Comments By Jared McClure

Remember it's always a good policy to Get Out And Look! It might take 2-3 GOALs in a situation like that, what with all the glaring. Oh, glaring lights!

Just 2-3 times? I plan on getting out like 8 times when they start complaining over the CB about it. :P

SWIFT

Sure Wish Insurance Fixed That.

Interesting part is that I found out that Swift will be putting me directly into one of their Dedicated fleets rather than sending me out OTR, which came as a bit of a surprise for me, as I was thinking I'd be doing OTR for at least a year. Not sure exactly where I'll be delivering for them yet, guess I'll find that out from the mentor?

How did you do that? Who did you talk to? How much did you have to pay somebody?

My road mentor recommended me for his own dedicated account, I really wanted that (you get weekends off). But when it was time to meet my DM, I was OTR, with the admonition that I could look into it in six months.

I never even asked about Dedicated, to be honest... Just was told by the facilitator when I checked in with her that they had me down for it. No idea why.

Little update:

Just started orientation today... It was the typical boring stuff... Drug test and wait around for people to finish their drug test and physicals.. Fill out a bit of paper work, watch the cheesy videos...

Interesting part is that I found out that Swift will be putting me directly into one of their Dedicated fleets rather than sending me out OTR, which came as a bit of a surprise for me, as I was thinking I'd be doing OTR for at least a year. Not sure exactly where I'll be delivering for them yet, guess I'll find that out from the mentor?

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Just to clarify: For the first 13 months you're working for Swift, you'll only be paying $35 per week for the academy: but it will show on your paycheck as a $70 deduction and a $35 reimbursement.

If you leave for another company after say, 6 months, then you will have to pay them $70 per week for the academy for the remaining 7 months.

Thanks, for responding back, I'm suppose to call them back tomorrow and check on the status of my application. I've talked with every big Company out there, and I like what Swift has to offer. The only thing I wasn't crazy about is the fact they have a two year contract. How do you access those Diaries?

I just finished with Swift's academy and will be going on to orientation and then out with a mentor soon. There is no two year contract to work with them.. or any contract to stay with them at all, actually. However, if you choose to work with them for 2 years (26 months, to be more exact) then they will have completely reimbursed you for the cost of the academy. Basically, from the time you go out on your own solo (after the mentor training) they begin to take money out of your paycheck ($70 per week,slightly more if you stayed at the hotel, for 13 months) to pay for the tuition cost of the academy ($3900 + $500 if you stay at the hotel). However, they also begin to reimburse you $35 per week for as long as you stay with the company (though I think if you switch to dedicated or something, this stops).

So the run down is pretty much this:

For the first 13 months, you pay $70 (plus lodging costs until repaid) per week to pay them back for the academy. You will have to pay this amount regardless of whether or not you stay with the company.

For up to 26 months that you decide to stay with Swift, they will give you $35 per week as tuition reimbursement. If you stay the full 26 months, you'll basically have payed nothing for going through the academy.

Its really not that bad of a deal, and you should probably stay with your first company for at least a year, anyways. After 13 months, you may be able to find something that pay you well enough that outweighs that $35 per week that they'll give you.

Welp, just finished with the Swift academy in Phoenix... Failed the road test portion of the skills twice before managing to pass it on the third time.. Have to say its a relief, and really the only portion of the training that I had all that much trouble with. I start orientation on the 9th so should be going out with a mentor soon!

"Orientation" - is that include on the road for six weeks? (Just clarifying terms.)

No, just 3 days at the terminal while they go over company policies and such with me.. And probably try to convince me to do a lease or something similar like that.. Could be heading out with a mentor as soon as the end of that Wednesday.. Just depends on if there is one available.

Welp, just finished with the Swift academy in Phoenix... Failed the road test portion of the skills twice before managing to pass it on the third time.. Have to say its a relief, and really the only portion of the training that I had all that much trouble with. I start orientation on the 9th so should be going out with a mentor soon!

One old guy I saw had on his visors "GO AWAY!" Those things are always down when you have your curtains pulled, so I doubt he gets any calls. But seriously. I live in a very nice house, in a nice neighborhood and I feel no less safe at the truck stops I pull into.

I'll probably put that on my truck, too! Maybe a "GET OFF MY LAWN" sign as well.