Trucktographer's Dad

Have fun. These next 4 weeks on the road will be long, but at the end you'll have your CDL and we can take a quick home time before starting your 200 hours.

Well, he's on the bus and about halfway there. I'm sure he'll be better about updating his training experience than I ever was.

Well, he's on the bus and about halfway there. I'm sure he'll be better about updating his training experience than I ever was.

Excellent! :) I've been following the postings about your and tour dad's adventures in training with interest especially because you are from Clearwater (I live in Tampa). Looking forward to many informative and entertaining posts from you both in the weeks and months ahead.

OK folks, here we go!

Lest Tampa Saturday afternoon, 1/4/15, and arrived in Memphis about 22 hours later, Sunday afternoon. Nothing special except that's a long ride on the dog! Two buses were late so the shuttle before mine at 3 pm had one passenger, one of my roomies, and the one I took had 12 of us in a 9 passenger can and left a couple of guys hanging.

The Admiralty Inn is in Millington about 20 mikes up the road and about 15 minutes from the academy. We have four guys in an efficiency type room. We're on twin beds and fortunately get along. Kroger and Walmart are pretty close with lots if eating places within walking distance. It's not fancy but beats paying "retail" for a couple of weeks.

My schedule is 13 days here and then to Ocala, FL, to take my test with a third party tester in Ocala. The test fee is now $150 (down from $200). Millington has students from all over and most will be heading home to finish up: GA, FL, KS, WI, IL, OH, PA, ETC. Started with 40 and with a couple of guys back to finish from other classes we are still around 40 on day 2.

Lots of hurry up and wait on Monday. Checking permits, physicals, urine test, etc. The bus provoked us up with Anthony "Tony" Wisner, the classroom instructor driving. The weather has cleared, but it's getting cold, especially for this FL boy. Hot lunch is provided on Monday. Grocery shopping is a must. The rooms have kitchens with an odd assortment of utensils so you might need to buy some things...maybe. I bought my own plastic tumbler and a water bottle for lunch.

Tuesday, day 2, was a sleep-in with class starting at 7:30. More admin like contracts and financing paperwork. The printer was down (network) so the morning was pretty slow. Wrapped all that up around 4 pm and got an hour or so of log practice. Looks like I qualified for two different scholarship options: as a vet I can defer tuition for a year and if I complete the year I pay nothing; second option is that since I am teaming with my son I get full loan forgiveness if I/we drive with Swift for a year. I will have to pay the $500 housing fee but that's done with weekly withholding for 21 weeks.

Day 3 is Wednesday on the packing range. Backing and pre-trip. It's forecast 10 degrees to start the day and the range is on the edge of an airfield. It'll be cold. The weather should be clear, but cold with a little warm-up the rest of the week.

Overall I'm pleased. Some guys are griping about the rooms, but it is what it is! No worse that basic training or a low budget road trip. I'm excited to finally get in a truck.

Have fun dad.

Good to hear Boys Pretty cool that you can team up and run together

Sorry for the delay in updating. It's been a bit intense.

Days 3 , 4, and 5 passed quickly. It's been COLD and that slows you down and wears you out!

Wednesday, day 3, was range orientation and beginning to straight line back...the first skill taught and, of course, the base for all other skills. We also began studying for the pre-trip. We got some snow in the morning and settled in to learning.

Thursday was more straight line backing and time doing practice pre-trip inspections. The pre-trip study and some backing skills are tailored to your home state. The study scripts for the inspection are developed from each state's CDL manual. The backing skills tested are also specific to each state...for example, SC does a 45 and not the 90. FL does 90, both side parallel parking, and both side offset. We have plenty of practice areas and about 40 trucks pre-positioned. Oh, by and by, the day started at 8 degrees.

Friday started pre-test evals. I volunteered but with others ahead of me I didn't get it done. We got a demo of offset backing and then were turned loose on the range.

Saturday was a schedule short day and we let out at 2 PM. I passed my pre-test and headed to the offset range until lunch. After lunch we were demoed the 90, parallel, and some states got the 45.

There appears to be about 50% failure on the pre-trip. They start with in-cab and brake check. The in cab must cover emergency equipment (fire extinguisher, triangles, etc) and then windshield, marries, horns, engine start, gauges, etc. You can miss a couple of these as with most other parts, but then the brake check: it must be performed perfectly and in order. This is an auto-fail eval and kicked a lot if butts due to nerves. After the in-cab I continued to the exterior. I got two parts, driver door to the back of the tractor and then the coupling system. I'm done with pre-test for school but need to stay focused to do it again for the FL evaluator.

I would recommend this school. Swift will be moving the school closer to the Memphis and will have new facilities. The current facilities are old and a bit primitive, especially for the number of student being brought through the program.

I cannot stress enough the need to bring appropriate clothing. Tuesday through Thursday were pretty miserable. I was wearing: two pair of milspec base layer long underware and jeans. If I'd had carhartt or hunting overalls I would have worn them. Wool socks and liners, base layer shirt, tee dirt, long sleeve polo, fleece outer shirt, and my lined jacket. I topped it with a watch cap, neck gaiter, and baclavak. It seemed every day for the first few everyone was showing up with new hats, pants, jackets,etc.

Today, Sunday, day 7 was classroom for logging, trip planning/map reading, and life on the road discussion. Some guys griped about wasted time but with a high of 39 and rain all day it was good to be inside. And, I have noticed that a lot of students homestead in the trucks with the bunk heater running but no engine starts for pre-trip, etc. We are on the downhill run...focus on passing skills and one final written test before heading back to Ocala for a week of road training and the CDL state exam.

Very fast paced. You can't screw off. No absences means no absences. Don't be late and don't stay up all night on the phone, computer, or games...get your rest! The bus arrives at the motel at 5:15 departs at 5:30...class starts at 6:00 and it's game on!

I just finished the course at Millington. (Dave, we were both in that range classroom together, but I could not locate you.) Dave's right - on the range you are outside more than you are sitting in a tractor. Dress more than accordingly. There is a second chance on all the evaluations, so 50% fail the first time should come up to 100%.

Yes, the Swift Academy tests are tough, and you must pass them. But that just makes your state exam (the one that will make or break your CDL efforts) a bit easier. I saw that myself when I drove for my Mississippi DMV test last Friday.

He finished the skills testing today. Due to Ocala being backed up he is taking another bus to Columbus, OH to finish up the last week of training there.

I apologize for the slow updates. Not only has it been hectic with wake-up at 4 AM, class start at 6 and work through till 5, but I've been fighting a nasty cold and fever. But, made it thru the skills tests and graduated from Millington on Saturday, January 17.

I left Millington on a bus to Columbus, OH. A couple of Ohio guys were coming home before road training and four of us Florida guys decided to come to Columbus to start road training tomorrow, January 19, rather than go home for 1-2 weeks before a Florida road trainer could become available. We were advised this would give us priority here in Ohio and Florida.

The ride up was 14 hours of greyhounds finest hospitality! One bus change in Nashville and a short layover in Cincinnati. Called the contract taxi and enjoyed Mr. Toad's Wild Ride out to the Super 8. All I'll say is: the Super 8 feels like a five star resort after the Admiralty Inn in Millington. Two to a room instead if 4. Queen beds. Lights that really work and allow you to read your stuff. Sheets that actually stay on the bed. You get the idea. Much nicer experience. I'm feeling better after the bout with the cold but having a nice room makes this down day nice.

The four Florida guys walked to Walmart, about a half mike, but NO sidewalks. We have a fridge and microwave so sandwich stuff, soup, ramen, etc. were in order.

Road traing should start tomorrow with us leaving here next Saturday for Ocala. I really will try and update more this week.