Big T's Swift Adventure

Yesterday I got a good hour of drive time in. There were only three students on the truck so we got a few more minutes than usual.

The afternoon was more skills and I think I'm definitely in the passing range. Hopefully I'll still feel confident after four days of not being around a truck.

Tomorrow is another pee in the cup day. Orientation starts tomorrow.

I am back on the waiting game.

There is nothing special to say about orientation. Monday was a day of waiting around while everyone did their drug tests and drive tests. Those of us in the academy did not do road tests, but the experienced drivers and trainees that were not from the academy did. That took most of the day. If you go to orientation at the Jurupa Valley terminal make sure your phone is charged and you bring head phones. Monday is the only day that cell phones are permitted to be used.

Tuesday and Wednesday were full of training and filling out paperwork. Swift does not skimp on the trees for orientation. By the end of it you will have a small library of handbooks and workbooks. Wednesday is code day. Provided they get the results back from the drug tests in time the drivers get coded and sent on their respective way. Experienced drivers headed to get truck assignments and trainees were given their Mentor assignments. Those of us from the academy went back to the hotel to get ready for our exams Thursday and Friday.

TDA starts with the top half of the class Thursday. You go out to the cafeteria area and wait for your name to be called. I was the first on to test and I did well. I only missed a couple points on the pre-trip (I forgot the kingpin and locking jaws DOH.) I passed the skills test without missing any points. I got the straight line back, offset back, and sight side parallel maneuvers.

I did well on the road test, but it was a little challenging at first. I only missed nine points and the examiner told me that was just because he was being picky in order to come up with those points. I took two turns too wide and I ground the gears a few times. The challenge I had was I had practiced for the last three weeks in Volvos with straight tens, but on test day I did the exam in a Freightliner with an eight speed. I have never driven an eight speed, but once I quit trying to shift from fourth to sixth I was good lol.

I am now waiting for my the replacement for my birth certificate to get here which unfortunately can take up to six weeks because I was born abroad. Hopefully it wont take that long or I will manage to find my original beforehand. So now I go back on the waiting list til it gets here. I was lucky that the pizza shop put me back on the schedule while I am waiting, but I would much rather be getting my training done and over with.

Note about the training program: I know people are worried about training because of the horror stories they have heard, but Swift appears to take the program serious. They want their students to succeed and there is a department that does nothing but focus on the students. They will back up students and do everything they can to support the students. If they feel the Mentor is taking too long or not training correctly then they will pull the student off the truck and decide if the Mentor can continue mentoring or if they need more training or can no longer be a mentor.

You are required to complete at least 200 hours of behind the wheel driving and 40 backing maneuvers. Once that has been completed you can upgrade at almost any terminal. You do not have to wait until you get to your home terminal to upgrade. You are not considered an upgraded solo driver until you finish your first solo run so upgrading at a different terminal is the preferred way. This way you have completed your first solo run before going home.

Hopefully I will see you drivers on the road sooner than later.

Way to go Big T! I am starting my second week at Swift Academy at Corsicana, TX. I agree, Swift is have nothing to feel apologetic about when it come pest to their training. It is great serious, complete, and thorough. Take care Big T.

-Traffic Jam

Mentor taking too long? My mentor wants me to get 200 hours in 3 1/2 week. LOL And I countered like errr... how about 4 1/2 week?

I don't have a mentor yet. I am waiting on my birth certificate to get here. 3.5 weeks if you get enough good shifts plus the backings sounds doable. They had someone supposedly do it in 17 days. I still haven't figured out how they pulled that off.

Mentor taking too long? My mentor wants me to get 200 hours in 3 1/2 week. LOL And I countered like errr... how about 4 1/2 week?

Sorry Tommy I didn't realize it was you. The donuts comment makes a lot more sense now lol. Glad to see you're out there doing well. You should start a training diary.

Mentor taking too long? My mentor wants me to get 200 hours in 3 1/2 week. LOL And I countered like errr... how about 4 1/2 week?

I checked with the State Department and they finally received my request in their office yesterday. It got delivered last week, but that is how it goes. At this rate the rest of my class will be finished training before I get on my Mentor's truck. It is frustrating, but no one to blame but myself.

I am not just sitting at home though. I have been working nights again at the pizza shop and I have been doing all the Swift University modules I can do. This will at least keep the information fresh in my mind.

I received my birth certificate today. The State Department was able to expedite it so it ended up taking two weeks from the day it was delivered to get back to me. This is definitely a blessing since the processing time is supposed to be four to six weeks.

I will be spending the weekend at home and then Monday I will be going back up to Fontana to go finish the paperwork at DMV and then go get my Mentor. Once I have a Mentor I will end this diary and begin a Mentor phase diary.

Thank you to all those that have offered their support throughout this process.

Awesome news Big-T...! Best of luck going forward.

Make a photocopy of it; it's not accepted as genuine but it sure made me feel a lot better to have a copy of it. Of course, I paid for two official copies and kept them in separate locations... good thing too as I can only find one now.