Swift Training

Your updates are fantastic! I love the details you're giving everyone about the day to day activities. Ya know, the schools should really consider promoting this type of thing themselves. The more prepared someone is by knowing what will be expected of them, the better their chances of success.

Keep it up! Sounds like training is rolling right along!

We got out a little early on Saturday so I went to the biggest mall in town and took myself out to dinner at Texas de Brazil. YUM! My hotel room has a kitchen and I've been cooking for myself all week. Then I got a pedicure. Ahh, heaven!

But back to training which is indeed rolling right along.

Week Two Day 1, Day 7 overall

We spent the entire day on the range. Started our pre-trip in the dark. Daylight Savings Time kicked in over the weekend. Did an in-cab and air brake check. Once it was light we could start moving trucks. So Andy (the other PA guy) and I went back to skills - pulling forward to a certain spot, straight backing, 45degree docking. At first I couldn't get the trailer in the slot for anything. Then the instructor told us to switch to the 48' trailer we were using last week and that we would be tested on. I had been working with a 53' trailer. That five feet makes a big difference!

We were joined by two other students from the class ahead of us. They are in their third week, also from PA and ready to test out. They must pass a skills and a driving test with Swift and then with DMV. The instructor manager calls and sets appointments with DMV for each of us. We continued taking turns doing skills until a couple hours later when I'm in the cab lining up and I see smoke coming from under the hood. Right away I stopped, looked at the water temp and it was way up. I shut down the truck and the instructor had one of the third week students do a drop and hook to bring over another tractor. I got a lot of ribbing about my pre-trip check and not seeing this hose that busted. Of course, it wasn't busted when we did our check and the engine was completely cold. It's just one of those things. In the real world I would have pulled over and called my Driver Manager for help. They would have sent someone to fix it. And I would go on.

After lunch we were taught drop and hook. Each of us, about 15 in all did the whole thing while the others watched. As we each finished we went back to skills. It is very different driving a bobtail than hauling a trailer.

I was still having trouble with the 45degree dock so tonight I went to Target and got a toy truck, a NASCAR authentic tractor trailer to practice with in my hotel room. Of course I had to get the one with Danica Patrick :)

Then the instructor told us to switch to the 48' trailer we were using last week and that we would be tested on. I had been working with a 53' trailer. That five feet makes a big difference!

Uh oh.

Ok, here's a question. What is the difference in the actual wheelbase on a 48' trailer versus a 53' trailer? And I'm talking the measurement from the tractor drives to the trailer tandems.

Well, that's a trick question. For one, there is no set wheel base - the trailer tandems can be slid forward and back, right? So it's adjustable. However, on the highway there are no states that allow you to slide the trailer tandems back into the last 5 feet of a 53' trailer. So if you stretch the tandems all the way to the rear on a 48' trailer, and all the way to the legal limit on a 53' trailer, guess what you have? The exact same wheelbase. That means the trailers need the same amount of room to roll forward around a turn, and they react at the exact same speed to steering inputs when you're backing.

So what does that mean in the end? There is almost no difference whatsoever between the two when it comes to turning and backing. The "almost" is for two major things:

1) The visual perception is completely different if you're looking at the side of the trailer while you're backing up instead of watching the trailer tandems themselves. Watch the trailer tandems, not the box itself. That will throw you off big time from a 48' to a 53' because the extra length of the 53' makes it appear as if the trailer reacts differently to steering inputs, but it doesn't. It's basically an illusion and is very hard to account for in your mind.

2) The "tail" that sticks out behind the 53' trailer can make backing into tight spots from an angle very, very difficult. It moves so far from side to side as you're pivoting that it will hit things if you're not careful. That's why sometimes you'll see experienced drivers slide the tandems all the way to the rear of a 53' trailer when backing into certain spots. Sometimes that stupid tail sticking out makes it nearly impossible to squeeze into a tight spot. You slide the tandems to the rear and now you won't have that.

When you're backing, watch the trailer tandems - the tires themselves - not the side of the trailer or the back corner of it. When people first start backing the natural tendency is to watch the rear corner of the trailer and use that to judge where they're going and what corrections they need to make. That's why you feel like there's a big difference between a 48' and a 53' trailer - the back end of the 53' trailer swings much faster than the back end of the 48'. The wheelbase is the same so they actually pivot at the exact same speed. But the difference in visual perception is huge. Even after years of driving I was constantly reminding myself to ignore the trailer box and focus on the tandems.

Days 5 & 6

Friday was two hours classroom where we covered more about trip planning. Then out to the range for eight hours. The one other student from PA and myself practiced pre-trip check on a Freightliner, the same type truck we will test on. Each of us would do the whole thing, outside, in cab and air brake while the other followed the list so we didn't miss anything. We did that over and over until lunch. I'm feeling pretty confident about the pre-trip.

After lunch we started the skills test for PA. Pull forward, put front bumper in the box. Pull forward, put rear bumper in same box. Straight back 100'. Pull forward again and set up 45degree back into dock. Basically your trailer is at a 45degree angle from the dock. If you put the end of trailer over to the right a little and then turn it a little to the left you should be lined up with dock and basically do a straight back from there. You can't go outside the box and you must stop with rear bumper inside a smaller box. I got it a couple of times, missed a couple times. We had a lot of fun doing that. The other guy from PA, Andy used to deliver crated milk so he can back. I like that Swift has trucks and set ups for each of the states the students are from.

Saturday was all classroom. Trip planning and reading maps. Calculating miles, gallons of fuel, travel time. Then we had two tests. He gave us each a road atlas and a list of questions. If you have used maps before, no problem. If you can do basic math and understand what gets divided by what, no problem.

For example: How many miles is it from Pittsburg PA to Mobile AL and then to Albequerque NM? How long will it take you to get to each destination with average speed of 50mph? How many gallons of fuel will it take with average of 7mpg? If you left at 7:15am when would you arrive at each destination? Rest stops, fuel stops, meal stops were not included to simplify things.

Another example: What is the most efficient route from Jasper AL to Baton Rouge LA? Take into account the terrain. How many miles and how long would it take you?

If you don't already, start using a map to plan your trips around town. Read the map key, find out what all those little symbols mean. There is a wealth of information on good maps. You cannot depend on the GPS. It's a tool just like a map is a tool and calling the receiver for local directions is another tool. Use everything available to make your life easier.

I need to work on my math skills for this, lol. Shew, so much to remember! I am so thankful for this forum and the High Road Training, at least I will know what they are talking about, when they say something. I wouldn't have without all this preporation!

Day 8

Worked on skills (the 45degree backing, etc.) and went on the road. Had a great time! Did not run over any curbs, hit any hydrants, knock over any signs or stall out. A very good drive. We did not have our two hours in the classroom at the end of the day because the new class was running behind schedule. BTW there are two women in that class, me in this one and one in the class ahead of us. Seems to be an average of 15% women drivers. Cool.

Day 9

I passed off my pre-trip check today with a 100%. Yeehaw! This is wonderful. I am getting this and having a blast while doing it. Spent lots of time working on skills today. Two hours of classroom at end of day was a slide show on shifting and turning.

Day 10

Went on the road again today. The instructor said Andy and I were doing well enough to be tested out by the academy now and we’re only halfway through our scheduled course time. This is great. I have to work on my down shifting but am feeling very confident about my developing skills. Thanks for the advice, Brett. I’m watching the tandems now and things are clicking much better. I actually got the trailer into the slot in one shot this morning. Woo hoo! After that I did it with only one or two pull ups for the rest of the morning. Two hours of classroom at end of day was a slide show on truck controls and routine maintenance.

Thanks for the advice, Brett. I’m watching the tandems now and things are clicking much better.

Hey, that's awesome news! I'm really glad to hear it. The better you get, the more fun it is

Hey there Engineering Mom it sounds like your moving right along in this crazy wonderful adventure! I'm real proud of you - keep at it and they'll have you holding that brand new CDL in no time at all. And to you other new ladies just getting on board, look, here's another lady driver whose gotten past her fears, doubts, and minority status, and showed the guys in her class how to fight like a girl! Y'all go get em! We're pulling for all of you. Congratulations E.M. keep up the great job.

Then the instructor told us to switch to the 48' trailer we were using last week and that we would be tested on. I had been working with a 53' trailer. That five feet makes a big difference!

Uh oh.

Ok, here's a question. What is the difference in the actual wheelbase on a 48' trailer versus a 53' trailer? And I'm talking the measurement from the tractor drives to the trailer tandems.

Well, that's a trick question. For one, there is no set wheel base - the trailer tandems can be slid forward and back, right? So it's adjustable. However, on the highway there are no states that allow you to slide the trailer tandems back into the last 5 feet of a 53' trailer. So if you stretch the tandems all the way to the rear on a 48' trailer, and all the way to the legal limit on a 53' trailer, guess what you have? The exact same wheelbase. That means the trailers need the same amount of room to roll forward around a turn, and they react at the exact same speed to steering inputs when you're backing.

So what does that mean in the end? There is almost no difference whatsoever between the two when it comes to turning and backing. The "almost" is for two major things:

1) The visual perception is completely different if you're looking at the side of the trailer while you're backing up instead of watching the trailer tandems themselves. Watch the trailer tandems, not the box itself. That will throw you off big time from a 48' to a 53' because the extra length of the 53' makes it appear as if the trailer reacts differently to steering inputs, but it doesn't. It's basically an illusion and is very hard to account for in your mind.

2) The "tail" that sticks out behind the 53' trailer can make backing into tight spots from an angle very, very difficult. It moves so far from side to side as you're pivoting that it will hit things if you're not careful. That's why sometimes you'll see experienced drivers slide the tandems all the way to the rear of a 53' trailer when backing into certain spots. Sometimes that stupid tail sticking out makes it nearly impossible to squeeze into a tight spot. You slide the tandems to the rear and now you won't have that.

When you're backing, watch the trailer tandems - the tires themselves - not the side of the trailer or the back corner of it. When people first start backing the natural tendency is to watch the rear corner of the trailer and use that to judge where they're going and what corrections they need to make. That's why you feel like there's a big difference between a 48' and a 53' trailer - the back end of the 53' trailer swings much faster than the back end of the 48'. The wheelbase is the same so they actually pivot at the exact same speed. But the difference in visual perception is huge. Even after years of driving I was constantly reminding myself to ignore the trailer box and focus on the tandems.

Brett, you are the MAN. THANK YOU for the above Master's Level Coolege course on backing a 48 versus a 53 footer. I haven't even begun to back, yet your explanation makes perfect sense, and I will USE it. Thanks again!!!!!

G MAN

The better you get, the more fun it is

And it's a whole lot of fun already! I had one instructor tell me if all his students had my attitude his job would be so much easier. Gotta love it. Brett's advice has helped me stay focused on the positive. When others complain and some do a lot of that, I remind myself this is temporary. Even when they had me switch rooms to share with another woman student, one of those who tends to complain all the time about everything, I don't pay any attention to what she says, I don't get upset and I don't complain. I'll be out of here in a week so it doesn't really matter.

Day 11

We drove on the highway today. Big fun! I didn't hit anything. I didn't run over any curbs or knock down any signs. I didn't put the truck in a ditch. A good drive. I also passed my skills test today. Hooray! I was able to do the 45degree backing in one shot two different times. I'm going to try brake shifting to smooth out my downshifting. See how that goes. You slow the truck down until it almost feels like it's going to stall and then shift down to the next lower gear without double clutching. I seem to want to shift while before the truck speed is slow enough.

Day 12

All day in classroom. Lots of good information about safety and regulations. Also covered the Qualcomm system and what the different screens mean. Our instructor used to be the safety guy in the Phoenix office and was once a driver manager so he really knows the system. He shared the website for the CSA regulations (Compliance, Safety and Accountability). This lists the points for the various infractions and what the DOT looks for. The Feds have not yet set a cut off level where a company can say a driver is no longer eligible for hire. That is still being determined along with tweaking the regs themselves. It was interesting to see what they can get you for, points and fines. Not just your driving but the condition of the truck itself and your own condition or driver fitness. So cut back on the carbs boys and girls and eat more veggies!

I now have a test date of March 25 to go for my CDL.