Set Back At Swift

Another update from yours truly......I have now had five weeks training and today was my testing out day at Swift. I felt like a novice today as I nervously did my test run and my backing docking procedure. I failed with my backing in between two parked trailers. Its a straight fail if you hit one of the trailers......which I did. But with Swift you do get another bite of the cherry. I've now been given another 100 hours to practice the things they think I need to work on. It really is up to me to succeed in this venture. Swift are throwing everything at me to succeed.

Yes I was very disappointed to say the least at not passing today and going out on my own......funny thing is was that my test guy asked if I thought I was fully confident in my own ability to do so. I hesitated in my reply but still said yes. Turned out that I obviously wasn't.

This is a set back for me and I have to take it as such. Swift have been kind enough to give me a second chance and I will do my level best to show them I'm worth taking the risk.

Yours truly.....a very down in the mouth.....(for now).....future trucker

Hey, don't sweat it! You're getting another chance so just put it out of your mind and get back to improving your skills. Pretend it was a practice test or something. Whatever you have to do to leave it behind you and move on.

Swift works harder to help people succeed than any other paid CDL training program I know of. A lot of them push you as hard as they can, keep the few that make it through, and send the rest home. But you've obviously shown them through your effort and attitude that you are doing everything you can to get out there and make it in this industry and they're gonna do everything they can to help make that happen. What a blessing!

Focus on moving forward. Concentrate on the task in front of you and preparing for the challenges ahead. You'll get it! Just keep givin it everything you've got.

Sheffield, just keep working hard and don't even think about that first fail - I know that's hard to do, but every driver has days that he just can't back the truck, even the veterans. I got sent home three different times when I was pursuing this career so I know the "agony of defeat", but I just kept on trying because I knew I could get this done, and now I'm out there living and loving it every day.

Next time your testing just take it slow and easy, and don't forget you can always pull up and adjust if you need to, and don't forget "your mirrors are your best friend".

Thanks guys for your reply's, it's helping me allot to hear from you. I'm back home now and will be going out with a new mentor on Sunday. He has a dedicated run which means lots of backing etc. I really do appreciate Swift giving me another go at it. I really do want to get this done. I will of course keep posting and hopefully have good news at the end of my training.

Definitely keep posting. Let us know how things are going when you get back out there.

Listen, I'm telling you right now - if Swift didn't believe in you, they wouldn't keep working with you. You don't get to be one of the largest carriers in North America by sticking with people you know can't get the job done. If they're keeping you around, it's because they want you around. So obviously they're impressed by your attitude and work ethic and they see the potential in you to become a true professional out there. And you will.

Just keep doing what you're doing. Keep your head up, have a great attitude, believe in yourself, learn all you can every day from each situation you face, and try to enjoy yourself out there. Things are going to work out great for ya.

Stay in touch. We look forward to hearing some great success stories very soon from you!

Hey Mick, Sorry to hear about your hiccup..which is what it is.. simply a hiccup..NOT a game changer, or career ender..one of the things I've noticed about your posts is you don't seem to have much faith in your abilities...but that is just plain WRONG..like Brett said, if Swift didn't think you were worth keeping,you wouldn't be there..you gotta start believing in yourself, man and telling yourself you CAN do this..remember when your trainer talked you into staying?? If you weren't good enough to do this job, it would have been easy as pie for him to just keep his mouth shut and let you walk away..he DIDN'T..he made you stay..So, like I said, Start believing in yourself..get some confidence and start walking with some swagger in your step...next time you take your test, when that examiner asks if you are ready, you don't hesitate one second, you say, "Hell, Yeah.." cause you WILL BE!! Now go out there and OWN this Beyotch..