Comments By Abiding Monkey

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet. I went into the DMV to take my written tests on general knowledge, air brakes, and combination vehicles on Thursday. I passed all three on the first try. My instructor was very informative and entertaining and was really good at giving us the information that we needed.

I was able to come home for the weekend. It was really nice to see my family and relax a little bit.

I start the ELDT program on Monday and then off to driving school. I'm getting closer.

Abiding Monkey wrote:

Overall, today went well. I have noticed some communication issues that are slightly concerning. I won't go into them too much, but I already knew from prior research that these issues happen, especially at Swift.

Day 1....

What you know firsthand is 1 day old. What you read is unchecked and unvetted internet fodder. Anyone with a cell phone can write a bad review on any trucking company. I suggest you revisit the above statement in about 1 month. Although I'm not going to completely disagree; I am of the opinion it's a student's primary responsibility to gain and maintain clarity of understanding. If you are not sure, ask. If you didn't hear, ask for it to be repeated. If you think you are sure, confirm your understanding by feeding it back to whoever gave you the instruction. Be your own advocate leaving nothing to chance.

I completely understand. I didn't want to make it seem like it was a big issue. Swift is a huge company and sometimes things get lost in translation between departments. It happens. They weren't even that big. My comment was more a stream of consciousness and that was just an observation that I made based off a few different minor experiences. The company I came from was also very large, so I am used to it. No harm in goin' with the flow.

Overall - as I had stated - it went well and has been going well.

Thank you for your feedback.

04/10/2023 - Day one of CDL Training.

Today was very full. I woke up bright and early at 0530. Grabbed some hotel breakfast and hopped on the shuttle with all my new classmates. We arrived at the terminal early. There seemed to be some miscommunication. Everyone, including the hotel believed that class started at 0700 when it really started at 0800. So, there was a long period of sitting around. I encountered my first blunder.

I left my medical documents at the hotel. I thought that we needed them when we went to the DMV. I felt pretty stupid for it, and felt even worse when the training coordinator chastised me and then made an example of the other students who had forgotten it. That didn't feel great. But, it reminded me that I need to harness my previous thick skin that I have been told is needed for this business.

Once that was out of the way, it was time to learn. We spent most of the first half of the day taking the English language test, going over class expectations and general pep talk yakkity yak. Then we broke for lunch. It was nice to be at a real terminal and to see the coming and going of the drivers throughout the day.

After lunch, we finally got into some CDL general knowledge items. The entire class is done by an instructor over Zoom. He was very engaging and ensured us that he will teach us the knowledge that we need. I am pretty confident I will soak up the information. It is not the written I am worried about, it is the behind-the-wheel stuff that I am nervous for.

Overall, today went well. I have noticed some communication issues that are slightly concerning. I won't go into them too much, but I already knew from prior research that these issues happen, especially at Swift.

I am looking forward to spending a whole day learninf tomorrow. I hope to check in with you all on the updates. My written test is on Thursday, so I hope to update you before then.

I know it's been a couple weeks since I have updated everyone. I guess I may have posted this prematurely. Thank you everyone for all the advice and well-wishes. It has been greatly apprecitated.

New update: 04/09/2023

I just checked into the hotel. It is weird sharing a room with a complete stranger, but he seems alright. I don't think I'll have very many issues sharing the room. It's just awkward at first.

I do miss my family already. It's really pre-missing. I know how long we will be apart, and it does make me sad. I know that the journey I am on has a lot fo opportunities and those opportunities come with initial costs. So, I am going to just let myself be homesick and be okay with it.

I am ready to start class tomorrow. We will be going bright and early to class from the hotel. I want to get my rest and be as prepared as possible.

Congratulations. There is a good set of instructors there at Fontana. I was just there last week. I am a flatbed mentor for Swift. Pay attention and listen to your instructors. Don’t get over confident and you will do fine in cdl training. After that and you get your license and officially hired by swift, you will begin your over the roadtraining. It is proficiency based not a set period of weeks or driving hours. It usually takes most of my students about 4 weeks. Plan for that. Don’t rush that part of your training. Suck up as much knowledge as you can while your trainer is there with you in the jump seat. It will make it easier when you are on your own. I still talk to all my former students atleast weekly. You will always be learning something new. There is more to this than just driving from point a to b. Good luck and before you know it I’ll see you rocking down the road.

Thank you for the advice. I am very excited to start. Class starts tomorrow, and I think I'm ready. I hope to see you out there.

Also, if anyone can give me some good recommendations for how to get through training in the best way and what to do to really maximize this opportunity, I would greatly appreciate it.

Welcome, and thanks for bringing us along. As you may realize, there will be many challenges ahead. With determination and perhaps a little touch of luck you can reach a rewarding career at the end of it all.

Be sure to come to us with any questions or problems you encounter along the way. We can help. Good luck!

Thank you so much for the encouragement! OI am really looking forward to starting a new trade.

Greetings everybody!

I am embarking on my journey with Swift Transportation in the next couple of weeks. Everything went do fast. Let me tell you a little about myself. I have always thought truck driving was interesting and fun and - dare I say - romantic. Like the bleeding artists of the modern era. I have always seen trucks and truckstops and wondered "I wonder what that would be like."

I have worked a desk job at a large insurance company for a little over five years. THis was going to be my career, the place I retired. I loved the culture, the pay, the benefits. I drank the Kool-Aid. I would ignore the little red flags that things were getting pear-shaped until it was too late. After many missteps regarding general care for employees and employee movement, I decided it was time for me to leave.

I search and searched for a different job, but I found I would be stuck either maing minimum wage in a new field, making less money in the same field, or living my hopeless existence dying slowly at my company. The reality crashed over me hard. Then, it happened. One after the other I was given job recommendations for "No CDL needed" driving positions. THis sparked my interest. I will not bore you with the rest, but hours of YouTube videos, blog posts, and late night brainstorming sessions later, and I am on the phone with a recruiter for Swift Transportation.

I know of the various reputations, and I frankly don't care. I want to break in. I want to try it.

I know there are a lot of struggles coming my way, and I am excited and terrified all at the same time. I will be leaving the woman I've been with for almost five years at home. We have not been apart for more than a few days our entire relationship. She has been my rock through many things good, bad, or indifferent.

So, here I am. I start training with all the book work and such in Fontana, California on April 10 of this year. I will do my best to keep this updated with my endeavors.

I hope to get to know you all and build a community with you. Thank you for having this available.