Comments By Brian F.

Ummm oops

I too was a Nurse for 20+ years. Just wrapped up CDL school this week and going to Swift orientation the 28th. Nervous but looking forward to it. Just hoping I click with the trainer. Btw, CDL in 3 weeks was pretty intense with lots of external as well as self induced stress. Or maybe it was all self induced. If only we could have learned shifting in a bobtail around the parking lot rather than pulling a trailer through rush hour traffic and active school zones.

I too was a Nurse for 20+ years. Just wrapped up CDL school this week and going to Swift orientation the 28th. Nervous but looking forward to it. Just hoping I click with the trainer. Btw, CDL in 3 weeks was pretty intense with lots of external as well as self induced stress. Or maybe it was all self induced. If only we could have learned shifting in a bobtail around the parking lot rather than pulling a trailer through rush hour traffic and active school zones.

I too was a Nurse for 20+ years. Just wrapped up CDL school this week and going to Swift orientation the 28th. Nervous but looking forward to it. Just hoping I click with the trainer. Btw, CDL in 3 weeks was pretty intense with lots of external as well as self induced stress. Or maybe it was all self induced. If only we could have learned shifting in a bobtail around the parking lot rather than pulling a trailer through rush hour traffic and active school zones.

Turtle, when did you say you're starting Swift school in Indiana?

Wow! Has it been 6 months already? Seems almost like yesterday that you were still figuring out where you wanted to go. Congratulations!

Day 4 must have been uneventful as I barely remember it here on day 6. Day 5 we started with a brief backing lesson on the range then SURPRISE, get in the truck you're driving down the road. In rush hour traffic. Stop lights on inclines, divided highways, interstates, 2 lane roads, school zone, intersections of all types. The word terrified falls somewhat short. Sat and Sun between days 5 and 6 was spent studying road speeds to gears, pretrip and doing some homework. Day 6 (Monday) we split up and ome did backing on the range and some of us drove again. I drove again, in the truck with 3 other students. I went last which did not help my anxiety level but apparently helped my performance. After watching the first 3 I was no where near perfect but magnitudes better than I was on Friday.

TIP: If you want to study pretrip before getting to a school by watching videos on youtube, great idea except DO NOT waste time memorizing or even listening to the verbage. It varies by test center apparently and changes frequently. The video I hammered into my brain pre-school actually hurt me. What would be very helpful is to come to school knowing what all the pretrip parts are, where they are, what they do, and be able to easily visually identify them. That's probably half the battle.

Tip #2: Come to school baggage free and FOCUSED. If your wife, GF, mother, sister, etc is calling you daily with some bs problems at home either turn your phone off or don't even come.

This is the study sheet they gave us all here on site. The word is verbalize it ord for word cause that's what the DMV dudes want to hear. I too wonder if it varies from DMV to DMV or state to state. At the end of the day though I don't really care if they want me to use the terms purple elephant and dancing monkees.

The 1/4" minimum isn't a local variance. It's DOT. That is why I asked what Brian was using as a study sheet.

I gotta draw the line somewhere dude. I'm actually giving 101.5% but don't tell them that cause then they'll want more.

Thanks all. I am 101% focused and determined.

SLACKER! Can't you at least give it 102%?

On my study sheet it only refers to skid plate and mounting assembly.. Geez I might have mounting assembly wrong as I'm exhausted right now but the words 5th wheel are no where to be found. It is Apron btw. Another interesting piece is the brake "linings" are now "not dangerously thin", no mention of 1/4" thickness.

First week of Swift school, urine only so far.