Swift-O-Rama

[Phreddo]

I do remember hearing that swift was supposed to be pretty good about letting you fire your dispatcher and/or mentor.

i also heard that part of swift training is team driving with the mentor. At Schneider, they wanted the trainee to do like 70% of the driving, and neither one of us could be in the bunk while rolling. Of course, their road training could be as short as 2 weeks. I would not have made it if I had to do 6 weeks or 3 months or whatever it is swift does.

My trainer wasn't too bad, but he spoke very bad english (hard to communicate quickly), and he was a bit of a nervous nelly. I didn't mind working with him, but I was glad to be through that part quickly.

Whatever you do, do not commit to anything unsafe or illegal, especially to cover this chowderhead's slack.

[AC120]

jburd:

You hit "80+" on a down grade? Where was that? And the trainer's truck is governed at 72?

[repete]

as far as i know, that guy is still collecting workmans comp or something.

But again, are we really going to be bashing this dead horse again as to 'where the mentor should be' during the 42 days?? Do you really think that the mentor running the truck like a team the last week (when you should already know the basics, and know enough to watch your big azz, and know when to slow down, etc.) is really going to hinder your learning process afterwards? you get 10% of your training in the mentor's truck. the rest comes on your own after you leave his/her truck, learning on your own as you go.....something called "experience".

So tell me, what is the basic difference between the 90% learning on your own, and the mentor running the truck like a team truck the last week of training? (and dont tell me 'well the trainer is getting paid to train you...blah blah blah.....i said basic difference) fact is there is none. And if a newbie driver dont know enough to slow down for a rain slick road, then thats his own fault....and its just plain stupidity.

we dont need more stupid drivers on the road.

Kevin, you wouldn't be asking that question if you had been trained properly as in the "mentor" in the jump seat where he belongs! It's his truck and ultimately HE IS RESPOSIBLE for it AND YOU

[ForcedInduction]

jburd, contact your driver manager, report him and request a new trainer ASAP. He is using you as nothing more than a second log book. He is paid more to work as a trainer and sleeping in the bunk is sleeping on the job.

He needs to get canned, or at the very least get a PCR.

EDIT: I just read the rest and realized the situation is (mostly) resolved.

You hit "80+" on a down grade? Where was that? And the trainer's truck is governed at 72?

A truck last year had a dying VSS that would randomly jump to some ungodly number, the driver kept getting flagged for "excessively excessive overspeed".

[sportster65]

Yeah, you kinda of got hosed for a TE, Mentor, Trainer or whatever they are called now. A trainre will sit in the cab with you and be your second set of eyes and ears while you are learning the job. He should be hyper-aware of any impending trouble and be able to either talk you out of it or be able to grab the wheel if needed. If he is sleeping he is not training, my TE and I were in constant communication, he would ask me what I was seeing, how would i react to certain situations and how I felt, ie; do you need a break? Take a leak? etc. We would talk for about an hour at the end of the day and discuss what I did, did not do, or could improve on. MY TE time was very productive and I learned alot, by the last weeks I was running the show, and he was just an observer, I did all the macros, all the trip planning, and all the trip paks. When I had a week solid down all alone he cut me loose, and I was ready for the road, or so I thought.

Your first year is a learning experience, and hopefully you will get through this training and get out and on your own soon. And yes you can shower and eat as needed, I did without any problems, you just happen to be with a slob right now. hang in there.

[Windwalker]

as far as i know, that guy is still collecting workmans comp or something.

But again, are we really going to be bashing this dead horse again as to 'where the mentor should be' during the 42 days?? Do you really think that the mentor running the truck like a team the last week (when you should already know the basics, and know enough to watch your big azz, and know when to slow down, etc.) is really going to hinder your learning process afterwards? you get 10% of your training in the mentor's truck. the rest comes on your own after you leave his/her truck, learning on your own as you go.....something called "experience".

So tell me, what is the basic difference between the 90% learning on your own, and the mentor running the truck like a team truck the last week of training? (and dont tell me 'well the trainer is getting paid to train you...blah blah blah.....i said basic difference) fact is there is none. And if a newbie driver dont know enough to slow down for a rain slick road, then thats his own fault....and its just plain stupidity. .

It seems to me, that there was a little information posted on that thread that a number of seasoned drivers were not aware of, or didn't think about. Labeling it as a "Dead-Horse" will do nothing to prevent it from happening again. If that "Dead-Horse" preserves someone else's career, or even life, isn't it worth keeping the dust off of it? 15 years ago, Schneider had the lime-light, along with a few others. C R England has always been there. J B Hunt hasn't gotten rid of it all. And, right now, it seems to be Swift's era to be in the spotlight. And, under the microscope.

And, I have no idea just what idiot came up with the figure of 10% of the training in the trainer's truck. Actually, the classroom part of it is only about 10% of operating a truck safely. The majority of what you get that allows you to finish learning on your own comes from the trainer's truck, or at least, that's where it's supposed to come from. The classroom can not show you what it feels like to have the ABS engage. How it feels to have a little water on fresh blacktop, or a few other things. All you have to do us underestimate one of them, and just like the trainee in WA, you're career is over. Any idea just how many guys roll it over on a ramp during their first year? Do you know how many of them die or are maimed each year? How about the guys that run a wet road, then get into trees and can't understand why they've gone off the road? Do you know what makes that happen? But, it's all things a trainer can cover with you, and help you to preserve your own career. Winter is coming again, are you still going to refuse loads that have to run through snow covered conditions?

we dont need more stupid drivers on the road.

I take it you've filled out the quota...

[jburd]

Just a quick update on the road training......after I got things staight he changed,he's still a moron and that will never change....Any of you Swift pledges wanna know more pm me.

I finaled out on Friday the 7th.No problems...passed everything.
I made that yardbird a lot of money and saw nothing.He even had his DM route him so he could see his sister which kept me out an extra 5 days.
He enjoys his music at full volume which made it hard for me to sleep,but payback was sweet.I managed to keep him up also.After a couple of sleepless days/nights he took my lead and kept things quiet.

Now I am free of his stupid arse and going to run team with a guy I went to driving school with.It will be nice to be with another 50+ who acts 50+ instead of 17.

I may be wrong,but I don't think my mentor could pass a drug test to save his soul.A cup of coffee does not make you go from half asleep to wide awake in a few minutes....know what I mean?

Good luck to you new Swiftys out there.

[Flydragon]

Welcome to the Swift fraternity. Best advice I ever got when I came into this business came from a couple of older drivers I met in orientation for another company:

"Never be in a hurry to do anything in a truck." The only times I ever got into trouble was when I ignored that advice.

Good luck to you.

[cdreid]

This is what the companies want. Not just swift (they have their faults) but all of them.

When i was a trainer the guys who got a new trainee first were That Guy. Those of us who actually loved the training part had to wait. I only had one trainee ever who didnt thank me (sincerely). That one was the worst piece of garbage ive ever met. Aside from his constant whining (he would spend hours on my cell calling the company, bitching.. he even cussed out the head of our division and tried to get the owners number) check this out. I took him to Daytona beach. Truck literally had a view of the beach. Got a hotel. Loaned him 40 bucks. I come back to the hotel room he has some crack ***** there. Kick her out (nicely). When i backed out of the tinyass parking lot he bitched that i made him drive when we hit the interstate. Every single day he did something that made me want to KILL him but he never knew because i dont believe in teaching by screaming.

In training every trainee should remember this and LIVE by it:
Do not drive overtired. That doesnt mean you drive 3 hours at a shot. It means you DONT drive 13.
Your trainer can be ejected. The company hired you and wants you obviously. He can be replaced. BEST way is to tell him "this isnt working out man im gonna ask them to move me". Then call the company and tell them you want another trainer asap. They'll get you one. If he acts stupid tell him to shut up and that you'll be happy to get out NOW. IF you do the company will get you a hotel and a ride back dont worry.

DO NOT let ANYONE touch your logbooks EVER. You get a log violation in training your done. If he Asks you to and its reasonable fix it. If he wants to do your logs say No and that if he pushes it you'll move on. The company WANTS you as a driver. He wants you for cash. Im NOT saying never fix your logs or take over for him. Im Definitely not saying be a logbook nazi who rule lawyers his way out of doing his job.
What im saying is drive your 11. Insist on 8 hours of Uninterrupted sleep. If he pushes that change trainers.

Look you have a long career ahead of you. Dont start it off taking risks and being pushed around as someones b*tch. And that isnt an insult i was like you and had exactly that kind of trainer (who is now my best friend ironically). Its your life we're talking about. You're worthwhile and frankly.. your CDL looks JUST like his does

[Voyager]

....my TE and I were in constant communication, he would ask me what I was seeing, how would i react to certain situations and how I felt, ie; do you need a break? Take a leak? etc. We would talk for about an hour at the end of the day and discuss what I did, did not do, or could improve on. MY TE time was very productive and I learned alot, by the last weeks I was running the show, and he was just an observer, I did all the macros, all the trip planning, and all the trip paks. When I had a week solid down all alone he cut me loose, and I was ready for the road, or so I thought.....

And I'll be willing to bet you're a safe and successful driver to this date because of this. There is no substitute for a good mentor, and, as rare as they are, you had one!