Swift training school any one out here been there.

I can tell you that here in Lewiston we are logging it ALL legal. If we are in class, or on the range we log line 4. If we are at lunch, or out of school, we log on line 1. Any time we are behind the wheel, and off the range we log it as line 3. When we are sitting in the backseat, (not a sleeper as these school trucks have been stripped and equipped with a 3 person bench seat), this is logged as line 4 as well.

In school we are held to a high standard when it comes to logbooks. We are not allowed to make any corrections, even with white out. If we make any mistakes, we are charged for each mistake. One student had 10 mistakes because he did not enter the last 7 days hours, total hours, available hours, or hours worked today in the column on the right side of the log.

Now when we started using logs we received 15 monopoly dollars. Each mistake costs one dollar, and if you run out of money , you will be writing a book about logs. Not sure what the book is about, nobody has run out of money yet. Of course we just started using line 3 a few days ago.

Just for the record, my statement about logging 2 hours and 74 miles on line 4 was an error in my thread. I have not made any errors on my log book as of yet. I really find it pretty simple, as long as I log it as I do it! And that is exactly what i am doing.

So, I believe the trainers here in Lewiston are trying to teach us to be legal with our logs at all times. They are training us to use the logbook in school just as we would use it on the road. And NO, we are not logging any line 2 time at all. We even got to log a 34 hour reset for the fourth of July, and we will log another one for tomorow.

 

No I did not forget to post on Friday, but I was really tired and I ended up moving into a different room in the motel. I am now roommates with Dave, my teammate in the truck. We are both going to be based in Sumner, we are close to the same age, and we have a lot in common. So we decided to become roommates rather than be stuck with some unknown new student.

So day 10, Friday started out with me driving out of Lewiston along the river. I drove for 1.75 hours and 72 miles all on line 3. Next Dave jumped in the drivers seat in Kamiah ID, and drove for 1.75 hours and 52 miles. Daves driving included some windy uphill grade as we headed to White Bird ID. Once in White Bird we switched again and I drove to Winchester ID. This was 55 miles and 1.5 hours all logged on line 3. When we reached Winchester ID Dave drove all the way back to the academy in Lewiston for 44 miles and 1.5 hours.
Here is a link to the morning GPS Track. Now one problem with the tracker. My phone was low on battery, so it was turned off from White Bird to Winchester. The GPS program simply drew a straight line between the two points. The actual route I drove was on Highway 95, as opposed to the plotted route.

http://gpsed.com/track/7306594500172950371

After lunch I again got behind the wheel for 1.5 hours and 26 miles on line 3. This was all in town driving and focussed on some tight turns, a few residential streets and a bunch of traffic. All went well with the exception of a few curbs that may need new paint. I quickly learned that it may not always be possible to miss the curb.
Dave got 25 miles and 1.5 hours of similar driving. He got frustrated with downshifting from 5th to 3rd, but again he did not have any major problems. All in all, the afternoon was a lot more stressfull than the morning, but we still had an awesome day.

Here is the link for the afternoon of day 10:
http://gpsed.com/track/7306594500197996611

We heard that most of the other students went on the long runs and did not get into the traffic as much as we did. 2 trucks with 4 student even revisited the road that we did on the first day of driving where they practiced upshift and downshift for the 27 mile stretch.

Bob still says that we are way ahed of the other teams. I don't think he would tell us this if it wasn't true. He continues to give us greater and greater challenges, so I think that means we are improving. Nobody else has been on Lewiston Hill, and we have both driven down the hill already.

Now, I am adding Day 11 to this post also. Today was Saturday and Bob was the only instructor on duty. He showed us how to chain up, slide the 5th wheel, and slide the tandems. Being on the range, we had all of the usual stations. 100' backing, offset backing, 90 degree dock, 45 degree dock and straight back. We also had a station for drop and hook, sliding 5th wheel and tandems, and tire chains. Chaining up in 95 degree weather with no trailer was not realistic, but at least we got to do it!

So Bob helped the students that needed to still take the school tests for offset backing, 90 degree dock and straight back. There was one studen that had problems with these and needed to retest. Bob was able to get them comfortable by the end of the day, and she was able tocomplete them all with a passing score. This student is going to run teams with her husband, so once she passes the state tests, she can learn more on the road.

At the end of day 11, we still have 10 students, and the only retests that still need to be done are for the pret-trip inspections. Everyone seems to be ready to get out on the road and try to maneuver through some city traffic. I think Monday will bring some pretty intense driving fo everyone.

Sunday will be a day off for us. Most classes will only receive this one day off during the training program. Because of the July 4th holiday, this is our second day off. We have all been able to accumulate the required hours of Lab and Range time to meet the PTDI requirements. Next week will have 4 days of Road hours, so we should have plenty of hours to graduate. Testing for us will be in Spokane WA on Friday, the last day of school.

 

We are trying to figure out what this thing is. it is bolted onto the tire chain hangar on some of the trucks we are using. Some are newer FL Columbia's, and some are older FLD's. Now, not all of the truck have it, but some do. Can somebody tell me what this is?

 

Thanks for the update.You have given us a look into what school is like.

 

Ford, please keep up the posts, they are very helpful to me. It is great you are providing insight to what training is like at Swift. You are doing great and wish you nothing but success in the future.

 

Yeah that is a whattheheckisthatdoingonmytruck. It is quite common, but always on trucks where people dont know what it is.

 

OK, I'm not playing poker with you...I know that answer is a bluff, but since I can't beat your letter count in the answer you gave, I will consider it a pair of aces and that beats my dueces!

I don't have a clue what it is...does it spin or go "wwwhhhiiiiirrrrr", then it can't be anything to do with knitting!

 

y'all scare me.

T'sW: You just don't know the pouting I'm doing over all this. Now they're sending us to OK City and I stomped my foot and said "NOT TODAY". So they're letting us pick it up tomorrow.

I need a new pair of Nikes BADLY. I've passed 4 discount stores without the time to stop. Went through Vegas without the time to stop. I think I'm having shopping withdrawl and I want to have lunch with a friend. A woman friend. Not the guy in the truck with me.

*takes a breath and pauses in my rant*

I need shoes really bad.

 

Well then...almost out of ultimate rookie status..soon to be in the just plain old rookie zone! Way to go Ford, your continuation, and on going description of what you and your class are doing is great!

This two day post just confirms my earlier statement about Lewiston being the top choice of the Swift academies. I am especially glad to hear they are having you chain the truck, (BTW, when you add the trailer to chaining, you just drape the chains in the same position on the tires of the trailer, same as you did on the tractor, one difference on the trailer you can stagger the position (forward axle on drivers side and rear axle on passenger side...or vice versa), and your hands get colder and wetter when you add two more chains to throw! If they didn't cover it ask what the difference is between; 1) minimum, 2) maximum, and 3) modified max. If they don't tell or don't know, give us a holler we can help! The only one that might throw them is the modified max..CA initiated it a couple years ago so they might not have run into it.

Glad to hear your partner and you get along so well..that is a big plus when away from home and trying to learn a new career...always good to have a study bud and freind to have a food fight with. Well keep up the good work..we are behind you all the way!

OH

 

You can always buy some online. lol Just kidding. I just went shopping today with my son and sister. I am one tired puppy. I think I am too old to marathon shop anymore.

I am very proud of my son though. He's 17 and got his first $1000.00 check for doing a web design. Now that money is burning a hole in his pocket. He bought a new 24" monitor for his XBox 360 and a new gaming keyboard and mouse, this gives you an indication of his priorities.......big boy toys. He's very good at web design and has a natural ability for it. He aced his web design class, his teacher was extremely impressed with his abilities. Yes, I am bragging, but I am proud of him. He can make a lucrative living at it too.

He wanted to be a musician first and foremost, but the web design bug is in his blood. He knows how to troubleshoot problems on the computer also. He plays the piano by ear and is very musically inclined.....he takes after his grandpa in that respect. His grandpa plays steel guitar.

Maybe next time you're in CA we can have that coffee/diet pepsi conversation.