Trucktographer's Dad

I re-read my earlier post and realized it sounded pretty whiny!! Really didn't intend that but I was still a bit cheezed after busting the 3rd party testing twice!!

The Swift trainers get the job done. I'd advise NOT going in the winter as you do spend time out in the rain/snow/COLD and there is a pretty good chance of getting sick. Of course, this applies to areas like Memphis, Idaho, Utah, etc. It's too bad they don't have an academy in Florida!!

I catch a bus Monday morning to Ocala and start orientation on Tuesday. My mentor and his DM are working to keep him down south and his plan is to get to Ocala on Tuesday and take a 34 to reset his clock so we can launch out Thursday after I finish orientation. As I'm teaming with a Swift driver after the mentor time and he's my son I've already met our DM and she's ready to pick up a new team!

I'm really excited to get this show on the road. Realistically, my wife properly stated that my journey through the academy with weather, getting sick, and traveling to TN and OH before getting down here for road training has been a lot like basic training and advanced school in the military. You will be challenged and as others have pointed out you are being watched and evaluated all along the way by the classroom, range, and road trainers. It is, indeed, one long job interview.

One of my classmates (for several weeks) has stayed with me this week and passed his DMV last this week and we'll meet up with a couple of Millington veterans at orientation. It'll be a bit like "old home week". Some of the guys didn't go with us to Ohio and so with the delays (due to shortage of road trainers) we're all finishing up at the same time! I hope others have had the experience of making new friends while training and have been encouraging each other. I know my son keeps in touch with a couple of Roadmaster alumni that are working for Swift and they share anecdotes and tips. Hopefully the bunch I've gotten to know will do the same.

I know many on this forum call Swift, along with Werner and Prime, beginner or entry companies but that's only true if you think that way. Over the last few weeks I've met Swift Diamond drivers and one Double-Diamond that's been with them for years. These guys are top notch drivers that have run for years and many thousands of miles with no accidents and impeccable customer service. I often think the drivel posted on various forums about "Swift" drivers is based partly on Swift being the largest carrier in the US and thus an easy target (a bit like Walmart in that respect).

So far I've been treated with respect and my son feels he's been given a fair shot at good loads and miles. His "gripes" have been mostly with shippers and receivers that don't honor pickup and delivery times and an occasional battle with the night and weekend dispatch. You aren't on their primary board and so wind up with their leftovers! But, that type of stuff happens in all businesses.

I'm proud to being starting with Swift and while I may not stick around to be a Diamond driver I expect to get a lot of experience and many miles.

I'll probably keep this thread active for a bit longer and then start posting more specific threads once I complete my training period. Hope to see some of you on the road!

What a journey you have had so far! I start orientation tomorrow. Swift AZ Feb. 23rd Be safe.

Just gonna tag this onto his thread.

I'm signed up for the Swift Mentor Class this Thursday. This way, once he gets his CDL I can take him on my truck for his 200+ hours behind the wheel as a trainee.

Should be fun.

Way to cool and too much fun ;-)

Congratz

Looking forward to the next updates

Dave, I'm with you Swift. I took their school because it was close by (alma mater Millington, you know). But the more I learn about Swift the better I like it.

It's too much to list here, and I'm sure those training with Prime or Knight can say the same. But the biggest target is the easiest.

I've heard those "chops" & "cuts", some on the CB. But Swift is hiring and training a great many noobie drivers. We all make mistakes the first time out. Some more experienced drivers don't want to remember their first time out.

I've had interesting couple weeks! After finishing orientation on Thursday February 26 at Ocala I joined my son in his truck. We accepted a request to help out the Walmart dedicated terminal near Arcadia, FL. We bob tailed down and ran routes over the weekend and while I didn't kill miles I did get urban driving, a bunch of backs, live unloads, and rain/dark on 2 lane rural roads.

We accepted a load on Monday, grabbed an empty and headed to Bartow, FL, to pick up cabinets for Home Depot in Washington DC. Bartow is my hometown and it was a bit surreal driving to the pickup. It was live load and the office was clueless, fortunately the warehouse crew had their act together. We headed for Richmond, VA, to drop for another driver to deliver.

We got a heavy load headed for western Virginia and so I got my first really heavy load and mountains. Our next load was paper headed to Appleton, WI. This load had us about 79K pounds and took us across WV with mountains and weather. We had to bust HOS to reach safe haven. We weren't running team yet and the weather went in the dumpster and the first two stops we tried were full-a rest stop and truck stop. We made it to Beckley, WV, and a nice plaza. We tucked into a curb area overnight and got a parking spot the following morning. We checked weather and west of us sucked and KY was basically shut down. We called in for a delayed gdelivery and did breakfast at a nearby Cracker Barrel and chilled the day and night. This got us both a 34 hour reset so when we headed west after the storm we ran hard. WV had done a decent job of clearing the roads...KY was still a mess but the lanes were generally clearance and the sun was out.

I finished my first 50 hours but we ran a modified "super solo" schedule with Sean driving some to make sure we made good stops. Weather was ok and we made Appleton, WI, with clear roads but could not deliver due to the weekend. We were able to t-call the load and pickup another heavy load, live load, for Laredo, TX.

We started team driving and arrived in Laredo early. We had our trailer inspected at the Laredo Swift terminal and headed over to the trans-shipper where I did an ugly alley dock with assistance from two Mexican drivers spotting....tight between two trucks with a narrow lane, trailers and a tractor in front of me. Along with the yard dog checking out the rookie! I made it with 4-5 very short pull-ups to finally get straight. Overall everyone was very helpful and cool. We bob tailed back to the Swift terminal to check our next load and went to a motel for showers, a couple of good meals, and a good nights sleep.

Up early last Monday, picked up our trailer and headed east in the fog. We full on ran team headed for Augusta, GA. We got in the area on Wednesday morning over a day early. We couldn't get an answer regarding early delivery and were finally routed back to the Decatur, GA, terminal to drop for another driver to deliver on Thursday and started home-time.

Sean had a gathering he was attending north of Atlanta and I caught a flight home for a previously scheduled cruise with my wife and two other couples! I drove bobtail to the Atlanta airport and Sean continued to his friends. I've been resting up and doing some chores as the cruise begins Saturday.

I don't recommend new drivers coming on with this kind of home time scheduled, but our DM and my training coordinator have been cool about it. I get back next Thursday and will get to Sean and the truck. We will be running as team and I've got the balance of my 200 hours to log and then test out.

It's been a hectic couple of weeks. I love being home but will be ready to get back in the drivers seat. I'm getting kicked by the 10 speed transmission as all my previous work was in 9 speed Volvo and Freightliner trucks. It'll come but I know I'm driving Sean nuts!!

I got back from the cruise! Sean is heading east coast to drop at the terminal in Decatur and then head to Jacksonville. Current plan is a load to our local Sam's club tomorrow and I'll join up. Our goal is to run hard as a team the next few weeks and for me to finish my training and test out. Running hard accomplishes a couple of things: good pay checks for Sean and lots of experience for me. We are not even planning on me testing out at Ocala. We will cross that bridge when my hours and checklists are complete.

Got my dad tested out, and upgraded, yesterday. Picking up a load headed to CA a bit later today after our 34-hour resets kick in.

Wonderful story! Please keep us posted!

That is awesome, hope to hear more of your journey together!