Swift Transportation Academy Phoenix
Topic 13535 | Page 4
Devan writes:
I am so hapy and impressed with myself. I went from wanting to give up to actually understanding what to do. It takes time, but you will get it. Just relax and have fun!
You're right on the money here. At one point in school I was ready to throw in the towel, too. Chickie Monster reached that point this week.
Glad you came out the "other side" on this.
I sure did! But boy am I glad I didn't! I'm sitting in the hotel waiting for my trainer to get in and the excitement is driving me crazy! I am ready to tackle this and get out there and enjoy this new life!
You sound like you are doing an awesome job! But what I said before still applies. Don't get over confident! That is when mistakes happen. Take your time and GOAL as much as you need to.
You've got this Devan! Keep up the great work and keep us posted!
Day 13
Since we evaluated early, we just continued to practice skills. This lead on to us actually getting some drive time in. It was short and brief, but it was exciting none the less.
It was just a sneak peak of what is ahead of us oneed Monday. The instructors took a group of us out to basically empty roads between a couple warehouses. We were taught how to use the range selector when shifting because we already went over shifting. We each got to drive 30 minutes and it was so exciting.
I was surprised that when it was my turn I was more excited than scared to do so. I got rid of all the nerves on the straight line backing I guess. I actually didn't do too bad with shifting. It needs plenty more work, but I was doing good for the first time actually going faster than 6 miles an hour haha.
Ready for road week. If all goes as planned I will have a CDL on Friday and be at orientation in Albuquerque on April 12th.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Day 14
Day off today. Start road week tomorrow. I am actually excited to do so. After getting a sneak peak yesterday, I am not so nervous. I am still grateful for this opportunity and I am so glad that I didn't quit.
By Friday I should have a CDL and by Thursday or Friday next week I will actually be out on the road. I am truly amazed by my progress and excited to embark on a new journey in life. Do not let others discourage you. Swift is not as bad as others make it out to be. Just take it one day at a time and survive.
If you are thinking about doing this, then do it. I really wish if I came out here earlier, but things all happen for a reason. A lot of your questions will be answered in school. These instructors give us all the answers that way when it comes time to test we will be ready. If anything do what you have to do to get your foot in the door. That is what I am doing.
Also thanks for the support Errol and Chickie. I appreciate it and I am glad someone is reading this haha. I wanted to pay back this site for all that it has done and also help others thinking about company sponsored training and the Swift academy in Phoenix specifically.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
You've got it Devan. Stay cool. Nervousness is mostly just self-doubt, and if you can handle the road week, (which is actually pretty easy) you'll be rolling with your mentor, and learning much more about this business.
Good luck!
Devan wrote:
Also thanks for the support Errol and Chickie. I appreciate it and I am glad someone is reading this haha. I wanted to pay back this site for all that it has done and also help others thinking about company sponsored training and the Swift academy in Phoenix specifically.
Devan you'd be surprised at the number of people who read your diary. Thanks for writing it and continued good luck to you.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
ThanKS G-Town I appreciate it!
Day 15
The real fun starts this week. It is road week! I am really surprised at how well that I am doing.
The day started with us going over road week and getting tractor/instructor assignments. Then we went on to do the pre trip and the instructor drove us out to Buckeye, AZ to work on shifting.
There is barely any traffic out here, so it allowed for us to shift up and down. We got to do a little driving on Saturday so I wasn't to scared to be driving. In fact I was glad to go first. It went well over all but when some traffic would come in I got really nervous.
This lead to the other guy going and then I went again. I did pretty good that the instructor had me doing recovery shifting to find my gears. It was basically a way to simulate someone cutting me off.
This lead to the other guy driving and taking us to the TA in Topapah. We had a short break and then I took us on over to Avondale. Being on i10 was pretty scary, but I kept my cool and didn't freak out. It was quite the rush merging with one of these.
We eventually traded spots over in Avondale and the other guy practiced shifting by the Phoenix International Race track. Never knew it was in such a secluded area. This lead to me driving us back to the terminal. What a rush making some of these tight right hand turns. I was basically full of sweat after that part. Tomorrow we will be going to busier areas and on Wednesday will be at really busy intersections.
I need to work on keeping center in the lane and down shifting at 5 to 4th and to 3rd. Other than that I am doing pretty well and I am enjoying every minute of this.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Just remember this, Devan: when you first start driving it seems hard to keep that big machine between the dotted lines on the road. But after a bit it won't be hard to thread down the narrower lanes of a construction zone.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Devan, A Big Thank You to you for this dairy! I start at the Phoenix Academy on the 25th of this month. Less than 3 weeks away and getting a little nervous. Your "play by play coverage" has alleviated a bit of the nervousness. We are on opposite ends of the curve. You, 21 starting your first career, Me almost 56, starting my 3rd and hopefully final one! I like your determination, keep up the good work!
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Devan writes:
You're right on the money here. At one point in school I was ready to throw in the towel, too. Chickie Monster reached that point this week.
Glad you came out the "other side" on this.