Swift training school any one out here been there.

Good morning Titans,
You have a great opportunity here. There's so much in the forum about Swift that is not very positive. I think that they've become the "whipping boy" of the company-provided CDL schools. You have a chance to dispel some of the negative and I, for one, would love to read about your adventures with Swift. When you have opportunity, would you keep your fellow wannabes updated as you go through training?
Thanks, Oldnew....

P.S. Most importantly, keep your head held high and your eyes on the goal!!!

 

I think that if you live less than 40 miles from the terminal you have to park at the terminal if you are more than that you park at home. I might be a little off but it is close.

I just completed my training at the Millington, TN a few weeks ago and it is a little tough but if you are serious about driving you will be OK. If you are not serious you will be dropped like a hot potato. It amazed me how many people just didn't care and then they were mad because Swift sent them packing. If you can't be serious long enough to do your training how in the world do you expect to be a good driver. They were so many people with issues that didn't need to be their in the first place, and they will weed you out very fast. It is more of a boot camp setup and very fast paced. If you have problems with anything be proactive and ask for help and they will help you, don't be passive.

Most of the problems I seen were created by recruiters given out bad information. If your recruter tells you something that is questionable get it in writing. I seen some people that were given very bad information by a recruiter but after everything was sorted out the recruiter got fired. Most if not all the recruiters are contracted by Swift not directly employed by them, or this is what I was told at the school. Make sure that if you are taking precription medication that you have the precription and also a note from the doctor saying that taking the medication is fine while driving a truck. I seen a few people that were taking heavy pain killers and you could see in their eyes that they were doped up and were mad when they were sent home. Just because you are prescribed a medication doesn't mean that it is safe to drive taking it.

I have been staying in touch with fellow roommates and everything so far has been positive as a whole. Nothing in the world is perfect. I found that they have some great trainers that really care and maybe I was lucky but others that I have talked to really liked their trainers as well. They are tough but I want to be safe but I found them to be caring as well. You will get out of it what you put in it. This is your future so be serious if not go do something else.

About the winning, I have found that most always you will always hear the bad about a company but very seldom hear any good. This is true for any company. I'm sure some of it is true but a lot of it is one sided. A company this large has to have people in high positions that are ___holes but just because of a few bad apples you cannot rate the whole company based on this. I had a few problems to begin with but following the chain of comand got it took care of very quickly.

I have some friends that work for Swift and are happy with them. Only time will tell. But you know you have to start somewhere and they have given me a chance to prove myself and I will do my best. If later I find that we are not a good fit then I will look elsewhere. I think the key with any job or anything in life is that you get out what you put in, there is no such thing as a free ride. A lot of the bad from people is from people who don't like to conform to a company's way of doing things, you know you have to pretty much do what a company expects from you and if you don't like the way a company does things then that is fine you need to move on, or start your own company and then see how easy it is to make everyone happy. Can you tell I use to own a small company, and I can tell you first hand it is very hard to find employees that are dedicated or will follow instructions, I can't begin to see how a large company like Swift does it.

On the automatic, to my knowledge Swift does not have automatics. Most of the trucks that I have seen are 9 speeds

I hope this helps you. I want to thank the people on the forum for all of their postings it has helped me greatly.

 

Thanks for the quick reply, I forgot to ask if you get to go home any during the training. Thanks alot ........

 

No. You also train over the weekend.

 

Well, I'm going to training w/ swift in Millington TN, and i'm wondering.... my recruiter says it's a 13-day training program. But after that do you go with out your mentor? or do you go back home to take the road test and such to get your CDL? i've been going through the threads and i'm getting mixed testimonies about it depending on the training facility.

 

Just wondering 'cause I need to know what day to buy the return home ticket for greyhound.

 

There was a lot of confusion about that. This is what we were told. It is 21 days of training. You spend 2 weeks at Millington, then you go to your home terminal. If Millington is your home terminal, you stay there the 3rd week. That 3rd week you take a truck out on the road and practice driving with a trainer. After the 3rd week, you will take your state cdl test. Then you will go otr with your mentor.

That is the information I was given Monday at Millington by an instructor. I had to come home for a red tape issue, but I will be going back on the 11th

 

The recruiter is lying. The program is 21 days. A lot of recruiters are telling this. You could stay in Millington, or maybe not it just depends if your home terminal has a road trainer. When I was there, people from NC, SC TN, VA, and some other states stayed at Millington for the 3rd week and then you go to your home state or another terminal to take your CDL test. It is a little confusing. Just plan on being gone for a while. You want know until day 13 where you will be going. Why are you buying a bus ticket, they will pay for your bus tickets there and back.

 

They do? I guess I have to ask for more detail about that from the recrutier. Be awesome if they did. Thanks to the both of you. the terminal for me would be in Minneapolis,mn, and i'm currently set up to go to TN for the 18th if nothing changes.

 

Swift paid my bus ticket home because I needed a medical release from Dr. They will also get me back. Only problem was a long wait at the Memphis bus stop on the way home. They will get you where you need to be.