrian", "intersection I'll check the intersection before crossing, during, and mirror check after", etc etc. That part REALLY throws me off my game. I don't even like talking when I'm driving a four wheeler with passengers. I'm half tempted to say "if you dock me say 5 points to start can I just give you a commentary overview now so I don't have to talk while I'm driving".

 

Passed my State exam!

Scored terrible on pre-trip (forgot the entire trailer brake assembly...oops), but still passed with plenty to spare. Got a few things I forgot last time and specifically mentioned I forgot them. Got 13, 21 is fail.

Took 1 extra pullup for my offset, 0 extra pull-ups (get 2 free) on my 90 degree angle dock so ended up with 1 for my skills test. 12 is fail.

For driving test I scored 12 points. 30 is fail.

Apparently the running commentary is a scare tactic to get students to pay attention to their driving. I mentioned a few things but in most cases kept my mouth shut. Never mentioned one intersection for example except once when there was a car nosed out and mentioned that was the kind of thing I'd be watching for. I did get dinged on one intersection because I just didn't look and others I was all over watching.

Mentioned the tracks the first time crossing them, but not the three or four other times you cross them on the test route.

Rarely mentioned my speed or speed limit except when the speed was dropping and I was over what it was dropping to.

Most of the time though I was just driving. Made a few rookie mistakes, but he recognized that I was a rookie and said really the only way to fix those was with practice and more time behind the wheel. Tallying the score in my head I scored a lot worse than I actually did. Few things I was sure I'd get dinged on I didn't, and not as badly on some others.

I think I have an ulcer , but I passed!

Now first thing in the morning I've got to be at the DMV to get my CDL so I can get right over to orientation immediately. Swift knows I'll be running a little late due to having to get CDL in the morning so that's good. Won't have to do physical since had mine less than a month ago. That's the only reason I get to do orientation tomorrow instead of waiting for yet another week.

 

Orientation Day 1 -

Physicals for everyone but me, videos (snore) including a few I just saw at the academy, lunch, and lecture from Dwight (i think it was) from Safety.

Surprisingly not boring. Talked a little about safety and a lot about customer service and attitude and how important they were to Swift along with safety.

Not sure if I've said it before but everyone I've met as far as trainers and office staff go you can tell really like their jobs and really love the company. It's not that they say "I love my job" with the same lip service I've seen at many corporations...they actually seem like they love the company and their job.

Yea yea I know someone is going to say "well the people you meet now have to act that way." No, not really, I've had a few jobs where the HR trainers in orientation you could tell didn't want to be there and were going to be gone the next company that offered them even slightly more money. That's not a good image to prospective new employees, put them with someone that obviously hates their job. Not a good way to start.

Point being is that so far what I've seen is that the "swift bad" camp seems to have one attitude while the "swift great" camp has another, but the exact same things have happened to both types of people. Guess that shows the difference attitude makes.

Anyways, I digress.

Tomorrow is I guess logging and qualcomm training as well as other things.

Requested mentor pickup in or near my hometown instead of terminal if possible, but would take either as convenient for the company.

 

No . I was going to run down the river and fish some today but remembered had homework. Maybe tomorrow, will probably be my last chance.