Swift Diary
Topic 19355 | Page 1
Good luck David. I've been with Swift a month shy of 5 years now.
Best wishes for success.
Thanks G-Town. What does "G-Town" stand for, or mean, or indicate?
It's a nickname that has stuck with me for 30 years.
David wrote:
One good thing about Swift, I live in Plainview, TX home of a huge Wal-Mart, Inc., Distribution Ctr. I notice Swift trucks going in and out of there. Maybe . . . . . Ah, em, aha, back to work.
David that's what I do: Walmart Dedicated, but in PA and NY. If you are serious about becoming assigned to the local DC, once you are in orientation (after graduation), let your driver development manager know your intent. There might be a waiting list, but at least you can get the ball rolling in the right direction. I'd be happy to answer and WM questions you have.
Driver Development Mgr., got it and thanks! Thanks GTown.
Alright!
It is Sunday evening and time for beddie bye. However, I have everything in the "High Road" training for Permit done except "driver Exam" and "Pre-trip Inspection". I am sure to nail that down on Monday. If I pass the DOT physical, then I will return to the house, brush up and/or finish my work on High Road on those subjects. Do a general review, and head down to DMV for the Permit Test.
Then, if all goes as planned, call my recruiter at Swift.
Hey, hey, hey!
Pre-trip Inspection:
A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.
Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.
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.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Passed DOT physical today. Passed Permit tests today also (CDL A Permit, (learners permit"). I start class/training at Corsicana with Swift on this 22 May 2017. Although this may be moved up if I get personal business done in time for an earlier date. 
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.
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.
Swift Diary:
Although I will say that I have a feeling that I studied "just enough" to get through the tests. So I am going to keep studying and reviewing the info in the manual and on the helps here. I will be more prepared for the training at Swift/Corsicana also.
David S. (Traffic jam)
Hey G-Town: I read what you posted on another diary about:
"Once under dispatch, learn how to "look-ahead" on the route when using Navi-Go, the integrated QC GPS system." It's a real education reading others diaries and the comments such as yours. Really helpful. My question is this: do you use an additional GPS system or do you just use what is provided in the Swift tractor you drive?
Thanks. I am getting ready for May 22. It will be great to move forward.
-David
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Hello all. I am returning to CMV work (although my prior foray was brief) and feel that it seems all the "training companies" are about the same (boy, that ought to set off a bunch of remarks). Swift Transportation seems as concerned about safety as the other companies I have read about. An obligation to drive for them awhile, -that's reasonable. Nothing is free and the work is just as honorable at CR England or any other company. The main thing in any employment is attitude, I have always thought. At this point I am thankful that Swift is looking at me and thankful for the chance and will work my tail off to prove myself. Amen.
I finished the on-line course yesterday (4/28/17) and on Monday have an appt to go through the DOT physical. Then on to the DMV to take the permit test. Then call Swift.
One good thing about Swift, I live in Plainview, TX home of a huge Wal-Mart, Inc., Distribution Ctr. I notice Swift trucks going in and out of there. Maybe . . . . . Ah, em, aha, back to work.
My nickname at Midland College Transportation School, where I first learned of CMVs and earned my CDL (later let it lapse) was "Traffic Jam". Now, i never noticed any traffic jams made by myself. AND we are talking about Midland, TX. I mean, MIDLAND, TX??!?? So I think it was kind of a humorous thing. We all had nicknames.
Now let's see . . . on a downhill . . . . .
-Traffic Jam
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
CMV:
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.