Swift Mentor program out of Lewiston

New info.

I found out I won't be getting a check tomorrow since I got on the truck on the 26th. It looks like there will be a two week delay on your first paycheck. Basically, if you start on a Monday and work Monday, Tuesday, and Wed., be sure to approve your Wed. log before midnight. This will give you three days on your first check instead of two. If you only take enough money to last one week you are going to be surprised when you don't get a check. Just a heads up.

 

Useful bit of info. When you get with your mentor be sure to bring alone enough money and food to last you at least two weeks. It will be that long before you get a check. Even my mentor thought I would get a check on the 4th since I started on Nov. 26th. That's not the case. I won't get one until the 11th. I'm glad I expected something like this. Working overseas has taught me a few things.

 

Good idea about the jog. I haven't read too much about exercise and trucking but considering the amount of time sitting, I think it's pretty important. I've been devising a decent workout plan for once I get on the road. Just some simple core workout exercises that could help...

So far I've come up with...
- oil splatter push ups
- inverted push ups off the step
- dips off the step
- jump roping
- and then of course the lot lizard walk away. I figure if you walk around the truck stops fast enough they won't be able to keep up and bother you.

I'm hoping if Swift sends me to ID this weekend that I have enough saved to get by. This has been one of the hardest figures to come up with.

Good luck out there.

 

Left Laramie WY late last night. I took over about 0400 this morning and drove to Baker, OR. We were going to be way early for our delivery and as luck would have it we were able to switch loads with another driver in Boardman and its off to MT. Picked up another 505 miles today. My mentor is teaching me the ins and outs of how to get more loads and more miles. Less sitting around time. Things are starting to come together.

 

good stuff -- all the best



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Sounds like a great mentor. I'm hoping I get one similar to them.

 

I don't remember what day it is. I drove another 555 miles today. Heading to CA with a load of soda cans. It will be close to my mid term review by the end of tomorrow. I hope we get to a terminal to get it done AND a load of laundry.

When you pack, bring enough clothes so you can go two weeks without laundry. I would also bring some Fabreeze and some cologne.

 

So today we finished a run from Worland, WY to the City of Commerce, CA. We didn't have a load waiting for us and got permission park at the Swift terminal in Fontana, CA. This is my first experience of being at a terminal to do laundry and just see the caliber of folks working for Swift.

Observations:

Contrary to what Swift tells you at their academy, there really is no dress code OR anything that seems to require even the smallest degree of personal hygiene. There were several showers available and the drivers lounge had a lot of people in it. Nearly every shower was available. Swift wants you to wear a collared shirt and I've seen everything but. One guy came in wearing greasy cowboy boots, dirty camo pants, and a black a dirty black t-shirt that said Swift on it. His hair was about shoulder length and stringy with grease. He wasn't the worst nor was he the best there. From the standpoint of a business owner, had that guy made a delivery to my business, I would never hire Swift again.

The janitor came in and ran everyone out of the terminal at 9pm. There was a lot of ######## and moaning. They didn't stop to think that they guy had a job to do. I talked to him for a bit and he said it's like that every night. I told him to press on with the work of the lord. The terminal was clean, the complaining truckers weren't.

 

You probably passed right by my truck, I'm home for the weekend!

Good luck out there, sounds like it's going good so far.

 

Interesting. I don't think a lot of people understand a thing about how important personal image is and first impressions. I agree about being a business owner and having some slob come in that's delivering my goods. It may not always be true but how someone takes care of themselves says something about their level of self respect. Its even more obvious when someone is given the option to dress and present themselves one way or another and they choose the easiest route.

So, how is the whole experience of driving a rig overall? Exciting?