Swift C1 Training - Indianapolis, IN

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This was in the last update about road instruction:

That could mean shifting from Drive to Reverse, etc. I just want to confirm Manual or Auto. That does not confirm it to me.

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This was in the last update about road instruction:

That could mean shifting from Drive to Reverse, etc. I just want to confirm Manual or Auto. That does not confirm it to me.

Maybe, but I don’t think so.

“Drive to Reverse” in an autoshift is a twist of a knob. I can explain it in 10 seconds.

Why is this so important to you?

It isn't. I heard over the interwebs that swift was auto, his last comment about "shifting" simply provoked a question, to which I then asked.

Maybe, but I don’t think so.

Thank you, you do not think its an auto. All I wanted to know.

Swift as a company is pretty much all auto at this point except a few trucks that haven't been traded in yet. The schools, both academy and third party, are still teaching and testing in manuals for now.

It isn't. I heard over the interwebs that swift was auto, his last comment about "shifting" simply provoked a question, to which I then asked.

Maybe, but I don’t think so.

Thank you, you do not think its an auto. All I wanted to know.

Good Evening,

I recognize the school is a big interview, I am on my phone way less than a lot of the other students and as soon as an instructor calls for somebody or needs something, I am all over it. I've also got all of my tasks done and have the pre-trip memorized extremely well. I've been going outside and watching people back and do other things (it's made them nervous a few times so I am cautious doing this). There's nothing else to really do, unfortunately.

Manual or Auto? Swift is 99% automatic at this point. With that being said, this school is an independent company. They train students for PAM, Swift, TransportAmerica and a few other schools. The school teaches you in 95% manual trucks; however, they do have a few automatics. They will have you test out, at BMV , with a manual.

They do this because, if you test with an automatic, you get a restriction on your license and you won't be able to drive or train anybody in a manual truck. If you're assigned to a manual truck you're completely worthless (for lack of a better word). So they test you in manual and teach you what you need to know because they want you to be as qualified as possible, plus, I think the school and Swift recognize that you may not want to stay with them your entire career.

I hope this answers your questions!

Thanks Big T. Also, thanks Triscuit!

Evening!

Here's what's been going on.

I spent the weekend in the hotel, since I am here without a vehicle and there's not really too much around here without having to risk getting hurt. I ordered Domino's delivery on Friday and then just studied and relaxed over the weekend. Still no roommate, I was SURE they would give me one but they didn't... maybe I will be lucky and get MrTechit this weekend, who knows.

Yesterday (Monday) class started at 0645. They took roll call and then told us that if nobody calls us by 0715, to drive or do range, then we need to do our own study until lunch and then take lunch at 1100. Nobody out of our class got called so we all worked on pre-trip and watched the other folks do their backing maneuvers. We took lunch at 1100 and returned at 1200. They took roll call, again, and told us that if nobody calls us by 1215, then we need to do our own study until 1600 and then return to the classroom to be dismissed. Nobody out of our class got called, again, so we did more pre-trip and watching other folks.

Today class started at 0645. They took roll call and told us to work on pre-trip all day. I had five separate people test me on the pre-trip and I passed with no less than 95%. We took lunch at 1100 and had roll call at 1200. The instructors were in a meeting from 1200 until 1300 so we too the opportunity to do our 4-point brake test because you're not allowed to start a truck without an instructor unless it's during one of the instructor breaks or during that meeting. We worked on pre-trip for a while, again, and watched other people do backing.

I have to say there is an awful lot of sitting around happening from my class. It's not because we are lazy, it's because we have all tested each other on the pre-trip and we can all pass it both at the state level and the C1 level. The school is graduating people about 4 to 6 weeks, right now but Swift is still telling us it should be about 2 to 3 weeks. We have lost four students (one failed his UA and the others just never showed).

Hopefully tomorrow leads to some drive time and some range time! I know they are training to get the people ahead of us out the door and the instructors are doing their absolute best with what they are given.

I am pushing to get out of here by the end of this week or the beginning of next week, we will see what happens!

I spoke incorrectly and want to correct the record. I have been told that the way they handle the use of automated manual transmissions is that you can choose to test out, at BMV , with an auto, but they warn you heavily of the restrictions. They want you to try, twice, at BMV first, and if you continue to struggle, and the struggle is shifting, then they will have you use the auto.

They are still going to teach you, both on the range and on the road, with the manual but they also let you use the auto if that is the truck the instructor has for the day or if they really need to focus on one thing, such as making turns, and don't want to interfere that focus with the need of shifting.

That is what I was told by an instructor and a student, both, yesterday, so I wanted to clarify.

Sorry for giving incorrect information. I will do better to make sure it is gospel before I run my mouth. :)

This is great feedback. Thank you. I should be there Sunday evening as long as my picture permit comes in the mail by Saturday. I have decided I am driving down. It's only 500 miles.... so I think the convenience will be worth it

If you feel like meeting up, and I am still here, feel free to send me an email. I'll give you my phone number through email, I don't wanna have it publicly shared (by accident). I already get enough phone calls from people I don't know. Haha.

alexhandsaker@gmail.com