Swifty To Syracuse, 4/11 Orientation

Made it to bus by 9am, but apparently I was supposed to have a ticket! Imagine that. Driver accepted the printed email with confirmation number, but arrived in Albany to be told I had no ticket. Recruiter calls go to VM. No room on planned 4pm bus. Have to wait till 9pm, and arrive in Syracuse after midnight! Ugh!

Finally called recruiter supervisor. He said, "Yup, she screwed up." Oh well. At least there is a 9pm...

Packed 2 big duffels... not clothes so much, but Laptop, bookkeeping files, shower supplies, ... Food! I hope I dont get booted from the cab when my trainer sees all this!

7 hrs to kill in station with 2 power outlets. (2hrs if there's a no-show on 4pm.)

But I'm still PSYCHED!

Sitting in class, 15+ of us... most of us at Comfort Inn, too.

Managed to get on 4:30 bus, and get into Syracuse as the moon was coming up. One of those magical city scape moments.

Shuttle driver touted benefits of Swift, now with Knight. And the opportunities for advancement... or just plain money-making. :)

Lalala... waiting!

KaTow, please keep us updated. I'm anywhere from three to 18 months from making this career change and I love reading all the training diaries. I have to admit, I was happy you made the 4:30 bus as it would have been a long, boring wait otherwise just for another long, boring bus ride.

Please keep us posted on your experience at the terminal in Syracuse! I am excited to hear. Is that city on New York or Pennsylvania? Why I ask is because I forgot what state that is in. We just went from Scranton Pennsylania to Exit 10 in Ohio and we have been stuck here all day because of a tire being stripped of its ply. Not cool. I am loving this experience.

I hope your experience is as good as mine and CONGRATS!!!

So I bombed.

Mis-judged a "stale green" which had a very short yellow. Back to Terminal to wait 2+ hours for HQ to let me go.

Three of us, actually, were on the shuttle back to the hotel, but only I had to wait until Tuesday for the next bus. Another guy talked to his recruiter, and planned to attend Swift Academy. The shuttle driver said the other option is to try agwin in 7 days, but blow that and you're done for 12 months before eligible for Orientation again.

I got to my room and reached my recruiter; she sent me Academy info, for Richmond VA. I decided to stay in Syracuse (NY) while I considered the two options. Obviously I'm paying my lodging, but the alternative was: 10hr bus to VT, home 2 days, 16hr bus to VA. (And two very confused cats at home.) From here, it's a 12hr bus ride, and the Comfort Inn rate is worth the reduced travel. (I've just hid at 6am each day, from the other trainees!)

So... how'd I blow a red light? Well, first, growing up, it was 12 miles to the nearest stop light... one of, maybe three in that near-by metropolis. My CDL school was equally rural. I really don't have the same problem in my pers vehicle... too often. And I was chatting with the Evaluator! Stupid! I even recognized the situation, but made the wrong choice. And it burns.

My conundrum is:

A) Wait out the weekend, re-try next Tuesday. I am a good driver (shifting, off-tracking, mirrors) all good. I was comfortable. It's traffic I have a problem with (and had problems with, the last 2 of 3 places hired on to). So, do I got my head together, Know I can do it right, and try again?

B) Head to VA, spend 3+ weeks in a CDL-prep environment (I admit I would benefit, but not convinced I Need it), and get unknown amount of on-road time (with, I'm sure, more than two stop lights!). Incur $2-4,000 debt and 1-2 yr commitment?

I guess I'm not really convinced I would road-test any better next week, or I would be arranging it now. But the Academy focus on getting a CDL vs getting me more skill-based time... not sure about that. (Emailed my recruiter last night, will probably call late-morning and see how much she can answer.)

Meanwhile, I have my computer here, and will continue muddling thru my options.

Wow. Writing as therapy!!

Thanks for sticking with me!

Sorry to hear that.

The Swift Academy commitment is 1 year...not sure where you are coming up with the debt of 2-4K. You work the year for Swift and your school debt is zero.

You work the year for Swift and your school debt is zero.

The cynic: If I really can't navigate a truck! I owe the fees...

Okay. What's the realistic probability of that?

When I have more time today I'll write something with more substance. Try not to beat yourself up.

Katow...to reiterate, try not to beat yourself up. At this point counter-productive.

Couple of things. I sense some level of doubt to your ability to pass on the next try. Confidence? Not sure... I also sense recognition of at least one weakness; dealing with an urban setting with a higher frequency of traffic lights and congestion.

Based on everything I read about you, although I'd be shocked if you did not pass on your next attempt, there is a chance you won't. Advice if you take another swing at this: "anticipate a light change, expect it, start to reduce your speed as you approach it and be prepared to stop without indecision and/or hesitation." 25% of my drive time is spent navigating urban traffic and conditions. So I have learned over time how to manage traffic lights and not get caught by a stale light changing with my foot "in-it". My number one rule is to stay 5mph under the speed limit on a secondary with a light every 1/8 mile...that helps to reduce the chance of running a light or triggering a hard braking event. I grew up in an urban area, so this type of driving isn't foreign to me.

I'd also suggest to be a little less casual with the person administering your test. They are also evaluating your level of focus. Keep it all business.

On the other hand if there is a significant amount of self doubt in your ability to do this, and only you know this, I'd step-back and attend the Richmond Academy. I was schooled there. Just realize there is about a weeks worth of classroom work that is not automatic. HOS and Mapping Skills are the bane of many a student (including former drivers)...so attending the school does increase the amount of information you must absorb and be tested on. Pre-Trip also blocks many students form continuing. It's a risk...not a cake-walk, but overall it might settle once and for all if you are indeed cut-out for this.

In the end your decision should be based on what path will increase your overall ability to succeed and operate your truck safely and efficiently. IMO, guardedly, going the Richmond route followed by the 200 hours of "paid" road-training (mentoring) might be the best approach (55% vs. 45% in favor of "going", close call). Tell the school your story...talk to them. If Vince is still there, I'd ask to speak to him in private and tell him where you think you need some help. Get through the first week before doing this...that in itself will be a challenge and very selective. The first week usually reduces the number of students remaining by half.

Good luck...!

Well , G-Town, while was reading your words of wisdom, my recruiter called. She explained more about the Academy training, and other options; about Swifts approach to drivers' levels of experience; and the 3-wk program.

I signed up. Like you say, it increases my chance to be successful, and learn to be a better driver. And no one expects me home until late-May anyway!

The more I learn about and interact with Swift, the more I respect the company. And the more I accept their way of handling ... how many new drivers per year?!

Thanks for the info and observations. Yea, I got low self-esteem. Haven't always tho... I just need some way out of this 10-year rut.

Now, however, I start planning for a trip south!