My 3rd Week With Swift

[Sarasdad91]

Well here I am at The end of Week # 3 and the good things that have happen are considerably less than the bad things but none the less here they are.

I have managed to get more backing in and thats what I needed the most and I am getting pretty good at it, I am handling the rigg alot better and have alot of confidence in my driving now, BUT am always safe, infact my mentor seems to think im too safe and that ticks him off for some reason,
I am learning the qualcom well and am using it without any mistakes so far, I know how to do a drop and hook now, I may be too safe but I never get us there late, swift trucks are governed at 65 MPH and if we are free willing down a mountain it can get up to 70 but this beeper gos off on the qualcom that monitors your speed and then I back off, ive been able to keep my speed under 66 for the most part so I am doing good there.

Now here are the bad things that have happen so far.

My mentor is getting harder and harder to deal with, if I do something to the slightest out of place he gets so angry and yells so loud, and I have been patient and tried not to yell back, he is so arogant and self centered that he thinks he can do no wrong, he he is a 20 some odd year OTR driver and thinks I can drive the truck as well as him atleast thats the way he treats my driving, he has no respect for the fact that I am a trainee, the other day he chewed me out for not closing the door all the way on the truck and I knew I didnt and was about to reopen it and close it again but he got his anger in before I could, and this time he yelled at me in public and drew attention to himself, He didnt make a fool out of me he did that to himself as everyone looked at him as if he was a jacass, I myself didnt say anything about it.

The next morning his arrogant think I can do no wrong attitude was smeared as when we were driving down the interstate and there was only 1 lane open as they were doing work on the other lane and there was a truck coming onto the interstate it was night time and it was his shift and if he had sped up he would have hit the truck if he had slowed down just a little the truck would have got on just fine with plenty of room, he chose to do neither and cut off the other truck and forced him into a ditch and we pulled over and he got out to check on the other driver he had too because even though he didnt hit that truck it was stil an accident by swifts rules. the other driver was so ticked off I thought that other driver was going to hit him in the face, but he didnt and although was very ticked off at us he just got into his truck and pulled off, this mentor thinks I am too safe and I would have slowed down to let the truck in as to avoid an accident, so I ask you does it seem as if I am too safe? I guess that after so many years of experience behind the wheel we all at some point think we can do no wrong behind the wheel but over confidence can be a persons enemy.

there are a few other things he has done I wont go into that were wrong, I will say one of them, I was in the top bunk when he drove from the drop point back to the depot which was 5 miles , when i asked him to let me get down before he left he just said no just stay where you are.

This last week over a small thing he got so pissed off at me and once even thtreatened to hit me on the head with his tire checker and that was the last straw I yelled back this time and he threaten to throw me off his truck, I told him its not your truck its swifts truck your just borrowing it, the only reason I put up with this is that I spend 4 days with him and get 3 days at home, otherwise I dont think I could do it.

THIS PERSON IN NO WAY REFLECTS SWIFT AS A COMPANY, SWIFT ITSELF HAS STILL BEEN GOOD TO ME, i DONT THINK THEY KNOW ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GO ON OUT THERE ON THE ROAD, i dont even know for sure if he reported that accident the other night to swift he may have I do not know though.

Well thats it for now, ill keep you all posted, I have 3 weeks till I am on my own do any of U think I can make it ? it doesnt seem possible but ill just give it my best anyway take care and maby ill se you out there.

[Xcis2]

I would have a talk with somebody at Swift about getting a new trainer. Threatening you with violence is completely unacceptable in my book. This obnoxious, over bearing jerk needs to be removed from the ranks of trainers. By keeping quiet, you will allow this jerk to be inflicted upon some other non-deserving soul. Do yourself and some future trainee a favor. That trainers time has long since expired.
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Probably not the best advice you will ever get but that is what I would do.

[MADLUX]

Report this guy, and get a trainer who will take care of you, if the next guy is an @ss hole, go get anther one. There is no reason that you should have to put up with that kind of treatment. You're there to learn a skill and make good money doing it, find a guy who will do that and you will be ready to go once you go solo.

[Rokk]

this is one reason swift mentors get a bad rapp. becuase no one will take the actions dto do anything about it. ( i am talking trainee's here)

if you dont report this guy, then what about the next person he gets on his truck.

Personallty i would beat the hell out of him, and take myself off the truck after calling the training coordinator at the terminal.

[Scoe]

Well here I am at The end of Week # 3 and the good things that have happen are considerably less than the bad things but none the less here they are.

I have managed to get more backing in and thats what I needed the most and I am getting pretty good at it, I am handling the rigg alot better and have alot of confidence in my driving now, BUT am always safe, infact my mentor seems to think im too safe and that ticks him off for some reason,
I am learning the qualcom well and am using it without any mistakes so far, I know how to do a drop and hook now, I may be too safe but I never get us there late, swift trucks are governed at 65 MPH and if we are free willing down a mountain it can get up to 70 but this beeper gos off on the qualcom that monitors your speed and then I back off, ive been able to keep my speed under 66 for the most part so I am doing good there.

Now here are the bad things that have happen so far.

My mentor is getting harder and harder to deal with, if I do something to the slightest out of place he gets so angry and yells so loud, and I have been patient and tried not to yell back, he is so arogant and self centered that he thinks he can do no wrong, he he is a 20 some odd year OTR driver and thinks I can drive the truck as well as him atleast thats the way he treats my driving, he has no respect for the fact that I am a trainee, the other day he chewed me out for not closing the door all the way on the truck and I knew I didnt and was about to reopen it and close it again but he got his anger in before I could, and this time he yelled at me in public and drew attention to himself, He didnt make a fool out of me he did that to himself as everyone looked at him as if he was a jacass, I myself didnt say anything about it.


The next morning his arrogant think I can do no wrong attitude was smeared as when we were driving down the interstate and there was only 1 lane open as they were doing work on the other lane and there was a truck coming onto the interstate it was night time and it was his shift and if he had sped up he would have hit the truck if he had slowed down just a little the truck would have got on just fine with plenty of room, he chose to do neither and cut off the other truck and forced him into a ditch and we pulled over and he got out to check on the other driver he had too because even though he didnt hit that truck it was stil an accident by swifts rules. the other driver was so ticked off I thought that other driver was going to hit him in the face, but he didnt and although was very ticked off at us he just got into his truck and pulled off, this mentor thinks I am too safe and I would have slowed down to let the truck in as to avoid an accident, so I ask you does it seem as if I am too safe? I guess that after so many years of experience behind the wheel we all at some point think we can do no wrong behind the wheel but over confidence can be a persons enemy.

there are a few other things he has done I wont go into that were wrong, I will say one of them, I was in the top bunk when he drove from the drop point back to the depot which was 5 miles , when i asked him to let me get down before he left he just said no just stay where you are.

This last week over a small thing he got so pissed off at me and once even thtreatened to hit me on the head with his tire checker and that was the last straw I yelled back this time and he threaten to throw me off his truck, I told him its not your truck its swifts truck your just borrowing it, the only reason I put up with this is that I spend 4 days with him and get 3 days at home, otherwise I dont think I could do it.

THIS PERSON IN NO WAY REFLECTS SWIFT AS A COMPANY, SWIFT ITSELF HAS STILL BEEN GOOD TO ME, i DONT THINK THEY KNOW ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GO ON OUT THERE ON THE ROAD, i dont even know for sure if he reported that accident the other night to swift he may have I do not know though.

Well thats it for now, ill keep you all posted, I have 3 weeks till I am on my own do any of U think I can make it ? it doesnt seem possible but ill just give it my best anyway take care and maby ill se you out there.

You sound like an enabler to me. Try telling a customer that the drivers in no way reflect the company that they drive for. Just as anyone who is subjected to domestic violence, you DON'T have to put up with this crap and neither does anyone else. Report it and get yourself another trainer, help the next trainee out.

Yeah, I know that you are just trying to get through training as quickly as possible but 6 months from now the extra few days to a week this is going to set you back will be long forgotten in the grand scheme of things. :wink:

Good Grief, Charlie Brown! This guy was yelling at you in public? Nope, no-way, no thanks, no how....just ain't happening! You've got to be a glutton for punishment to put up with abuse like that.

My first job as a team co-pilot was with a similar a-hole. A real dirtbag who bragged about smacking his live-in girlfriend around. Though he had a lot of mouth, he had little to back it up and one day I mopped up the dock with his face and threw him down a flight of stairs. Needless to say, that was the end of that particular gig. And gladly so.

Aaron Tippin sang it best, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything." If you give these guys an inch they'll take you for a country mile. And that's when a little introduction to Mr. Fist can turn the tables.

[danj_otr]

The best thing that you can do is get in touch with your terminal manager, request a new mentor, and file a written formal complaint. There is no guarentee that anything will happen when the complaint is submitted as the mentor I turned in is now an owner operator.

[Rokk]

the mentor /trainer is bound by guidelines and rules and policy. if they are broken its one thing, usually for action to be taken it has to be witnessed in perosn by another. even someone in a truck stop. thats willing to attest to the actions. i always enjoyed it when i was able to witness a mentor abusing a trainee, not because it was enjoyable,. but because i alone based on what i saw was able to weed out another bad trainer. and i did on a couple occassions.

if you like, i can scan and post a few pages of the mentor rules and guidelines for swift.

but suffice it to say right now. they are not allowed to abuse, scold, yell, scream or intimidate the trainee into feeling threatened or unsafe.

as a student, you can send a message to dispatch or coordinator. and immediately delete as soon as its sent, mentor will never know. after which you can remove yourself from the truck and someone will get you picked up or into a hotel. and a new mentor assigned. remember, its easier to have a witness to what happened so its not word against word.

many options and quite easy to get a new mentor.

remember, its worth a few extra days of training to get some quality training in my opinion.

[lifespalette]

Nope Sarasdad... you don't need to put up with that crap. Get on your cell phone and call the Director of Training, tell him what has happened and that you intend to file a written report and you want a new mentor. This guy isn't a trainer.........what's worse is that his threatening you with his tire thumper is considered assault.

Do yourself and the next trainee a favor and report his ass.

[keeso]

Well here I am at The end of Week # 3 and the good things that have happen are considerably less than the bad things but none the less here they are.

I have managed to get more backing in and thats what I needed the most and I am getting pretty good at it, I am handling the rigg alot better and have alot of confidence in my driving now, BUT am always safe, infact my mentor seems to think im too safe and that ticks him off for some reason,
I am learning the qualcom well and am using it without any mistakes so far, I know how to do a drop and hook now, I may be too safe but I never get us there late, swift trucks are governed at 65 MPH and if we are free willing down a mountain it can get up to 70 but this beeper gos off on the qualcom that monitors your speed and then I back off, ive been able to keep my speed under 66 for the most part so I am doing good there.

Now here are the bad things that have happen so far.

My mentor is getting harder and harder to deal with, if I do something to the slightest out of place he gets so angry and yells so loud, and I have been patient and tried not to yell back, he is so arogant and self centered that he thinks he can do no wrong, he he is a 20 some odd year OTR driver and thinks I can drive the truck as well as him atleast thats the way he treats my driving, he has no respect for the fact that I am a trainee, the other day he chewed me out for not closing the door all the way on the truck and I knew I didnt and was about to reopen it and close it again but he got his anger in before I could, and this time he yelled at me in public and drew attention to himself, He didnt make a fool out of me he did that to himself as everyone looked at him as if he was a jacass, I myself didnt say anything about it.

The next morning his arrogant think I can do no wrong attitude was smeared as when we were driving down the interstate and there was only 1 lane open as they were doing work on the other lane and there was a truck coming onto the interstate it was night time and it was his shift and if he had sped up he would have hit the truck if he had slowed down just a little the truck would have got on just fine with plenty of room, he chose to do neither and cut off the other truck and forced him into a ditch and we pulled over and he got out to check on the other driver he had too because even though he didnt hit that truck it was stil an accident by swifts rules. the other driver was so ticked off I thought that other driver was going to hit him in the face, but he didnt and although was very ticked off at us he just got into his truck and pulled off, this mentor thinks I am too safe and I would have slowed down to let the truck in as to avoid an accident, so I ask you does it seem as if I am too safe? I guess that after so many years of experience behind the wheel we all at some point think we can do no wrong behind the wheel but over confidence can be a persons enemy.

there are a few other things he has done I wont go into that were wrong, I will say one of them, I was in the top bunk when he drove from the drop point back to the depot which was 5 miles , when i asked him to let me get down before he left he just said no just stay where you are.

This last week over a small thing he got so pissed off at me and once even thtreatened to hit me on the head with his tire checker and that was the last straw I yelled back this time and he threaten to throw me off his truck, I told him its not your truck its swifts truck your just borrowing it, the only reason I put up with this is that I spend 4 days with him and get 3 days at home, otherwise I dont think I could do it.

THIS PERSON IN NO WAY REFLECTS SWIFT AS A COMPANY, SWIFT ITSELF HAS STILL BEEN GOOD TO ME, i DONT THINK THEY KNOW ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GO ON OUT THERE ON THE ROAD, i dont even know for sure if he reported that accident the other night to swift he may have I do not know though.

Well thats it for now, ill keep you all posted, I have 3 weeks till I am on my own do any of U think I can make it ? it doesnt seem possible but ill just give it my best anyway take care and maby ill se you out there.

Call your home terminal's fleet manager !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE
This 'mentor' needs to be thrown off the training program ASAP....email me if u want @ keesomastino@aol.com

[keeso]

this is one reason swift mentors get a bad rapp. becuase no one will take the actions dto do anything about it. ( i am talking trainee's here)

if you dont report this guy, then what about the next person he gets on his truck.

Personallty i would beat the hell out of him, and take myself off the truck after calling the training coordinator at the terminal.

THERE YA GO

[One]

I too get impatient with people that step on the brake to let everyone else go on- I admit it... I am actually convinced that if you step on the brake on the interstate unless theres no lane to pass or a mountain to descend, you screwed up. Reason: you need to anticipate traffic and condition changes better. Some will agree, eventhough I go too far.
The downside to being very careful: Once you are comfortable, you will take the same turn faster, safer, but unless you test to see what the truck can do, you will never find out and in an emergency situation, you will freeze or not have the skill to get yourseelf out of the mess because you havent practiced it....Just like a skidpad. If you dont get a chance to use one, you wont know what to do when you jacknife. Unless you lock up your brakes once in a while, you wont know how good they are and what to do when you slide a little.

[Sarasdad91]

This mentor happens to be good friends with the guy I need to make the complaint too, I bet thats why the mentor is friends with this guy, but none the less I am going to ask for another trainer and turn this guy in, besides my sister told me if I dont turn him in she will, I mean I cant be the only person this mentor has been verbally abusive too, after all he has been a mentor for years.and as far as what ONE wrote, as much as you feel that way about slowing down there are times when you need to, look what happen to this guy training me, he would not have ran that truck into a ditch if he had slowed down just a little, and I am going to find out if he reported it, I came to swift to be a tractor trailer driver not to be someones verbal punching bag. I have been very patient with this guy and his yelling, and the others that answered this thread are right, if I dont than I am subjecting another person too this treatment. Ill keep all of you posted as to what transpires.

[Rokk]

Very cool Sara, i will be looking forward to an update on this.

[keeso]

This mentor happens to be good friends with the guy I need to make the complaint too, I bet thats why the mentor is friends with this guy, but none the less I am going to ask for another trainer and turn this guy in, besides my sister told me if I dont turn him in she will, I mean I cant be the only person this mentor has been verbally abusive too, after all he has been a mentor for years.and as far as what ONE wrote, as much as you feel that way about slowing down there are times when you need to, look what happen to this guy training me, he would not have ran that truck into a ditch if he had slowed down just a little, and I am going to find out if he reported it, I came to swift to be a tractor trailer driver not to be someones verbal punching bag. I have been very patient with this guy and his yelling, and the others that answered this thread are right, if I dont than I am subjecting another person too this treatment. Ill keep all of you posted as to what transpires.

So here is a guy with PLENTY of experiance and a piss poor attitude. Hell yes- TURN THE GUY IN !!!!

[keeso]

I too get impatient with people that step on the brake to let everyone else go on- I admit it... I am actually convinced that if you step on the brake on the interstate unless theres no lane to pass or a mountain to descend, you screwed up. Reason: you need to anticipate traffic and condition changes better. Some will agree, eventhough I go too far.
The downside to being very careful: Once you are comfortable, you will take the same turn faster, safer, but unless you test to see what the truck can do, you will never find out and in an emergency situation, you will freeze or not have the skill to get yourseelf out of the mess because you havent practiced it....Just like a skidpad. If you dont get a chance to use one, you wont know what to do when you jacknife. Unless you lock up your brakes once in a while, you wont know how good they are and what to do when you slide a little.

This is off topic but still imo good stuff. I drive the gorge, sometimes twice a day and was telling a trainer friend of mine- when Im feeling good and conditions are right I can run it just about full blast. I commented I see Overnight, Epes drivers doing that all the time. Well and good, but yesterday morning I was coming back...conditions were surely not ideal...drizzle turning to steady rain. An epes rolled @ mm 451. Guy was so used to doing the full tilt boogie- must just not have had the sense to adjust his speed to the conditions...If I am tired or just dont feel 100% focused I cut my speed 5-10 mph...add rain(or worse snow)- well- one doesnt have to be too smart to slow a little more...

[keeso]

I too get impatient with people that step on the brake to let everyone else go on- I admit it... I am actually convinced that if you step on the brake on the interstate unless theres no lane to pass or a mountain to descend, you screwed up. Reason: you need to anticipate traffic and condition changes better. Some will agree, eventhough I go too far.
The downside to being very careful: Once you are comfortable, you will take the same turn faster, safer, but unless you test to see what the truck can do, you will never find out and in an emergency situation, you will freeze or not have the skill to get yourseelf out of the mess because you havent practiced it....Just like a skidpad. If you dont get a chance to use one, you wont know what to do when you jacknife. Unless you lock up your brakes once in a while, you wont know how good they are and what to do when you slide a little.

I think you are right on with this- An old timer for May trucking was telling me something similar awhile ago- he even said try out your jakes in the snow(under controlled conditions)

[lifespalette]

A test under trial is sometimes a good thing..........my first run out of Memphis with my trainer at Swift, we were headed to east NC on I40, of course just east of Ashville, there is that 6% grade......he hadn't okay-ed my use of the jakes yet..... half way down, even though I was in the proper gear, and was following his instructions to let it climb to 55 and then brake it back down to 45 - 48........the low air alarm went off, I told him I was pulling off the road onto the shoulder.... ... by time I had pulled it over and come to a stop the trailer brakes had popped............he just looked at me and said let's get out I want to show you something. We got out, I took the time to grab a cig and get my adrenaline level down. Walking around the trailer he asked what I smelled......I told him I could smell the brakes and hot rubber......right he said. The trailer brakes popped just before you came to a stop..........you did three things right, you made the right decision without asking me what to do, you signaled your intentions in spite of being in a fix and once you got on the shoulder you turned on your flashers, and you didn't panic. I wanted you to experience what happens when you run out of air, and now you know what it feels like and what to do........don't forget it. When you're ready, we can head on down the road with the jakes............at first I was rather pissed, I had already been down Donner once (using jakes) and although I swear I left indentions in the steering wheel, thought I had handled it fairly well.........the more I thought about what he had done and said, I realized his actions were in my best interest ........ the traffic was extremely light (early Sunday morning), the roads were dry, we had a load that was low center of gravity and not apt to shift on us, and he was confident enough in my abilities to handle it...........he wanted me to learn what he already was sure of......my abilities.

I think one thing would help the situation at Swift and every other company as well when it comes to the training process and that would be in cab cameras and microphones for the management to monitor what goes on out on the road. If the trainers knew they were being watched I thing their actions might be a whole world of difference.

Latter on headed to Larado, he said that whenever we were driving through any city on this run, he wanted me to stay in the right hand lane and get comfortable with cars and trucks merging into traffic. He further stated that he didn't want me using the brakes to let traffic in........I want you to learn to adjust your speed and anticipate merging traffic, you have the right of way being on the interstate, it's their job to merge not yours to let them in..........and with that being said you can be professional and position yourself to accomodate them merging. On the way back, he said now you can start getting over if you can to give them more room to merge.......

As I've said before, maybe I was lucky with my trainer at Swift, but he was an excellent trainer and took his job to heart. More than once he sent messages back to the load manager declining a particular load, with the reason that he was training somebody and driving a team situation wasn't training. It wasn't the till the fourth week that we started running a team schedule........and even then it was more an abreviated schedule..... I'd drive 8 then he'd drive 8 and then we'd shut down for 8.........I don't know how many times he would make the comment, if they don't like my method of training they can get someone else to do it.......I ain't in this for the extra money.......I do it cause I think you new drivers need someone to show you how it should be done and to make you the best driver possible for your jump to solo....end of story.

I've always thought one easy way to solve the training situation, would be for training units to have cameras and microphones installed in the cab so that management could monitor the process..........I'd be willing to beat the situation would change pretty quick, if trainers knew they were being watched.

[Xcis2]

Xcis, being a mean and devious s.o.b. when needs be, would buy a small tape recorder and tape this low class sorry excuse for a trainer. Pretty hard for even his buddy to back him up when you have documented his verbal abuse on tape.
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Micro cassette recorders are available at most truck stops [usually called "Dispatch Busters" or some such thing]. Others are available at Walmart, Kmart, Radio Shack and other retail stores.
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I wish he was on my truck right now. I would tape him, turn him in and try to get him fired or at least removed from the ranks of trainers, mentors or what ever you want to call him. The trucking industry would be better off without the likes of trainers like him. He should not be allowed to screw with another trainee in the future.

[OntheRoad2]

yep.good ol tape recorder.......thats all i will say...radio shack.noboday need to be yelled at.........very un professional.