Headed To Swift Driving Academy In Kansas City, MO

Well, I finally got to talk to my recruiter again today. Looks like I'm all set up to start school on June 1st. I'm a little nervous and excited. 😁 Anyone else gonna be in my class? Let me know.

Yeah I'll be in your class, I have also talked to someone else on here that will be in class with us also, he replied to my post in CDL Training Diaries.

Cool man! I just emailed you.

Here are three things, two not on any list, but they will come in handy. First, get a toy semi truck. Die cast. Walmart has some, around $13-15. The real trailer is 53 feet long, and it will wear your patience out trying to get the back end to do what you want it to do. With the toy, you can see the moving relationship as you "back" the truck.

Second, to help with frustration, get a bottle of patience pills, 2,000 IU. 50 count. Take two a day in the morning, or you'll go crazy by 5pm. Since these really don't exist, they're undetectable in any drug test.

Lastly, go ahead and get your Range McNally Motor Carriers Road Atlas. Deluxe with laminated pages. Don't spend the $80 sticker price. Find a truck stop. They'll have them for cheap.

Here are three things, two not on any list, but they will come in handy. First, get a toy semi truck. Die cast. Walmart has some, around $13-15. The real trailer is 53 feet long, and it will wear your patience out trying to get the back end to do what you want it to do. With the toy, you can see the moving relationship as you "back" the truck.

Second, to help with frustration, get a bottle of patience pills, 2,000 IU. 50 count. Take two a day in the morning, or you'll go crazy by 5pm. Since these really don't exist, they're undetectable in any drug test.

Lastly, go ahead and get your Range McNally Motor Carriers Road Atlas. Deluxe with laminated pages. Don't spend the $80 sticker price. Find a truck stop. They'll have them for cheap.

Thanks for the advice! For a second I thought you were serious about those pills. Lmao As for the road atlas, is it really needed in this age of GPS? I've looked into a few that are made just for truckers. Anyone have any suggestions on which is best? I'm also bringing my iPad along, so I may just get the Copilot GPS app that's made specifically for truckers. It's got mixed reviews, but seems to be on par with the dedicated units and would be far cheaper since I already have the hardware.

Remember, I'm a total newbie here, so please don't be to hard on me if I sound totally clueless. Lol

Swift uses the GPS installed on the Qualcomm. It often includes specific information for truck deliveries. Any GPS you want to use in the truck needs to have truck routes installed. Automobile units won't help you avoid low underpasses or bridge weight restrictions.

(I'm using my smart phone for this so it's hard to make a direct link. Look up "11 feet 8 inch bridge" on you tube.)

As for the necessity of the Atlas, the McNally is the road Bible. There is lots of very important information there, like road & bridge restrictions and more.

Sorry to necro and old thread.

I'll be starting at the Swift KC academy on Sept. 5. I like to be as prepared as possible and trying to get updated info on this has been a true pain. I have found information about a year old for California, though it doesn't clarify a whole lot since most of it includes information on testing at the DMV , which I have already done. Already have my class B, so it wasn't hard to get the air brakes, combination, and tanker.

I am excited but, I've read so many horror stories about mentors.

Mostly just curious of what to expect from first day of training up to mentor training.