SWIFT Training Diary, July 2021, Memphis, TN
Topic 30394 | Page 3
Ok, sorry for no updates for a while. Life turned into a whirlwind. Let me catch everyone up.
I took my CDL test the Tuesday after my last post. I failed my first attempt because I wasn’t all the way in the box on my 90 and sounded the horn. Literally the only mistake. Haha. I passed the next day, a Wednesday. I finished my test at 4:30, but everyone was gone for the day, so I stayed in Memphis an extra night, reported to the terminal the next morning, Thursday, did all my paperwork and headed back to Birmingham.
I got a call from the Atlanta terminal Friday with my mentor assignment, they gave me Juan’s phone number, he was on home time in Clanton, which is about 45 minutes from Birmingham. I reached out to Juan and we arranged to meet Monday and start our life together.
Monday, august 2nd we met at the truck stop and loaded up my stuff. From there we drove to Lanette, AL to pick up a preloaded trailer of fiberglass insulation and head to Denver, CO. Of course when we get there the trailer wasn’t ready and they actually needed our empty, so we went and grabbed lunch while they loaded us up.
We headed off to Denver after lunch, we stopped in Memphis for the night at the SWIFT terminal there, then from there we drove out my 10 hour clock in Newton, KS, then we got the load to Denver the next day.
From there we were supposed to pick up a T-Call but they weren’t there yet, so we ended up waiting at the SWIFT Denver terminal for 24 hours.
We left yesterday and stopped in Rock Springs, Wyoming on the way to a Walmart DC in Hermiston, OR.
From there we are going to Idaho and then down to Vernon, CA.
Loving it so far. When we get to Oregon I will be done with my 50 hours and we will switch over to team driving, which seems way more productive, but hopefully we can stay loaded and rolling and run out my 200 hours quickly so I can upgrade and make real money!
How's the 'whirlwind' treating ya, Josh???
Y'all teaming now?
Hope all is good; it's been a minute . . . we miss ya!
~ Anne ~
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.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Well, sorry for my lack of posting, but life has been quite a whirlwind.
I just completed training today and unfortunately the terminal staff had left for the day when we got there, so I'm at the quality inn, in Decatur, GA for the night and I go up there tomorrow to do my upgrade, very exciting.
The final tally of the runs we did together.
Birmingham, AL to Lanette, AL to pick up our first load. Lanette, AL to Denver, CO Denver, CO to Hermiston OR Hermiston, OR to Lewiston, ID Lewiston, ID to Jurupa Valley, CA Jurupa Valley, CA to Humble, TX Laredo, TX to Romeoville, IL Rockford, IL to Wichita, KS Harrisonville, MO to Fort Worth, TX Lancaster, TX to Davenport, IA Cedar Rapids, IA to Edwardsville, KS Joplin, MO to Tomah, WI Owatonna, MC. to Independence, MO Bluffton, IN to Allentown, PA Jonestown, PA to Vonore, TN Vonore, TN to Opelousas, LA Ball, LA to Fort Pierce, FL Lee, FL to Pageland, SC Charlotte, NC to Buford, GA Buford, GA to Decatur, GA
Had a great time and learned a ton, now I'm ready to make some real money, hopefully I remember how to sleep in a real bed without Juan driving lol.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Awesome! That update was worth the wait.
That first night at the truck stop sleeping alone in your very own truck is something you'll never forget. A Big, Small reward for working hard.
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That all sounds great man. Congratulations!