My 2nd Week Training with Swift/Mentor

[bigtrevdogg]

i am in my 2nd week of training with swift and my mentor. but i feel as if i haven't learned a thing. all my mentor does is watch movies, play xbox. talk to his wife on the phone, canvas truck stops for lot lizards and sleep while i'm driving. this dude has not really shown me one thing. my backing still sucks and my downshifting isn't the greatest. i think i'm going to call driver services and request a new mentor because this is crazy. has anyone else have this kind of experience with a Swift trainer

[lifespalette]

Unfortunately Dogg.......it's not uncommon at Swift. You need to call your driver coordinator and request a new trainer and be specific about why. Swift's trainers are paid extra for your millage and many see it as a just a way to bump their paycheck, and haven't a clue what it means to be a trainer or what they should do.

Sounds like you got one of the 6 months wonders who figured he would increase his pay with your miles and that's the only thing he's concerned with.............this is one thing I disliked at Swift, even though I had an excellent trainer, who was dedicated to thoroughly training his students....he demanded your best and he gave his best, it wasn't until the last week or next to last that we started running a team situation, up until that time we drove my HOS limit then shut down for the night..........he dogged me on my paper work and improving my skills...........unfortunately, I understand he has since retired to his gentleman's farm in MS...........

Call your training coordinator and request a new trainer.......if you don't get any action, call the trainer coordinator.

[syl77dar]

good luck

[Windwalker]

With the stories I've heard about Swift Training, there is no training going on there. I suggest that no one goes to swift. If the trainee is supposed to train himself, there is no need for a trainer. And, in theory, the trainee will never be qualified to drive solo. Years ago, there were guys that started driving with no training at all. In actual practice, the trainee will eventually get it down, but the company is opening itself up to serious liability and the trainee as well.

[Fozzy]

You guys act like there is a shred of difference between all of these companies and seem to be buying all of these complete horror stories. While that's pretty convenient, its not very smart nor realistic. Swift is no better nor any worse than 99.999% of the other training companies out there and everyone knows it. I've seen the same trainers and the same student horror stories from almost every fleet from the ones with the worst reputations. These stories are not completely wrong nor are they normally completely right.

You guys act like there is a shred of difference between all of these companies and seem to be buying all of these complete horror stories. While that's pretty convenient, its not very smart nor realistic. Swift is no better nor any worse than 99.999% of the other training companies out there and everyone knows it. I've seen the same trainers and the same student horror stories from almost every fleet from the ones with the worst reputations. These stories are not completely wrong nor are they normally completely right.

I have got to disagree with you 110% There are a few other companies that have a MUCH better training program than Swift. SNI has about one of the best, if not THE best.

I will say that not every company is perfect, or even near it. Every company is going to have the yo yo's at driver trainers. But I think history has proved that Swift has the worse training program in the business.

[syl77dar]

swift and werner would tie. swift instructor asleep while driver in seat and in wrong lane in isolated area instructor forced to resign student sent packing. but not too many students leave swift like that. swift hires anyone who walks thru doors and if they drink they don't care. werner has no drinking policy but some of there trainers are as bad or worse then swift. driving w/ werner owner opeator trainer made me operate unsafe trailer w/bald tire on i-35 in ks stopped by hwy patrol and they followed me 2 get tire repaired, only reason i only got an out of service violation instead of ticket? cuz i said yes sir, no sir and literally explained i was a new student. same problem same stupid trainer few days later he is driving now, he pulls over in an unsafe area and does not move truck until break down sends a repairman 2 fix tire on trailer what kind of junk is that? so learn to say no and always call safety if someone wants you to operate an unsafe truck and don't be afraid to say no!

[Fozzy]

I have got to disagree with you 110% There are a few other companies that have a MUCH better training program than Swift.

There are LOTS of others believe it or not that have worse training than swift...Swift aint great, Swift probably isn't even "good" when compared to "real" training that USED to be offered by some companies.

SNI has about one of the best, if not THE best.

I'll agree, have you ever heard some of the trash talking about them? Their trainers are at least trained TO trained and screened.

I will say that not every company is perfect, or even near it. Every company is going to have the yo yo's at driver trainers.

And every fleet (especially those who "give people a chance") is going to end up with a whole lot of losers and scumbags that have no business in trucking at all. And they will whine a cry to ANYONE that will sit still logn enough to hear it.

But I think history has proved that Swift has the worse training program in the business.

I've seen too much of the industry and been involved in training to think even remotely that this statement is true.

[PackRatTDI]

Every training company has it's share of horror stories. It's the nature of the business. Some people actually care about teaching and training the new guy on the block, others are simply in it for the extra cash it brings in. Stevens was no exception. I remember hearing horror stories about a Stevens trainer with the handle "Kingpin" who would have been better named "Pig-pen" because he kept the sleeper in horrible condition. Slept on top of old magazines and garbage in his bunk. OTOH, my trainer was excellent. He was patient but firm and I owe a lot to the man. Last I heard he had gone to work for Crete, decided to get out of the reefer business.

I was approached at one time to become a trainer but I declined since I prefer to be solo, though I would have no problem with my wife on the truck, lol.

Back in 2001 I tried to get a job with Merrit at the Wal-Mart DC in Los Lunas, NM. I was turned down due to a speeding ticket (personal vehicle) and accident on my record (truck). I was talking to a Swift-formerly-Merrit owner operator who was dropping a meat/produce load at the WM I work at and was telling me the "growing pains" of being brought under Swift (told to have his truck speed set at 65 mph, warnings about more DOT checks, etc.). He told me that if I applied there today I'd probably have been hired on the spot, lol.

I've been tempted to go back into driving, with Swift, no less, if only to get on that Wal-Mart fleet. Too bad I had to surrender my CDL when I moved back to NM from Iowa.

[Windwalker]

It's not jut the horror stories I've heard on here. And, I would hate to have to count the number of times I've been out of my truck to help a Swift trainee or C R England trainee back into a spot in a truck stop. Trainers were sleeping in the bunk. There was even one that was having a GRAND TIME trying to back out of a space and I ended up beating the H#!! out of the sleeper to wake him up. There are other companies that I get to see the trainer alongside the truck when the trainee is backing in. From what I've seen, Swift has one of the very worst records in the industry. I'm guessing that Fozzy may be out of touch with that aspect of the industry.

[PackRatTDI]

It's not jut the horror stories I've heard on here. And, I would hate to have to count the number of times I've been out of my truck to help a Swift trainee or C R England trainee back into a spot in a truck stop. Trainers were sleeping in the bunk. There was even one that was having a GRAND TIME trying to back out of a space and I ended up beating the H#!! out of the sleeper to wake him up. There are other companies that I get to see the trainer alongside the truck when the trainee is backing in. From what I've seen, Swift has one of the very worst records in the industry. I'm guessing that Fozzy may be out of touch with that aspect of the industry.

My trainer had a pair of those 2 way radios. He'd get out and let me know how I was doing. He also refused to pass me unless I learned how to float shift.

[bigtimba]

. . your Swift training experience will be exactly what YOU and your mentor(s) make of it. I had two pretty good trainers (pre mentor era). Neither of these guys ever went to bed before they were comfortable with me under the circumstances I was likely to encounter. They weren't always in the sleeper. For instance, they would tell me where to stop or when to wake them before getting off the interstate or getting to final or whatever. They would hop in the seat and keep an eye on me to satisfy themselves that I wasn't going to wreck the truck or kill them. When we finished doing what we had to do and the situation was right they or I would hop in the sleeper and onward we went. If we wound up at shipper/receiver with room to maneuver and trailers to practice on, we would do just that . . practice, practice, practice until I had cramps in my shins. While a lot of my backing at truck stops looked like practice . . well, thank goodness it was low speed . .

A big part of how we ran had to do with my confidence in myself, their confidence in me and our willingness to communicate with each other. If they saw I needed help, regardless of how I felt, I would get it. If I thought I needed help, they would give it until we were both satisfied that I was getting the hang of it. I spent my first 5 weeks running the Northwest during one of the nastiest winters they'd had in years. I'll bet we chained up a dozen times. We hauled heavy trailers. This guy wasn't about to let this rookie run heavy, down a two lane road at night in the snow until I demonstrated I had the skills, the nerve and the sense to do it. When I mentioned to my training manager that I wasn't getting any trip planning experience . . boom, trainer switch . . out of the northwest we rolled and over the road we went.

Since then, I've driven 275,000 + miles, had zero moving violations, one scale violation (weight misstated on the BOL and still my fault) and one preventable where I clipped an empty trailer with mine and caused a couple hundred dollars worth of damage. If there hadn't been a witness, I wouldn't have any preventables . . .

Ask your driver/training manager what the procedure is. I didn't have the problem so don't have the experience. The biggest consequence I can think of, they may make you wait, possibly send you home until another trainer becomes available. So, if you can't work it out with the guy you're with and I mean work it out because the biggest mistake you can make is to settle for second best, then be prepared to sit. It's worth it. It is your neck on the line. Swift is no different than any large organization . . there are some ****ty people in very important positions.

As for the posters who seem to have an uncanny insight to a company you know nothing about, try keeping your comments a little more constructive. If I've seen a thousand guys who couldn't back a truck I'll guess less than 5% were Swift. If I've seen a hundred trucks on their side or upside down, not ONE has been Swift. I have seen plenty of horribly wrecked Swift trucks parked at terminals (why do they bring them there?) but I have yet to see a Swift truck in a really bad way on (or near) the road. If I've seen 200 (per month) fender benders, bonehead maneuvers (or attempts) at truck stops, a minuscule number have been Swift (including my own). The reason I notice is the same reason you do . . Swift is so big, and so conspicuous, how could you not notice? You can't criticize the can hauler driving a 15 year old rebuild because you can't read the name scrawled in the bondo.

The guys you need to look out for are the knuckleheads with no formal training and worse, the uberknuckleheads whose only training has been to learn the bad habits of the knuckleheads mentioned earlier.

One more thing . . my co-driver on the student /student experience had a lousy trainer on a dedicated route. Other than learning how to hold the wheel and find a few of the gears, this guy learned nothing. I was able to help him a little bit but was always nervous when it was his turn to drive at night . . at all, really. He went to work for the dedicated division he trained with and washed out after a few months. That should give a little ray of hope to all of you . . Yes, they are out there, they're easy to spot and fortunately, they won't be around for long.

[JERRYLEWIS]

I am currently with swift in the mentor phase and I just fired my mentor after 16 days. He would through fits and throw things and swear while I was driving making me extremely uncomfortable. This was in South Carolina. I just now got off of greyhound and am attached to the troutdale, OR one and go back out with a new mentor tomorrow to finish 26 days. I hope I get a better one. On the plus side don't hesitate to fire them. Its a no questions asked deal and you will be placed quickly with a new mentor. I have no problems with swift as of yet. A bad mentor is not Swifts fault as the guy I had was a senior mentor and had been driving since the 60's. Bad training is the fault of the trainer flat out. Not the trucking company.

[JERRYLEWIS]

I am currently with swift in the mentor phase and I just fired my mentor after 16 days. He would through fits and throw things and swear while I was driving making me extremely uncomfortable. This was in South Carolina. I just now got off of greyhound and am attached to the troutdale, OR one and go back out with a new mentor tomorrow to finish 26 days. I hope I get a better one. On the plus side don't hesitate to fire them. Its a no questions asked deal and you will be placed quickly with a new mentor. I have no problems with swift as of yet. A bad mentor is not Swifts fault as the guy I had was a senior mentor and had been driving since the 60's. Bad training is the fault of the trainer flat out. Not the trucking company.

[ghost_ryder]

i am in my 2nd week of training with swift and my mentor. but i feel as if i haven't learned a thing. all my mentor does is watch movies, play xbox. talk to his wife on the phone, canvas truck stops for lot lizards and sleep while i'm driving. this dude has not really shown me one thing. my backing still sucks and my downshifting isn't the greatest. i think i'm going to call driver services and request a new mentor because this is crazy. has anyone else have this kind of experience with a Swift trainer

That is the kind of mentor you want and trust me on this one. I guess "almost" the kind of mentor you want, not that he should not do anything but sleep, but you know what I mean. All schneider had was some work aholic that ran me into the mud non-stop and almost made me give up. This guy would not stop for anything, not to eat, not for nothing. I did not even have time to call family and friends. My friend had the same experience with his trainer at schneider, he absolutely hated it. You may think you are not learning anything but you are. You are driving right? Backing and downshifting, that will come in time so relax, learn and have fun. Requesting another mentor just may be a big mistake.

[LD27]

What's a lot lizard?

[Toothpick]

As for as training companies go, Swift isn?t any better or any worse than any of the other companies out there and, indeed, is better than a lot of them. All companies have problems with trainers and training and if you believe otherwise, then I?m sorry you?re either extremely na?ve or else you have a grudge out against Swift for some odd reason.

I also find it very amusing that it always seems to be the same exact people who never worked a day in their lives for Swift that are always the most critical, most biased, and have the loudest voices with the wildest hearsay stories when it comes to speaking out against Swift.

Some of you guys almost make it sound as if Swift goes out of its way just to corner the market on bad trainers and bad drivers. Like there is some sort of devious unspoken profit motive to be had by short changing students and short cutting training, which is more than a little hilarious to me if you understand the business.

Like you never know for sure beforehand what kind of a driver an individual is going to make until you actually hire them and try them out, you never know beforehand what kind of trainer an individual is going to make until you actually let them train and find out.

Oh sure?you can try to weed out the riff raff beforehand, but no matter how much you try to screen and sift through drivers, a certain percentage of riff raff will still manage to sneak in, and when they do, management is completely at the mercy of the feedback that comes back in from the students and to also whatever tracking and monitoring systems that they have in place.

Moreover, sometimes the students are extremely na?ve and aren?t sharp enough or experienced enough to be able to tell or know the difference between what is abuse and what is quality training. Other students, on the other hand, have been around the block a few times already and know immediately when they are getting the shaft. Everything is relative and dependent on a good pipeline and flow of student feedback coupled with a good and stringent trainer tracking and monitoring program. It?s always an ongoing and never-ending process.

Indeed, I?ve personally talked to many a young driver out there who when they described their training process to me it was very obvious that they were very much used and abused, but at the same time these young drivers thought the world of their trainers, thought they received excellent training, and never ever realized that they had gotten short changed and shafted. I?m sure years down the road as they grow older, smarter, and wiser, as most of us do with age and experience, a lot of them will eventually come to realize that they got shafted.

In any event, if any one company has figured the screening process out and has only 100 percent excellent trainers, then I?d like to hear about it, right after I?d like to hear about what it is you are smoking.

Meanwhile, the best thing training companies can do is to warn students beforehand about some of the perils and problems that can happen during training and what to look out far. Then offer them an out. An easy way that they can fire their trainers no questions asked and get a new one, which Swift does in spades!

[shaley06]

I recently got done with school am going back on the 4th for oriantation I gotta say he is right. Our truck was broke so we set at the terminal in Millington for 2 hours and I heard horror stories about the mentors. If I could find a company I could use my CDL and go out with a different Mentor I would I'm a female also and those mentors are no different. Not sure what to do at this point. Any suggestions?

[geeshock]

dito, there are good and bad mentors, my mentor was dedicated, but still, tought me most of what i'd get otr, routes were prety regular but route planning wasn't an issue with me. My swift instructor tought me well, and even helped me after we parted company, not to mention all the other truckers that showed pity on the newbee, lol

[tjv189]

Some of you people are saying Schneider has the best training hands down and all others compared to it are not very good at all. I have heard just as many bad things about Schneider as I have with Swift and Werner, so I don't know where some of you are getting your information from. I must be out of the circuit here or something I guess.

Seems that all the big companies are the same to me. Its very similar to being the president of the US: No matter what you do, half the country will agree with you and half will always disagree with you. Half a company's employees will usually be content with their employer, half usually won't. Same thing here. People that are disappointed with these companies are the ones that are most likely to speak up. If you thought the company was great, why would you ever speak up about that?

My bottom line is it seems to me they are all VERY similar in MANY ways.