[RaiderNation]

Well, just got home last night from getting my CDL in Salt Lake City. I went through the Swift program. It's really the Salt Lake Community College that has the program, swift just pays for it (you pay them back over time). Three weeks of hotel living was not my idea of fun, but i got through it, and now I have my CDL. I go back up there next week for orientation and then I hit the road for 6 weeks with a mentor.

I had little to no internet access so I wasn't able to provide updates while i was there.

The school itself was very very crammed. Teaching someone to drive a truck in such a short period of time is no easy task. Here's a quick and dirty breakdown.


Week 1:

Monday - spent the day at swift, took our physicals, drug tests and workwell test.

Tuesday - First day at Salt Lake Community College. Spent the entire day studying for our permit tests.

Wednesday - spent the day again studying for permit tests

Thursday - Got my permit

Friday - spent the entire day learning about log books and how to use them, driving time laws (14 hour, 11 hour, etc. )

Saturday - Spent the day in the little range they have practicing backing skills. Really we only did it for about 4 hours. Only did straight line backing and sight side parallel parking. Both were easy for me to do.

Sunday - Day off... watched football

Week 2

Spent monday through thursday driving around salt lake city and surrounding areas, learning to shift and turn and all that good stuff.

Friday we learned about trip planning, no time in the trucks that day

saturday was more backing.. but for only about 4 hours again. did blind side parallel and alley docking

sunday was another day off.

Week 3

monday - we did our backing tests.. only 8 hours total with backing practice and they wanted us to take our backing tests. i passed, had some trouble with the alley dock.. couple pull ups.

tuesday - we did a bit of mountain driving. went down a canyon with 6% grades.. that was fun. i didn't get to drive today because there wasn't enough time. sucked.

wednesday - pre trip test, easy test. i missed 6.

thursday - road test.. wasn't too bad, i got knocked 13 points.. but passed.

friday - morning i got my cdl, afternoon i went home.


So that's the quick and dirty of it. my total driving and training time was only 70 miles in the 5 days we were on the road. pretty ridiculous.. but there were 4 of us in the truck and we had to take turns. i can drive a truck without much of a problem. alley docking will be a source of trouble for a while, but it'll come with time.

[Useless]

Welcome back, R/N!! And good on ya'!! :rock:

[larryh31]

Originally Posted by RaiderNation

I can drive a truck without much of a problem. alley docking will be a source of trouble for a while, but it'll come with time.

Congrats on getting your CDL Your backing will improve with time. Just remember to keep safety as your top priority. G.O.A.L, pull ups are free in the real world and don't be to proud to ask for help if necessary.

[fetterski]

I'm just wondering how that works,I'm going to one of the best schools for training. and the Swift recruiter was there last Thursday and told us if we go with them we have to be with a mentor for 8weeks. basically run team for them. yet you only have to run 6weeks with a mentor.

[Useless]

Originally Posted by fetterski

I'm just wondering how that works, I'm going to one of the best schools for training. and the Swift recruiter was there last Thursday.....

:shock: A Quick Question For You, Fetterski;

If you are attending one of the best training schools, then why in the world would you want to begin your driving career with Swift?? There are much better companies out there!!
:?

[fetterski]

Originally Posted by Useless

:shock: A Quick Question For You, Fetterski;

If you are attending one of the best training schools, then why in the world would you want to begin your driving career with Swift?? There are much better companies out there!!
:?

[Useless]

:?: :?: Huh?? :?

[fetterski]

I think i screwed the last reply up. anyway, There is no way in hellllll i would ever drive for Swift. I was just stating what the recruiter had said, besides my brother would turn over in his grave if i ever did.

[Useless]

Originally Posted by fetterski

I think i screwed the last reply up. anyway, There is no way in hellllll i would ever drive for Swift. I was just stating what the recruiter had said, besides my brother would turn over in his grave if i ever did.

Okay, Gottcha'!!

I think that the reason Swift would not allow a trainee to drive out west is due to the heavy winds that a Swift truck is exposed to when driving through West Texas, New Mexico, or Arizona.

Those heavy winds are caused by the real trucks who pass Swift trucks as they creep along at 62MPH in states with 75MPH speed limits!!
:P

[mikey4069]

Originally Posted by Useless

Okay, Gottcha'!!

I think that the reason Swift would not allow a trainee to drive out west is due to the heavy winds that a Swift truck is exposed to when driving through West Texas, New Mexico, or Arizona.

Those winds are caused by the real trucks who pass Swift trucks as they creep along at 62MPH in states with 75MPH speed limits!!
:P

:lol: :lol: thats just to funny useless