Safety, customer service and professionalism are definatly going to be the main hiring and job retension qualities that any carrier will be wanting, and as a driver it is all about your money and being a valued driver. Thanks. I am not too worried about the mentors' way, I am very flexible and I know getting the job done is differant then doing it the dmv way. I can float gears fine etc., as long as my license is not put in jepordy, run legal on HOS and keep safe, I will get the job done and do as the mentor expects. -SgailDreugan
Be prepared to "object"...if the Mentor even HINTS at doing something you know is wrong. Trust your judgment! there are far too many "Mentors" that shouldn't be "mentoring"! Now in case you don't know...but Oldnew will vouch for me....I know of what I speak having been a Mentor/Trainer for Swift for 10+ years. good luck in your new adventure!
Some things are better left unsaid... Relatives who are serial killers, swift drivers and other family secrets...
You know, I see and hear this all the time...but truth be told...except for the last moment employed by, or under contract with, Swift...the company and most (98% of the others who work/leased to at Swift...I enjoyed my time(s) there. Of course there were times (many...no several... would be the better choice of word) that things could have been better, or handled in a smoother way...but all in all, when I look back...I really did enjoy Swift. With that being said...I for one, along with many others who put in their time with Swift...can honestly give encouraging advice, reflective thought and guidance, to those just starting their careers in this industry. And to this day, I still recommend Swift as a starting place. For some, they will stay with Swift until they retire, others will move on to other companies, or arenas in this or other industries...but Swift has a place for some... P.S. And as for my Trainer/Mentor skills and thoughts...I can honestly look back at every student I had with me on my truck, and know that I taught them the LEGAL, SAFE, AND COURTEOUS WAY...of being a PROFESSIONAL DRIVER. To the customer, the fellow driver, and the motoring public...my students learned, from me, what was right...not what they could get away with. How they handled their own affairs in and around their own truck, after leaving my tutorship...was their business...but if it was wrong...they knew it before and while they were doing wrong!
Otherhalftw, I wanted to send you a private message about Swift - I am hoping to be a driver for them soon. My email is michael-shamus@excite.com, can I ask you some querstions?
Congrats Sgail!! +1 to what Sonny said. Forget everything from Millington and have an open mind. You'll be fine. Enjoying my time with the mentor thoroughly, I was lucky and got a good one!
Know what's scary??? I can take a mentor class and start "mentoring" soon! Aug 10th is my 6 month anniversary.
So with Swith you have to get your permit first then go to the school right? Also I saw that if they sponser you for your CDL you have to sign a 26 month commitment, is this true? One other thing, People here are talking about trainers and then mentors. So is the trainer from the school that teaches you and then takes you to the DMV after your 3 weeks? Is the mentor the person you ride OTR with? THANKS!!!!
You will need to take the written portion of the CDL test to get your TIP Temporary Instruction Permit from your home state, and depending on your state you also may be required to have a DOT physical as well. You will have to take another physical and drug screen on the first day at the academy, regardless if you already have a DOT physical card. You do not sign any commitment to work for them, but you do sign a loan agreement and as part of the terms of that agreement is how the loan is paid off through payroll deductions. This is an interest free loan that is paid back over a 13 month period, you owe nothing after 13 months. At the same time they are reimbursing you at half the amount you are paying as long as you remain employed by Swift. So if you remain with Swift for 26 months you have paid off the loan in the first 13 months and they have reimbursed half of that, if you remain for the second 13 months they have reimbursed you for the other half meaning your schooling was free. Trainers and mentors are sometimes interchanged throughout the forums and different companies both generally meaning the same, just depends on a companies terminology. Swift generally considers Instructors to be those at the academy that teach the classroom and range portions of schooling, Trainers are Road Trainers that are instructors preparing you for the DMV test. And Mentors are other drivers that have gone through Swifts Mentorship program and teach new drivers about life on the road and dealing with the real world of trucking and Swift policies. Mentors are after you have gone to orientation and are hired by Swift. Otherhalftw can better explain mentors then I as this is all pretty new to me but this is how I understand it.
