Another Swift trainee killed last night......

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

Good post, JD....





"pretty much all the companies", huh? Funny how, the only two companies I have EVER worked for driving a truck strictly do NOT PERMIT RUNNING AS A TEAM. CRE is the only big company I know of that makes a policy of it...but I didn't know about most others, such as Swift. That's why I ASKED...and did not ASSume.

What are these 2 "BIG" companies ? ...and like I said there is policy and then there's how it is .

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

i find it amusing that when someone points out the faults in big jeeps logic he is quick with a school yard quip that trys to attack someone. it is lucky that orange never hit a deer, but there is good information in what he said, and anyone with a brain would see that. he simply stated some facts about safe driving techniques, and states that he uses those in his day day to driving. this time of year if you are not looking and anticipating a deer to come out or just be standing in front of you then i will say that you are not a safe driver. if you are a trainer that goes to the bunk and sleeps when your trainee is driving then i would say you are a piece of **** scumbucket that has not right even driving a truck. all that guy in the bunk was doing was making extra money for himself, he had zero interest in teaching that driver any of the things that orange mentioned regarding safe driving. and the only thing that is even close to being as bad about the guy loosing his life, is the fact that, that dumb basturd will probably be training again here shortly.

in regards to the swift training, any company that would allow a trainer to sleep while the 3 week trainee drive is an assbag company that should be removed from this industry one way or another. but all of these so called training companies do this all the time, so lets not just judge swift. there are other piece of **** companies that do this to make money just like all the others. they get team miles out of a solo truck and pay the trainee 300 bucks a week to run a team operation and teach themselves to drive.

so lets here it big jeep, insult the pic of angus or something to try to get a rise out of me. or better yet you better take your ball and go home...you are way outmatched here by people that know far far more than you. and i don't mean myself..guys like orange, tf, big d, etc.

This speech from a man who managed to get banned from this very board by arguing with the mods for days over NOTHING even I know when I'm out gunned ...And unlike you I can hold my own with anyone here ...Now that last paragraph really does sound like a feeble attempt at keister kissing those members mentioned...And it already sounds like I already got a rise out of you, and yes I'm glad you got rid of that Richard Simmons Avatar it was kind of suspect ...Oh Jed does the DOT require you to list...HELMET...as a restriction on your license ?


FedEx is how LTL spells Swift...wink

[BigDiesel]

Ah.. we have found the new "Carnac the Magnificent" ...

and exactly what was the purpose of the raid and what was it's outcome?

Pearls of wisdom from a Swift noob.......

[dobry4u]

Pearls of wisdom from a Swift noob.......

Thank you... you may kiss my hand now

[cdswans]

Still waiting for your answer as to why the so called " trainer " was in the bunk......

Oh and one other thing..... Swift does not have a reputable training progam either..... Didja ferget that little thing last spring when the Feds raided their school back east ????

My original reply implied he was sleeping . . in the sleeper. But who really knows? Making a tuna sandwich, buffing the helmet, organizing the sock drawer . . who knows?

It doesn't matter. 3 weeks into the deal, any student should be able to hold the wheel on an interstate. By my third week, I had driven Cabbage, Snoqualmie, Grant's Pass and the Siskiyous, to name a few, on snow and black ice at night with my trainer sleeping with one eye open in the back. It was almost all heavy haul and it was excellent training. The new guy farked up and now he won't be down for breakfast. This kind of mistake is the type that can be made by any driver. I feel bad for him and for his survivors.


As for the other thing . . it was the cdl issuing authority, either the state or an independent contractor that is/was being investigated. It had no connection to Swift other than they rented space from Swift. Beyond that, Swift runs about 40 terminals and trains out of most of them. They put hundreds of good new drivers out on the road every month. Some wash out because they find it isn't for them, some wash out by paying the big price. The enormous majority work through their commitment. Many stay and many go on to greener pastures.

My final word on this is that, while the system isn't perfect because it can't be perfect for each and every newb who participates, it is still a very good system. I offer my own record as proof. Sync is at the end of two years and I'm pretty sure he'll back me up. dobry4u is a work in progress and I wish her all the best. Only time will tell and you've got to admire her attitude.

[Scoe]

I was a recruiter for Gordon Trucking from 2003 to 2004 so the information I have on them may be dated.

Gordon's policy was extremely clear. Student driving then the trainer was in the jump seat logging on duty not driving. Period!!

As far as other companies coveting Swift drivers because of their excellent training? When I was at Gordon the recruiting department's policy was to shy away from Swift trained drivers when possible, due to their poor training.

Like OrangeTX, I've driven a commercial vehicle 100's of times through that stretch and it's a curve that requires paying attention but not a high degree of difficulty. It is very sad that the trainee died but if anything positive comes from this it might be that Swift's and other companies training policy are revised.

[Ridge Runner]

Big D wrote:

Oh and one other thing..... Swift does not have a reputable trainingprogam either..... Didja ferget that little thing last spring when theFeds raided their school back east ????

Then Dobry4u wrote:

Ah.. we have found the new "Carnac the Magnificent" ...

and exactly what was the purpose of the raid and what was it's outcome?

Big D wrote:

_________???

cdswans wrote:

As for the other thing . . it was the cdl issuing authority, either thestate or an independent contractor that is/was being investigated. Ithad no connection to Swift other than they rented space from Swift.

She may be a Swift noob...... but she is a smart Swift noob.

Lesson learned: Don't try to ignore the facts when trying to prove your point. You may get called on it. Then trying to fling out an insult to redirect the focus only makes you look MORE foolish.




Rookie - 1


Super Trucker-0

[dobry4u]

I was a recruiter for Gordon Trucking from 2003 to 2004 so the information I have on them may be dated.

Gordon's policy was extremely clear. Student driving then the trainer was in the jump seat logging on duty not driving. Period!!

As far as other companies coveting Swift drivers because of their excellent training? When I was at Gordon the recruiting department's policy was to shy away from Swift trained drivers when possible, due to their poor training.

Like OrangeTX, I've driven a commercial vehicle 100's of times through that stretch and it's a curve that requires paying attention but not a high degree of difficulty. It is very sad that the trainee died but if anything positive comes from this it might be that Swift's and other companies training policy are revised.

What I find completely amazing is all this dialog appears to be based on assumption and supported by the mere fact someone was not in the passenger seat. How many other variables are out there that could have contributed to this poor soul's untimely death? The mere fact that Swift was on the trailer gives premise to the argument?

[Syncrosonix]

What I find completely amazing is all this dialog appears to be based on assumption and supported by the mere fact someone was not in the passenger seat. How many other variables are out there that could have contributed to this poor soul's untimely death? The mere fact that Swift was on the trailer gives premise to the argument?

don't bother trying to argue or debate with some of the *perfect* drivers on this board.

[Ridge Runner]

What I find completely amazing is allthis dialog appears to be based on assumption and supported by the merefact someone was not in the passenger seat. How many other variablesare out there that could have contributed to this poor souls untimelydeath? The mere fact that Swift was on the trailer gives premise to theargument?

I have to agree that this in not just a company problem but an industry problem. It may have changed by now but I did my finishing training with USX. By week 3 or 4 you were EXPECTED to be able to go to a team-like status. If it had been CRST on the trailer then this thread would be bashing CRST.

You were right in a post above: A man lost his life. At his age he most likely had a family too. Let us not loose sight of the fact we lost one of our own .

[Orangetxguy]

I was a recruiter for Gordon Trucking from 2003 to 2004 so the information I have on them may be dated.

Gordon's policy was extremely clear. Student driving then the trainer was in the jump seat logging on duty not driving. Period!!

As far as other companies coveting Swift drivers because of their excellent training? When I was at Gordon the recruiting department's policy was to shy away from Swift trained drivers when possible, due to their poor training.

Like OrangeTX, I've driven a commercial vehicle 100's of times through that stretch and it's a curve that requires paying attention but not a high degree of difficulty. It is very sad that the trainee died but if anything positive comes from this it might be that Swift's and other companies training policy are revised.

I talked with my brother this morning. He was about 10 minutes behind the accident, headed to Portland for a load of lube oil. He told me the accident was right at the 105 exit (State ST/Capitol Blvd), before the overpass.. The traffic was getting off the 105 exit, then making the left to get back onto I-5 on the south side of the overpass. So there wasn't even a hard curve. My Bro told me that there was talk on the CB about one of the local gashaulers being NB and seeing the Swift truck hydro-planing through the standing water, which is common through that stretch of road.

He was gonna check over the weekend and get back on what else he could find out. Myself...I'm wondering if the video isn't going to show the Swift truck swerving to avoid an exiting car or 3.

Now...If the truck had rolled down at the 101 interchange....the conditions are more severe, but the curve is still managable. LOL.....some of you don't want to know how fast I would slip through that interchange at midnight, when I was headed south to Centralia or Chehalis.

If the truck had rolled at the 101 though...it would have been over on the right shoulder...not on the center median barrier.


dobry4u, I don't have a problem with the company. It really doesn't matter who the truck belonged to. I simply have a problem with a trainer being in the sleeper, sleeping, when the trainee doesn't have enough driving experience to justify it. It does not matter the company name.



It's pretty cut and dry. A man died whom shouldn't have, on a stetch of road that even in bad weather, isn't that difficult to negotiate. Somewhere along the line, that man's training was extremely lacking.

[BigDiesel]

Big D wrote:



Then Dobry4u wrote:



Big D wrote:

cdswans wrote:



She may be a Swift noob...... but she is a smart Swift noob.

Lesson learned: Don't try to ignore the facts when trying to prove your point. You may get called on it. Then trying to fling out an insult to redirect the focus only makes you look MORE foolish.




Rookie - 1


Super Trucker-0

Classy quote from a so called " Admin ".....

Are you baiting ????

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

It's pretty cut and dry. A man died whom shouldn't have, on a stetch of road that even in bad weather, isn't that difficult to negotiate. Somewhere along the line, that man's training was extremely lacking.

I know everyone has a stiff appendage for Swift ...but he had driving school /3+ wks on the job training ,so I would think he should be capable of holding the wheel on an easy stretch of highway ...and in your own words ...Orangetxguy WROTE--"on a stetch of road that even in bad weather, isn't that difficult to negotiate." ...I see no negligace infact most likely if the trainer were in the jump seat the incident still would have occoured ,and maybe they both would be dead ...I had a student that was a good driver, but lacked common sense in some situations...like pulling onto the shoulder of I-40 and leaving truck 2.5 ft out into granny lane ...That is just stupid would you do that in a POV no ,so why a truck...lack of sense...the same student drove great ,but in those normal day to day situations requiring basic common sense he would fail ...now the Swift incident with a student nearly through his traning let to drive...well 4-6 wks is hardly enough time to get to know an individual ,and their level of common sense and who knows the student may have been a good cautious driver while the trainer watching him ,but with trainer in sleeper,and student not feeling watched maybe he got carless and caused his wreck...At werner they had students that did fine then they wrecked only to find out the student was narcoleptic...and there are tons of students who will not say they can't see at night ,and then either nearly wreck or do that's the students fault for hiding his medical dispoition...but we are speculating the cause of this wreck and it's debateable if a trainer in the jump seat would have helped ...But in your own words Orangetxuy Wrote-- "on a stetch of road that even in bad weather, isn't that difficult to negotiate."...so with 3+ wks otr job traning/ school I think it reasonable to say he shuld'nt have been over his head on such an easily negotiated road and I'm leaning towards him getting careless when he felt he had free reign with trainer asleep...and this is one of the risks of training a stranger,as you never really know what to expect...But it's all speculation without ...FACTS...

[Ridge Runner]

Classy quote from a so called " Admin ".....


:roll2:


Are you baiting ????

Baiting??? Not at all. Just calling 'em like I see 'em. You tried to make your case based on FALSE information. When called on it you failed to respond. Cdswan did respond and you wound up looking like a fool. I only pointed it out.

[ironeagle_2006]

I was a finishing trainer at my last OTR company. When I got a trainee they had been in OUR program already for 2 months. Now if I gopt one I was his last hope yet for the first week til I COULD TRUST THAT PERSON I WAS AWAKE IN THE JUMPSEAT WHEN THEY DROVE. However by week 3 if they made it that far since 80 did not with me I was in the bunk sleeping by then. Yes what happened here was a tradgety and that strecth of road is PISS POOR DESIGNED however by week 3 the trainee should have been able to get through there without an issue. There was something else that happened and has not been reported.

[dobry4u]

You know, that mentor/trainer must be a wreck as well. It is just an awful accident and my heart goes out to the family of the driver as well as the mentor/trainer.

[Ridge Runner]

I also wonder if OSHA will get involved it this? In other industries if there is a work related death they are all over it.

[Hawkjr]

i'm not to bash swift or anything but when i was in orientation for being a newbie they said for the first three weeks the truck will only operate as solo truck (the truck stops when the mentor goes to sleep).. now for week four through six the truck operated as a team.. my self i wouldn't of like that set up.. like it would suck to ask mentor joe while he's in the bunk sleep "hey joe am i going to 90 degree back this or 45" like if he's sleeping he's no use to me.. i rather be running by myself..

When i trained with the pumpkin i never drove while my mentor was in the bunk sleep.. he might of been in the bunk on his laptop but when ever he felt something wrong or seen something i wasn't doing right he'll jump right back into the passenger seat...

[BigDiesel]

Baiting??? Not at all. Just calling 'em like I see 'em. You tried to make your case based on FALSE information. When called on it you failed to respond. Cdswan did respond and you wound up looking like a fool. I only pointed it out.

Pot... kettle... Black...

[boneebone]

Still waiting for your answer as to why the so called " trainer " was in the bunk......

Oh and one other thing..... Swift does not have a reputable training progam either..... Didja ferget that little thing last spring when the Feds raided their school back east ????

Get your info straight before you post, The raid last year in Memphis was at a Swift school run by TDOT employees. The employees were the ones at fault, Swift was not at fault and was not being investigated.

Sure is funny how people like to post before they even know the truth.