Swift Driving Academy
Topic 4463 | Page 1
I have read many accounts of people going through the Swift driving academy but I am curious about how long after you graduate the academy do you go out with a mentor. Is it right away or do you get to go home first for a couple days?
short answer is Yes you can take some time at home.
I went through their Phoenix academy. I'll explain a bit of what goes one...
you do the 3 weeks of training. (Class time is 3 days and then the rest of the time is on the range doing pre trip/backing and shifting, last week is driving). The Phoenix school took us to DMV to get our permit (AZ Permit ). Upon completion of the schooling they took us back to DMV to get our CDL (AZ CDL). If you live in the same state as the school this won't apply to you, but, I live in CA, so when I left AZ I had to transfer my CDL to CA.
I took roughly 2 weeks off after I got back. This was mainly due to car blowing a head gasket, but I also wanted to give myself some time to get the CDL transfer done as CA makes you retake the written exams PLUS your class C. (4 tests in all).
Orientation is roughly 3 days at the terminal closest to you. (unless you go flatbed, then its Memphis, TN or Phoenix, AZ may be at a few other terminals but those are the two I know of that do FB training)
I hope I explained this clearly for you. feel free to ask any other ??.
Daivd
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.
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.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
I have read many accounts of people going through the Swift driving academy but I am curious about how long after you graduate the academy do you go out with a mentor. Is it right away or do you get to go home first for a couple days?
short answer is Yes you can take some time at home.
I went through their Phoenix academy. I'll explain a bit of what goes one...
you do the 3 weeks of training. (Class time is 3 days and then the rest of the time is on the range doing pre trip/backing and shifting, last week is driving). The Phoenix school took us to DMV to get our permit (AZ Permit ). Upon completion of the schooling they took us back to DMV to get our CDL (AZ CDL). If you live in the same state as the school this won't apply to you, but, I live in CA, so when I left AZ I had to transfer my CDL to CA.
I took roughly 2 weeks off after I got back. This was mainly due to car blowing a head gasket, but I also wanted to give myself some time to get the CDL transfer done as CA makes you retake the written exams PLUS your class C. (4 tests in all).
Orientation is roughly 3 days at the terminal closest to you. (unless you go flatbed, then its Memphis, TN or Phoenix, AZ may be at a few other terminals but those are the two I know of that do FB training)
I hope I explained this clearly for you. feel free to ask any other ??.
Daivd
Thanks for your response. I will be going through their academy in Millington, TN starting Monday and while my recruiter has been great in helping me get setup for training, she didn't let me know everything I may need to bring with me such as if I need to bring my OTR training supplies such as sleeping bag, pillow, etc. It would be a lot easier not bringing that stuff on the bus with me and just coming home and getting it before starting my training with my mentor but am not sure if that is how it works. That would mean a bus ride home and then back to the memphis terminal to meet with my mentor. It did say that after my training is complete I would return to my home domicile to do the road training and testing. Not sure if that means going home though.
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.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
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.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
I have read many accounts of people going through the Swift driving academy but I am curious about how long after you graduate the academy do you go out with a mentor. Is it right away or do you get to go home first for a couple days?
short answer is Yes you can take some time at home.
I went through their Phoenix academy. I'll explain a bit of what goes one...
you do the 3 weeks of training. (Class time is 3 days and then the rest of the time is on the range doing pre trip/backing and shifting, last week is driving). The Phoenix school took us to DMV to get our permit (AZ Permit ). Upon completion of the schooling they took us back to DMV to get our CDL (AZ CDL). If you live in the same state as the school this won't apply to you, but, I live in CA, so when I left AZ I had to transfer my CDL to CA.
I took roughly 2 weeks off after I got back. This was mainly due to car blowing a head gasket, but I also wanted to give myself some time to get the CDL transfer done as CA makes you retake the written exams PLUS your class C. (4 tests in all).
Orientation is roughly 3 days at the terminal closest to you. (unless you go flatbed, then its Memphis, TN or Phoenix, AZ may be at a few other terminals but those are the two I know of that do FB training)
I hope I explained this clearly for you. feel free to ask any other ??.
Daivd
Thanks for your response. I will be going through their academy in Millington, TN starting Monday and while my recruiter has been great in helping me get setup for training, she didn't let me know everything I may need to bring with me such as if I need to bring my OTR training supplies such as sleeping bag, pillow, etc. It would be a lot easier not bringing that stuff on the bus with me and just coming home and getting it before starting my training with my mentor but am not sure if that is how it works. That would mean a bus ride home and then back to the memphis terminal to meet with my mentor. It did say that after my training is complete I would return to my home domicile to do the road training and testing. Not sure if that means going home though.
Im not sure on the Millington school. I only took a blanket/pillow for the bus ride and my laptop plus all the paperwork the school needed.. ID, SS card, Birth Cert, permit, etc....
Im sure there is someone else here who has gone through that school. They can hopefully give you a bit more information.
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.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
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.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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I have read many accounts of people going through the Swift driving academy but I am curious about how long after you graduate the academy do you go out with a mentor. Is it right away or do you get to go home first for a couple days?