Failed Upgrade At Swift, What Happens Now?
Topic 22639 | Page 1
Is this his first failed test? Companies usually give you a few chances or they send you back out with a trainer.
They have already invested greatly in him, I doubt they will throw him away because he failed the first time. Stop worrying so much.
Yes this is his first fail. I hope you are right. Thank you.
No offense intended with this; but the upgrade test is far easier than the actual CDL tests that he already passed or he would not be with a mentor. Something went seriously off-the-rails here...
Not sure, but I think he will be required to continue on with another mentor. I hope that's the case for his sake and yours.
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.
I know someone who failed upgrade test on ally dock and Swift had a new mentor teach him for 2-3 hours and he passed the backing and upgrade test the next day. Nothing to stress over.
SuzieQ has a cliffhanger:
No one at Swift was able to tell him his fate.
Does anyone know what happens next? Is he automatically fired?
Will he be able to get a job with another carrier?
As Tommy and G-Town say, all is not lost. First, are you talking about a drive/road test or the written test? If this test just happened, give it a day or two, and he can always ask "What's next?" at the Driver Development Department.
If your Man went through Swift's training Academy I know there are several re-tests available. So ... after all the training, and the mentor ride, I'm sure he won't be booted out just like that.
Contact me at TT.errolv@spamgourmet.com
Hello Errol V.
He passed the written portion of the test. He failed the drive test. He had problems with the backing.
Thank you all for your replies. I hope you all are right and he gets another chance.
Thank you!
Plenty of people fail the backing test when they go to upgrade, in large part because many road trainers don't give students adequate time to practice backing. Why? Because they don't get paid for it, or at least that is what they think, and they just want to rack up miles.
I am a trainer for Pride and I would not take a student back for upgrade that wasn't fully ready for all the tests. But many students do fail the test....I've had the opportunity to work with several (from other trainers, and even from other companies), and had them backing within a day.
Your husband will be given the proper training and will pass the test, almost certainly. If not, another company will help him.
Hello Errol V.
He passed the written portion of the test. He failed the drive test. He had problems with the backing.
Thank you all for your replies. I hope you all are right and he gets another chance.
Thank you!
He passed the written portion of the test. He failed the drive test. He had problems with the backing.
many road trainers don't give students adequate time to practice backing.
Yes, backing is a newbie "killer". At Swift, the trainee is required to make, and the Mentor to document, at least 40 backing "events", of various kinds. Also, all training is nicely compensated for to the mentor. In fact, for motivation, the mentors get a spiff if their trainees are active with the company for, I think, 3, 6 and 12 months. Good motivation to make sure said trainee is on the ball with backing and every thing else trucking related.
Even your husband's mentor, if he hasn't gotten back on the road already, might be able to add more coaching. And as Tommy points out, there should be some others who can add in a little coaching. Your man has gone the distance, and is I hope, serious about making a go at truck driving. It's not time to give up yet.
Thank you all for your responses.
My husband is very serious about making trucking his career and he is very grateful to his mentor and Swift. He has been somewhat depressed the last few days but is not giving up. His test was on last Thursday. He has not heard from Swift yet but will give them a call on Monday.
I just hope they will give him another opportunity.
Thank you everybody.
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Hello all! I have been lurking around these boards for a while now, ever since my husband decided to go into trucking. I sure learned alot from you all.
Today was a very disappointing day. My husband failed his upgrade test after coming off his mentor training.
No one at Swift was able to tell him his fate.
Does anyone know what happens next? Is he automatically fired?
Will he be able to get a job with another carrier?
Thank you in advance for your replies.
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.