Comments By Idaho noob

I just realized I was in the wrong sub section if a mod could move this to the training diaries that would be great and I apologize.

I also apologize for any grammar or terrible spelling mistakes as I'm typing these up on a tablet my awesome brother got me so I would have entertainment outside studies!

Hey guys been reading forums for a couple months and have been mostly unemployed doing side jobs and building sweet gaming rigs and office PCs for cash. Recently decided to go all out and get into trucking as I enjoy the open road and have no issue being by myself.

Just arrived in Lewiston Idaho from Boise at around 3pm pst.

Swift now uses the red lion hotel here but the room I got was across the parking lot and is not enough energy close to the quality as the main hotel. Still a stepid up from who they previously used.

I checked in and got in my rooand so far as of 4:15pm pst I'm alone in here. On one hand I want the room to myself on the other I wouldn't mind a study buddy for all that pretty trip mumbo jumbo.

Lil info about me if interested. I'm a dude in my late twenties and have been freelancing worknow most my life and decided it was time I needed a career to achieve the goals I have for myself and the goals I share with my beautiful fiancée.

I met my fiance playing the MMORPG world of warcraft. I decided to server transfer and picked Area 52. I joined the first guild I ran into and played for a few days here and there, one day someone in guild chat mentioned she was having a panic attack at the doctors office because the doctoright makes her nervous.

Being that I have dealt with anxiety myself I knew how nice it was just to have someone talk to you to help you relax and get back to being chill! I sent her a pm letting her now I too had panic attacks in the past and the best thing to do is tell yourself "hey its just anxiety imy going to be OK it's just anxiety and it's OK it will go away soon." Shirt York after her panics subsided and we became good friends and talked for months everyone we played. Eventually we decided it would be cool to meet up so I drove from idaho down to Texas and we spent a week together. When I got ready to go she grabbed a bag and left with me home to idaho!

That's a little brief story for yall. I will try to update this thread every night after CDL school and note my progress and inform of anything exciting happening and whatnot.

Just be known if you get stuck in this sub building for red lion its subar. I would not mind if it was actually free but provided I graduate and go solo I'll be paying for it so I'd have preferred the main building myself!

Idaho noob.

Let us know what happens man.

Earplugs or earbuds with soft nature sounds or a creek. Then sleep with one of those mini bats that are heavily weighted at one end. Sleep with peace in mind. I would prefer a 45ACP but with all the crazy ass random stupid laws out there unless you know your lane its hard to carry perfectly legally. Need to know laws in each state you pass through and whether your CWL works there or not yadda yadda.

If you cant stand stuff on your ears get one of those mini fans that clip on to things and run it on high at night near you to drown out sounds. I sleep like a baby anywhere I go because I take a loud fan. Not on the road yet but I will have a small fan and will make sure its a nice loud Brmmmmmmmmmmmmmm lol.

The hum of a fan should help anyone sleep and avoid hearing background nuisances.

Hi guys heres a link to your own site. https://www.truckingtruth.com/free_truck_driving_schools/swift/swift4.html

You need to update this information its spreading outdated old information. There is absolutely not a $150 deposit for first day of class anymore thats "years" old. Also the Hotel used for the academy in Lewiston Idaho is now the Red Lion Hotel in Lewiston quite a nice hotel actually.

Pay scale is all wrong as well. Drivers start at .36cpm after going solo. During time with an OTR trainer you are paid $9.50 an hour for on duty driving and minimum state wage for on duty not driving if the trainer is rolling. Averaging $450-600 a week for drive time during OTR training.

That info just needs a good going over as its quite old an outdated. I personally am leaving sunday morning to hit Lewiston for training and was just going over yalls page.

That does not even sound legal to me. Legal wise you only have to list previous ten years. I was not even asked that much.

Goodluck on your next road test man. I'm heading to Swift here in Idaho this Sunday and am extremely excited but at the same time extremely nervous.

From what I have read according to company requirements. Theres not a single company that is going to train you with two speeding tickets that are 15+ over the limit. That is considered reckless driving and is a HUGE no no just like a DUI.

What happened? Did you find anyone to take you in?

My guess is you are going to have to wait 3 years past the newest one for it to fall off your 3 year MVR before you have a shot with zero experience. If you had experience you could get on a mom and pop probably but since you dont probably a snowballs chance in hell with two 15+ tickets.

Contact as many recruiters as you can, ppl say they lie and some might but they wont knowingly send you to training knowing you will be rejected thats a waste of their time. They only get money for you if you graduate AND you get hired.

Just realized I quoted Barry and not Steve the OP heh. Oh well!

I just took physical and start school at AIT here in Colorado I am excited

Steve J

Cool. Good luck to you. I should be staring training in early January myself. I have spent quite a few evenings reading the articles hear on truckingtruth.com. Great insight on what we should expect.

Myself as well. I have read alot of information here and another truckers forum I wont name. I also used the practice tests on both websites for 4 days off an on in sessions of an hour and passed my CDL permit without any issues and never even picked up the CDL book. Been studying pre trip myself now. Quite frankly I decided to go trucking because I am an introvert, I think alot and I carry out conversations in my head and forget to even speak outloud quite often.

Pre trip scares me for the skills test simply because I have to speak outloud to someone to show I know what it is, when in my world I would be carrying a clip board with a checklist for my real life pretrip as I would like to not forget anything. Silly people need to memorize so much instead of being smart and having a clipboard with a checklist as thats very thorough in my opinion anyway.

Driving im not to worried about, I'm sure I will suck at backing at first as I have no trailer experience but I am sure it will click after a few sessions behind the wheel.

That pre trip test though man that makes me nervous being an introvert with social anxiety haha!

I should be heading into OTR training around the start of January too as the Swift school is 17 days and will end on Christmas day for myself. Hopefully we both get good trainers and no nightmares or foreigners who we cant understand!