Swift sets up new drivers for failure!!!!!

What happened?

 

I am a re-hire with Swift. Ran for them from 1997-1998. I have been to other big and small companys. Never once have I not had a problem with any of them at one time or another. Welcome to the real world. Because I got hurt 8 years ago, I had to reduce my CDL to a class C. I have had my Class A since 1984. Because of my "lack of recent driving experience, I had to go out with a Mentor that had only been driving for a few years. I taught him things. But hey, it was my choice to re-hire. After 240 hours BTW, I was released in my own truck. I am hearing horror stories from many, many new drivers from many different companies about being "thrown to the wolves". Shame on them. If they didn't feel like they were ready to go out on the hiway alone yet, they needed to say something. Recruiters and managers are not mind readers. All it takes is a "nice, polite message" on the Qualcomm about you not being ready, and they wont send you out. Qualcomm messages never, ever go away. ( so be careful what you say and how you say it). These truck schools are kicking up new drivers by the handfuls. I have seen ads that say, "have your CDL in 48 hours." That is scary. That isn't the companies fault that you aren't ready to drive on your own. Speak up and remember, safety by choice, not by chance.

 

This is the absolute truth.

 

Half of TTR replies: "They'll steal your money, ruin your credit, burn down your house, murder your family, rape your Rottweiler and then rip out your soul and eat it."

"Aw, you just have a bad attitude! You'll see--I'll make it work!"

Six months later, a thread like this is started...

 

This job quit being glamorous about 15 years ago. Drivers quit being polite and lost their manners. (and by no means do I mean all drivers, but the vast majority.)
DOT has made it almost impossible to have fun while we are out seeing the countryside. But the one thing that hasn't changed, ever, is the way companies treat the drivers. It is still either good or bad,,,, your choice. I have driven for large, small, mom 'n pop, o/o's and everyone in between. In the long run, things happen. Good and bad. There are days you sit and gripe about not getting a load fast enough, days you gripe about being rushed to P/U or Deliver your load faster than you can manage, days you are under a sweet light load with 2700 miles under it, days you can drop your load a day or two early,,,,. etc, etc. A job is a job. Either behind a counter fixing burgers, managing a whole office staff, fixing cars, what ever, a job is what you make it. My thoughts have always been,, if you're not happy working where you are, quit and find another job. It will make you, your family, your DM, your company happier in the long run. Life is way too short to sit around and ##### about how bad you have it. I learned long time ago,, if it hurts when you stick your tounge on the hot burner, stop doing it. It then feels better. Swift is no different than any other company, except that they are setting the safety standards for a lot of other companies. ####, I am sounding like a recruiter. Sorry. You will probably complain about the next company that you drive for. Driving may just not be your cup of tea. But you can't hate the industry as a whole. Wow, sorry for the rambling. Be safe.

 

That is any company you go to. Sure, trainer might have only 3 months exp. So you get some practice in shifting, backing, fueling, log book, and signing paperwork. Everything else you'll learn on your own.

Many trainers don't even show you how to pre-trip properly but don't let that be an excuse. Should have learned that in truck school, and if still feeling in doubt, there are plenty of resource to figure it out, from talking to other drivers to searching on the internet, and of course actual practice every day.

Avoid tickets and accidents, and the rest will come with time. The 6 week average training isn't enough to learn everything. The majority of what you need to know you'll learn after training is over and your on your own.

By the time you have finished training, you will have heard several times already to never make u-turn on the road, always get out and look when backing, and always watch your mirrors. Those rules will help you go a long way without trouble. Also speeding isn't worth it as some companies will fire you over the first ticket. Common sense and you won't lose your job.

Complaining that you got basic training then thrown into the wolves, sounds about right. Its pretty well known and should have expected it.

 

This job was never glamours, despite how many times you've seen Smokey and the Bandit.

 

He speaks the truth...Kemosavi! Swift has killed WAY more people than Al' Quieda!

 

One hitter quitter.

One post
No replies
He has vanished

 

He expected everyone to sympathise and stroke his brow and say "tut tut. it's so unfair. you poor hard done by lil thang". lol. What he got was a reality check.