Swift Transport Training Academy

Minnie, don't let the stress get to you. I know that's easier said than done, but take it slow and easy, don't rush yourself when backing. It's one of those parts of driving a truck that seems so overwhelmingly daunting at first, but don't let it intimidate you. Just keep working at it and it will slowly begin to register in your mind how that trailer reacts to the motions of the tractor - it eventually becomes a nice fluid motion that you'll be doing without even really thinking about it. I'm glad they are letting you spend some extra time on it though, because it is important. This is where the rookies get themselves in trouble out there on their own - once they've made a wrong turn somewhere and they've got to figure out how to get themselves back on route they sometimes will pick a bad place to try and back up and turn around or they will let the truck stops intimidate them so that they are a trembling bag of nerves when trying to make a simple backing maneuver. Simple becomes downright impossible when your legs are like jello. That's why you'll always see a few noobs at the truck stops nose in on their parking spot. Poor beginners never even realize they are going to have a terrible time getting out of that predicament because they can't see anything now. I'd rather see you trying fifteen times to back into your spot than taking it in head first. Keep at it your gonna start nailing it before you know it.

Minnie, don't let the stress get to you. I know that's easier said than done, but take it slow and easy, don't rush yourself when backing. It's one of those parts of driving a truck that seems so overwhelmingly daunting at first, but don't let it intimidate you. Just keep working at it and it will slowly begin to register in your mind how that trailer reacts to the motions of the tractor - it eventually becomes a nice fluid motion that you'll be doing without even really thinking about it. I'm glad they are letting you spend some extra time on it though, because it is important. This is where the rookies get themselves in trouble out there on their own - once they've made a wrong turn somewhere and they've got to figure out how to get themselves back on route they sometimes will pick a bad place to try and back up and turn around or they will let the truck stops intimidate them so that they are a trembling bag of nerves when trying to make a simple backing maneuver. Simple becomes downright impossible when your legs are like jello. That's why you'll always see a few noobs at the truck stops nose in on their parking spot. Poor beginners never even realize they are going to have a terrible time getting out of that predicament because they can't see anything now. I'd rather see you trying fifteen times to back into your spot than taking it in head first. Keep at it your gonna start nailing it before you know it.

Hey there, Old School..just wanted to give you a big thumbs up on your promotion...well deserved..

I had a really great day today. I got the 90 three times in a row! I have a new range instructor and he walked me thought it half a dozen times. He is a little bit on the drill sergeant side but what he said clicked. I only killed two cones today lol. I also found out that we can request the truck and "station" we want to do our eval. That will help also.

We did lose a classmate. He got the truck all jack up and hit a storage building. His spotter was jumping up and down yelling stop and he didn't. The trailer is damage the shed is scrap metal and he is on his way home via greyhound.

Hey, that's awesome news for you! Not so awesome for the "shed destroyer" guy.

Someone had just asked on another thread about the most common reasons people get sent home from these training program. I forgot to mention "running over a shed".

Hey, that's awesome news for you! Not so awesome for the "shed destroyer" guy.

Someone had just asked on another thread about the most common reasons people get sent home from these training program. I forgot to mention "running over a shed".

My instructor said a few weeks ago a guy thought he would do a u turn on the station that was set up for parallel parking. He got the trail hung up on a light pole when the truck stopped he pop it in 3 gear and hit the excelerator. The trailer was destroyed along with the pole and lights went out.

Well I have 24 hours off. The bus will be back until Monday night to take us to the range. I will have a eval on Wednesday or Thursday and will be able to do a re-eval on Friday. They was 13 of us that was rolled into the 3rd week. One went home due to the shed he backed into another became sick and went home.

The past week we had 57 students and 22 trucks. It was really hard to get drive time. This class is smaller around 30. So I should be able to get more time to drive. I have been over driving the truck now that I understand what I'm doing wrong I can get it in the box. I have to tweak it to limit the pull ups. I know if I can pass my eval I can pass the DVM. They make it harder so you can trifecta.

Wish me luck.

Wishing you nothing but the very best luck......and a few prayers just to make sure... We're all here rootin' for ya !!!! CONFIDENCE......stay calm, stay focused, and know in your mind that you CAN do this.

Fixing to take a nap before I go to the range tonight. I feel very confident about tonight. I was in the study/laundry room this morning going over the backing skills with some of the newer students, helping them has also is making it click more for me. I'm going to go in tonight with the can do this I got this attitude.

You go get em !!!! GOOD LUCK !!

I didn't make it. I miss my eval by 2 points. I can pay $750 for another week but I don't have it. So I will be on the greyhound tomorrow headed home to lick my wounds and face my kids. Thanks to all the has wish me well and giving me advice I thanks you so much and I will you all the best.