Swift Mentor program out of Lewiston

After I went to the Academy there was about a three day wait to attend orientation. After orientation I was sent home because there were no mentors available. No one got a mentor. I waited 5 days. I have a buddy who waited a couple of weeks. It's a lot harder to find mentors for smokers. Something to think about. It all depends on how many mentors are available when you get out of orientation.

 

I've read a lot of negative things on this board about Swift. I can say my experience has been nothing like that. I have seen some pretty nasty drivers and others that all they do is #####. I was in Lewiston today and was accosted by a driver I'd seen in Fontana. He was complaining about his loads and not getting home. The kicker was that he was refusing a load headed toward his home. Yes it was going to be late, but, it was already late. I asked him if he had requested that the times be adjusted. He ignored the question and moved on. In Fontana he came up to me complaining he couldn't get a load back to the Northwest. He beat me back!.

It seems to me that drivers have a lot of time on their hands to sit and stew about the little things. They listen to radical talk radio and suddenly everyone is out to screw them. It's much easier to be negative and #####. More people accept you that way. I'm not saying there aren't some issues, but if you are going to complain, offer a solution. Who knows, perhaps the powers up stairs have never thought about it that way.

Be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem.

 

Stuck in SLC with a breakdown. Who knows how long it will take to fix. Waiting for the KW dealer to open. Hope it's just a sensor and not anything more serious. Already talk of getting me a ride home. It would suck to have to stop my training so close to the end. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

 

Back on the road and I have 9.5 hours left. I should be back in Lewiston on Christmas day. There won't be anyone there to clear me so I'll have to wait another day. I will have completed the mentor process in 30 days.

 

It's Christmas Eve am I'm sitting in Great Falls, MT. My mentor is driving and we have the final in sight. As soon as we drop, it's off to WA to pick up another load, and then on to Lewiston. We should be there late Christmas Day.

As I sit here, I'm thinking about all of the soldiers and contractors overseas who will miss another Christmas at home. It's a particularly bad Christmas as a contractor was killed by an Afghan Police Officer. It's already Christmas Day in Afghanistan. As you take time to give thanks this holiday season, please say a prayer for the folks protecting us now, and for the families of the fallen. The fallen need no prayers as they've already moved on to another, higher duty, for they now guard the Kingdom of Heaven.

Good night, and may all of you have a safe and Merry Christmas.