More than 1,000 drivers must take test again
#41
01-18-2009, 09:03 PM
I was interpreting it as many drivers had lost control and not just Swift drivers but that Swift drivers were probably fired because of their lack of quality training, hence my questioning of the stated results being the same, was it fair to say that the Swift drivers lost control due to lack of quality training and probably would be fired but not so for the other carrier drivers because they did not have the same training as Swift drivers.
Clearly the article sited the problems were from CDL testing practices. I do not believe part of the CDL tests would include winter driving skills unless it was taken during the winter. May I call your attention to the part you did not quote?
Not long ago, and I'm sure your remember it, we had a thread about a Swift trainee that died in WA while the trainer was in the bunk. From the things I posted on that thread, you now know better than to hit water on the road at highway speed. You're going to slow down to go through it. Did Swift or their trainer touch on that with you?
I've had several of my trainees come back after about a year and tell me that our conversations during training had saved their butts in freezing rain. One told me about the road with trees on the south side, and remembering what I told her, she slowed down for it, but the truck about half a mile behind her didn't and went off the road. I trainer her in the middle of July. No ice roads to give her any experience. Another one told me about getting to the top of a hill with no problem at all, while a dozen other trucks were spun-out half way up. She said she broke traction a couple of times on the way up, but was able to go around everybody else and make her delivery on time. I stopped training in about '02, and as of last August, the last word I've gotten, not one of my trainees has ever been involved in a accident of any kind, regardless of weather. And, I know that one still has a dedicated run from Central Wisconsin to Vancouver, BC. I also did not spend any time in the bunk while they were driving. The running conversations we had were about driving, and situations that they may face as well as how to "READ THE ROAD". That's all part of the training process.
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#43
01-19-2009, 12:41 AM
I believe it's "Bentstrider" (sorry if I'm wrong) that posted he had an accident and now Swift doesn't know him. There was another driver from TX that had the same experience with Swift a couple of years ago. I also had a roll-over back in '98. The company looked at the circumstances and put it down as non-preventable. It doesn't even show up on my DAC. But, it also was not due to ice roads, but a drunk driver in a commercial vehicle. But, it appears that Swift will not cut any slack regardless of circumstances. And, if they did not cover driving in bad weather during training, they have no right to expect you to know about it. Or did they tell you to simply park the truck when the roads get bad? In that case, Kevin0 is doing exactly what he should be doing and refusing to go into areas where the roads may be slick.
May I call your attention to the part you did not quote? It would seem that what I explained during training worked for them. No, we did not have a chance to drive on icy roads, but the conversation during training clued them in on what to do. Did your training include any of that? Do they say anything about standing water on the roads? Why not? The trainer does not get to say much from the bunk. It's bottom line $$$ before human life. That's simply wrong. If they do not teach you, they have no right to expect you to know. And, they have to right to terminate you if they expect you to run in winter weather and their training program was lacking. I stopped training in about '02, and as of last August, the last word I've gotten, not one of my trainees has ever been involved in a accident of any kind, regardless of weather. And, I know that one still has a dedicated run from Central Wisconsin to Vancouver, BC. I also did not spend any time in the bunk while they were driving. The running conversations we had were about driving, and situations that they may face as well as how to "READ THE ROAD". That's all part of the training process. I hear you, Windwalker. And to be fair to my mentor, we had such conversations about being road-wise and the like. I also have his cell number and am free to call (and do) any time I like to ask advice. He does not get compensated for taking my calls, thus no $$$$. What I think needs to be clarified in this thread is that the article referenced in the original post was about CDL testing. While there is training taking place in "CDL Schools", it is no where near as comprehensive as the training that is/should be done when training a new driver as a company driver. The unfortunate students that went through the school and took the skills tests that were improperly administered have a hardship at hand, as noted by shykatt's post. It is also interesting to note that the errors in testing procedures were the only noted discrepancies found during the FBI's investigation, as noted in cdswans' post. At least that is what I got out of the article. If this thread is also a place to discuss Swift's driver training methodologies, then perhaps it would be more enlightening to the readers that aren't aware of the difference in CDL school training and the more comprehensive hired driver training to bridge the gap and relate them. So far, I haven't been able to note this in the dialogs presented.
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#44
01-19-2009, 04:08 AM
Now we're getting somewhere. If your yard predates the opening of the new exit, I understand completely. It is perfectly understandable that you would harbor a little animosity. I'm pretty sure that, at one point, the Sumner cops had shoot to kill orders if they found a wayward Swift truck wandering their restricted routes. Fences were lost. Fire hydrants were lost. Guard rails, lawns, and landscaping were lost. But the town isn't without a little culpability of it's own. That whole area went to hell with Swift and Costco going in ahead of the infrastructure which lagged sorely behind.
The detours were tight and a little unforgiving in and of themselves but Swift compounded that problem by providing horrible directions to get to the terminal. I lucked out. My first trip through was in my car and, as lost as I got, I was able to see first hand there were lots of places you probably shouldn't bring a truck. I think my first time outbound on the northern route, a Swift Driver stopped on the corner where that little brown store was, turned on his flashers, stopped traffic in 4 directions, went in and went about his business. He was in and out in 5, like it mattered. That little stunt tied up traffic for at least an hour. So, there I was, an innocent bystander (in a very similar truck) and every bit as much of a victim and I have people giving me the finger! When I started, you could still come in from the southside and through the town. But, before the new ramp opened, Sumner decided they'd had enough trucks come through and they restricted that route, putting more trucks on the really rotten northside route. By that time, I was done with the regional stuff and off to see the country but because I was based out of Sumner, I got all the warning messages about where and where not to go . . over and over and over. So, we destroyed one of your trucks and diminished the quality of life in your neighborhood. Is that all you've got, whiner? i avoid that town as if it's the plague. crappy parking and what not keeps my ass away. the last time i was there, i was there for a week. took the 4th of july week(end) off, hung out with relatives from beaverton, went to burnside skatepark, had a religious-like experience there, headed over to bar of the gods after hitting up burnside, slammed down a few shots of rum and vodka, ate some delicious food there, chatted up some tattooed ladies, went over to my cousin's house, and some friends even came down from the sea-tac area. it was a joyous 4th of july week(end) for sure. :thumbsup::thumbsup:
#45
01-19-2009, 05:38 AM
Having said that, the personal attacks and name calling in this thread need to stop now.
#46
01-19-2009, 07:13 AM
Having said that, the personal attacks and name calling in this thread need to stop now
[Remainder of post deleted by author to avoid getting banned!] :hellno:
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#47
01-20-2009, 05:58 AM
This is so frustrating; we just got back from the cities where he has to go back again tomorrow and take all his tests all over again, then schedule an appointment for the road test, which means we have to find a truck/trailer(hopefully his company will allow him to use theirs); NOT TO MENTION all the lost wages and FRIGGING AGGREVATION!!!! You all can argue about sensless crap on here all you want to, I thought the point of this thread was about RE-TESTING- if this hasnt happened to you, then shut your mouth, b/c you have no room to talk. For those of you that give a damn, or are going through this same thing, might be a good time to seek legal advice, at the very least that company owes you for lost time/pay.
 issedoff:issedoff:issedoff:
#48
01-20-2009, 03:48 PM
This is so frustrating; we just got back from the cities where he has to go back again tomorrow and take all his tests all over again, then schedule an appointment for the road test, which means we have to find a truck/trailer(hopefully his company will allow him to use theirs); NOT TO MENTION all the lost wages and FRIGGING AGGREVATION!!!! You all can argue about sensless crap on here all you want to, I thought the point of this thread was about RE-TESTING- if this hasnt happened to you, then shut your mouth, b/c you have no room to talk. For those of you that give a damn, or are going through this same thing, might be a good time to seek legal advice, at the very least that company owes you for lost time/pay.
issedoff:issedoff:issedoff:So...You Hubby is one of those from Millington TN?? Have you considered contacting Dave Berry at SWIFT, to see if the company is going to be of any assistance with the situation? Send him a certified letter, describing the additional monetary hardships this is thrusting upon the two of you and your children. Report back to us. AND YES....I am being serious here.
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#49
01-21-2009, 12:42 AM
So...You Hubby is one of those from Millington TN??
Have you considered contacting Dave Berry at SWIFT, to see if the company is going to be of any assistance with the situation? Send him a certified letter, describing the additional monetary hardships this is thrusting upon the two of you and your children. Report back to us. AND YES....I am being serious here. I would imagine that with the amount of drivers involved, that there are attorneys lining up to do a class action suit against the testing company and any others implicated. :thumbsup:
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Last edited by dobry4u; 01-21-2009 at 03:40 AM.
#50
01-21-2009, 01:49 AM
1,200 CDL holders from Georgia; 1,300 from Tennessee; possibly 5,000 nationally; Dave Berry says "sorry" and that they only need to retake the skills test; Kentucky says "vision, written, and skills tests."
More here: http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2009/Jan09/011909/012009-01.htm Read it and draw your own conclusions. Hmm . . . class-action lawsuit? Maybe. "Suite"? Probably not. |
