Fresh CDL Holder About To Start With Swift

Hello, all! Iv been trying to think of a way to start my first post without it seeming too useless ( Would kill for a trucker chatroom). Iv recently acquired my CDL after 6 weeks of CDL school and 2 tests. I got into contact with swift and I'm heading to orientating on Wednesday.

After a few hours or looking through the forums, I'm pretty sure I know how to manage my expectations. I guess this is just me looking to slow my racing mind. If anyone would be willing to offer any sound advice that might be able to help me tough through the next week/s, I would be greatly appreciative.

Really, I just wanted to say hello. Trucking has been the only career choice I could think of that I didn't forget about after a week or two. Iv had many family members join the industry and after playing over 200 hours of American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator ( Not that much, I know), Iv only come to enjoy the thought of Trucking even more. I don't expect it to be a cakewalk but I really think it will be able to teach me a lot about the world.

I hope everyone is staying safe out there and I can't wait to join you out on the road!

(Im going to Swifts Lancaster location if anyone wanted to know.)

Welcome to the forum Colt J!

You have joined the best forum on the net for trucking advice!

The people here are very knowledgeable and very willing to help new drivers start their careers.

I am not a driver yet but plan to be in a few years.

Hopefully you will start a training diary of your adventures.

Welcome to the forum Colt J!

You have joined the best forum on the net for trucking advice!

The people here are very knowledgeable and very willing to help new drivers start their careers.

I am not a driver yet but plan to be in a few years.

Hopefully you will start a training diary of your adventures.

Thank you, Tortuga! I will definitely think about it once I get out and about. I was thinking of Starting as a Training Diary, but I thought it wouldn't fit in seeing as I'm not in training anymore. I do hope I'm not cluttering up the Forum with this topic.

Congratulations on your license and getting on with swift welcome to T/T SWIFT HAS NICE EQUIPMENT AND PLENTY OF WORK G-TOWN will be on here hopefully to give you some valuable info .. as well as everyone else anything I can do just ask

Hello, all! Iv been trying to think of a way to start my first post without it seeming too useless ( Would kill for a trucker chatroom). Iv recently acquired my CDL after 6 weeks of CDL school and 2 tests. I got into contact with swift and I'm heading to orientating on Wednesday.

After a few hours or looking through the forums, I'm pretty sure I know how to manage my expectations. I guess this is just me looking to slow my racing mind. If anyone would be willing to offer any sound advice that might be able to help me tough through the next week/s, I would be greatly appreciative.

Really, I just wanted to say hello. Trucking has been the only career choice I could think of that I didn't forget about after a week or two. Iv had many family members join the industry and after playing over 200 hours of American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator ( Not that much, I know), Iv only come to enjoy the thought of Trucking even more. I don't expect it to be a cakewalk but I really think it will be able to teach me a lot about the world.

I hope everyone is staying safe out there and I can't wait to join you out on the road!

(Im going to Swifts Lancaster location if anyone wanted to know.)

Welcome aboard Colt! It's great to hear from you!

I was thinking of Starting as a Training Diary, but I thought it wouldn't fit in seeing as I'm not in training anymore.

Trust me brother, you are in training. You will be for the next full year. You are going to be with a mentor at Swift for at least a month. We would love to see a diary during that time. It would be helpful to anyone else who will be starting with Swift.

That first few months in your trucking career can be brutal. There is just so much to learn. You have done a great job obtaining your CDL , and it really is a great accomplishment, but we have watched so many people attempt this career, and then give up, that we realize how difficult it is to get a new trucking career off to a good start. Please stay in touch with us. There are plenty of people here who work for Swift who will be able to help you with specifics. There's also a host of professionals here who can help you in general with your concerns about getting off to a good start.

Don't forget about us. We are here to help you!

You are not clogging up the forum one bit, Colt. If you have questions, observations, or experiences please feel free to post these any time.

Welcome! I agree with everyone else.I’m sure we all look forward to reading about your experiences. You will see that everyone’s training diary is different so you aren’t clogging up anything. Good luck!

Thanks Guys. I will definitely keep in touch. I'v looked over a lot of the forums at threads for what to expect at orientation, but if anyone has anything they think would be of some help, Id really appreciate it! Ill remind myself to let everyone know how it went in a diary as soon as I get back to my PC ( I hate typing on phones.)

I do have one question. Im going to assume that all the tests are like the ones I did in CDL school. On the backing and pretty much everything on the road test, is anything timed at all? I wasnt timed for my CDL, test, But I WAS limited in how many pull ups and GOALs I could do. I would really love to hear that I get as many pulls and GOALs as I need. Especially if they are going to look for an Alley back.

Also, will the test be in an automatic or a standard? I was taught to drive on a standard.

You will be in an automatic. I don’t think swift has standards anymore or if they do they will be rare. That’s no big deal, though backing may take a little getting used to as you will have to push on the fuel pedal instead of just releasing the clutch. Until you learn how much pressure to apply this can cause the truck to do the herky jerky lurching motion. Happens mostly in close quarters but you will figure it out.

Most companies understand you are new and would prefer you to goal and pull up , they are concerned about you getting it in the hole and not style points or how long it takes you. When in doubt...G.O.A.L. There have been times it’s felt like I was wearing the rubber off my boots I have gotten out so much . Any back where you don’t hit anything is a successful back.

You will also find that cdl school taught you how to get your license. Now the real training begins. Now you learn how to be a trucker