Swift Training Journal
Topic 8785 | Page 1
Ok guys, about to leave in 5 days for Missouri, I'll be in Missouri for 4 days getting paperwork, drug screen and etc done. Then headed to Swift Terminal in Salt Lake City, Utah for 9 days for training. I'm starting to get my stuff packed and ready, got all my employment paperwork, military papers, social security card, certified birth certificate, and of course my drivers license all in order. Went to Dollar General and bought me a 3 ring binder, a notebook, pens, highlighter, and my clear ruler for paper logs. I'm as prepared as I ever can be. I have been studying for pre-trip for about 2 weeks ago, this is my main concern for me. I have my Indiana CDL permit and passed those test only missing 3 questions so I'm good to go with permit test. Driving test shouldn't cause any problems I have drove rig a lot in my life. Just have to cram for that da*n pre-trip inspections test.
My dad who's drove for over 40 years gave me an early birthday present since I'll be gone. He got me the Cobra 29LX CB Radio with Chrome Case, NOAA Weather & 4-Color LCD Display, and Astatic RD104E Road Devil Amplified 4-Pin CB Microphone, probably the best birthday present he's ever gotten me. I've never seen him this happy, but I figured he would be excited to see his son go into the business his father, uncle, and 3 brothers got into. He's happy to see the tradition keep going. What's awesome is that he gave me the briefcase he used for almost 20 years and the one I used to carry to his truck for him when he was leaving on a trip. I have to say, that I'm more excited now then I was when I joined the Army.
Well guys I will make another post on here probably the night before I get on the greyhound bus, and after that I'll be updating hopefully once a night from school and through training with my OTR trainer. I know school diaries like this have helped me deciding on my career and what it would be like, I hope my diary helps someone else looking at going into the business.
Hello Jarod. My name is Ron and I will be in training next week as well. I look forward to meeting you.
Pre-trip Inspection:
A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.
Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
What's awesome is that he gave me the briefcase he used for almost 20 years and the one I used to carry to his truck for him when he was leaving on a trip
For me that is awesome! Third generation!
My dad gave me his IBM* leather tool bag after he retired. (It finally got too decrepit to hold tools, so I had to toss it. Never told him that.)
* Before computers, International Business Machines built mechanical machines that handled data cards - IBM cards. I had a great collection of small tools.
Ron, what area are you coming from?
Wish I had some experience in this. The biggest truck I've ever drove was a U-Haul. Lol I'm starting from scratch as a total noob. But I'll be there with you guys. I'd do a diary myself, but honestly with this accelerated course, I'm sure I'll be too busy studying and trying to get every second of practice I can in before the big test. 😬
I'm leaving for school Sunday to go to Memphis for training with Swift. I'm with you on the pre-trips. I've watched about a thousand videos and have studied my tush off, but am going to keep studying and until I get it perfect. I had a post about being frustrated with my recruiter, but she has totally stepped up since then. Kinda thinking from reading posts on here and groups on other websites that that's pretty much par for the course in this industry when it comes to dealing with what you think might happen and what will happen. I think I might start a post about leading up to and what to expect. It certainly helped me so far. This is by far my favorite trucking website for information. Good luck out there future driver:)
Destiny wrote,
I'm with you on the pre-trips. I've watched about a thousand videos and have studied my tush off, but am going to keep studying and until I get it perfect.
Let me see ... It's in here somewhere ... (Shuffle) (click click) ... Yeah! Here ya go, Jarod & Destiny! The semi-official Trucking Truth Pre-Trip!
Pre-Trip Inspection - My Way! A must see!, by Daniel B.
Pre-trip Inspection:
A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.
Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.
48 hours til Im in Kansas City, Mo!! Cant wait to get behind wheel of those Volvos/Internationals/Freightliners!!
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.New Reply:
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Ok guys, about to leave in 5 days for Missouri, I'll be in Missouri for 4 days getting paperwork, drug screen and etc done. Then headed to Swift Terminal in Salt Lake City, Utah for 9 days for training. I'm starting to get my stuff packed and ready, got all my employment paperwork, military papers, social security card, certified birth certificate, and of course my drivers license all in order. Went to Dollar General and bought me a 3 ring binder, a notebook, pens, highlighter, and my clear ruler for paper logs. I'm as prepared as I ever can be. I have been studying for pre-trip for about 2 weeks ago, this is my main concern for me. I have my Indiana CDL permit and passed those test only missing 3 questions so I'm good to go with permit test. Driving test shouldn't cause any problems I have drove rig a lot in my life. Just have to cram for that da*n pre-trip inspections test.
My dad who's drove for over 40 years gave me an early birthday present since I'll be gone. He got me the Cobra 29LX CB Radio with Chrome Case, NOAA Weather & 4-Color LCD Display, and Astatic RD104E Road Devil Amplified 4-Pin CB Microphone, probably the best birthday present he's ever gotten me. I've never seen him this happy, but I figured he would be excited to see his son go into the business his father, uncle, and 3 brothers got into. He's happy to see the tradition keep going. What's awesome is that he gave me the briefcase he used for almost 20 years and the one I used to carry to his truck for him when he was leaving on a trip. I have to say, that I'm more excited now then I was when I joined the Army.
Well guys I will make another post on here probably the night before I get on the greyhound bus, and after that I'll be updating hopefully once a night from school and through training with my OTR trainer. I know school diaries like this have helped me deciding on my career and what it would be like, I hope my diary helps someone else looking at going into the business.
Pre-trip Inspection:
A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.
Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.