Comments By Quinton

Quinton has a blast:

I was told by my DL that if I wanted detonation pay I had to stay on duty the entire time.

"Detonation" sure beats waiting for two or more hours at a warehouse dock, I'll tell you!

I just had to repeat this!

I didn't even realize that auto correct did that bahaha bahaha

At swift they require.....30min pre trip and 15min Post trip......fueling is on duty, I was told by my DL that if I wanted detonation pay I had to stay on duty the entire time..........But if I did that I would not have any drive time left. So I check in bump dock send goal message and either put myself off duty or in the SB then when given the green light I put myself back on duty and get paper work........go to a TS or rest area back in the sleeper or off duty and wait for the next load

Congratulations Quinton! Best of luck as you begin the next phase of your journey.

Safe travels!

Congratulations, Quinton! Here, let me throw you some dancing bananas:

After a while, check with your DM. Swift does shuttles: you haul a trailer to a swap point about 200 miles away, trade trailers with another Swift driver then return home. Not a bad gig - I was getting about 2400 miles a week, and slept at home every day.

Cool thanks for the head's up on that.....I might ask my DM for info on that in a few months

How did you like the Richmond school? How many were in your class?

It was great. The instructors are good. But it's getting a good mentor, I would recommend their training program to anyone

Good deal man! Best of luck

Hey guys and gals, it's been awhile, I am now proud to finally be a rookie solo driver for SWIFT! Went to school in Richmond Virginia, 200 hours with the mentor, and now have been a rookie solo driver for a week.....I love doing this.......however I also love my family, with that said I do plan on giving the OTR up in a year or so and going local. So a big THANK YOU TO ALL ON TT!!!! And just fyi if I can't get a local gig in said year I will stay with SWIFT until one comes along.......I know SWIFT gets a bad rap but in my opinion they are a good company. Thanks again! Stay safe out there.

DAY 9) sight side off set

DAY 10) more sight side

DAY 11) blind side/sight side, actual on road training and start parallel sight/blind side now off 2 days. Monday starts the last week

Quinton, you're just listing backing exercises that give many people apoplexy. How are you doing with backing?

Sorry First we meet the instructor. Then 4 at a time we rode with the instructor to see how the maneuver is done correctly and then he showed us how to be aggressive but not over/under aggressive........he would say you have to "Grab the bull by the horns" after he was done with the pep talk one at a time, you straight line back hit the horn, pull back up straight and do your sight side off set, Now I recommend you don't be overconfident.......a person in my class was saying that " I won't have any trouble with this" even went as far as saying he could do it better than the instructor....ha you should have been there this person was all over the place.......our instructor said to let him know when you're done. But after that the 8 of us got it down good and went on to blind side off set. I did good......not perfect but good. On the road part we all did good according to our instructor, just listen to them do what they ask no worries if you want to do it your way they will let you. When you realize you need help they will ask are you done? Then once your ego is in check they will get you back on track. Now comes blind side parallel.......The instructor asked "Who has been doing the previous maneuvers best?" Everybody took a step back and pointed at me And with a evil smile the instructor said "Get in the truck" and do a blind side parallel.......with his help I did it So Monday I get to watch the others do it and learn from them.

DAY 9) sight side off set

DAY 10) more sight side

DAY 11) blind side/sight side, actual on road training and start parallel sight/blind side now off 2 days. Monday starts the last week

Thanks y'all! I have done the vise-grip hammer a few times throughout my time as a mechanic. I have those tools and see no reason to get a sta-rat. Y'all have satisfied my curiosity about it. I had just never heard about before. I did watch a video on it, but don't think it's worth having at this time. Might get one if I were to see one at a yard sale for $5 bucks