Headed to Swift
 

Hello,

I have been lurking for a few weeks now while I have been trying to get accepted to a trucking company. It took over a month but I am finally going to Swift in Tennessee on the 9th. Is there anybody who has been to the school there that knows what its like? It took so long because I have not worked for over 2 years as I have been a stay at home dad while the wife worked. I have appreciated reading these forums as a way to prepare for life on the road. I was Navy for 6 years so being away from home is nothing new to me.

Swift Training
 

Do an archives search using "swift training" here, at layover.com/lounge, truck.net, newbiedriver.com. You should get something. You may also want to use MS Carriers Training as the Swift school was the old MS Carriers site before Swift bought 'em. BOL

Re: Headed to Swift
 

Did you have to provide additional information to prove you stayed at home? What all was required besides application to get accepted if you don't mind. I am in same situation and not worked in past 15 years. Last child left the nest this summer.

You will generally need at least two letters that verify what you have been doing during a period of long unemployment. Swift recruiters often forget to mention that, and I've seen too many potential drivers have to go home to get supporting paperwork and then return to Memphis weeks later.

Swift is not a bad company to start off with, they can and will give you a migrane at times, but they have their good moments. There were times I made fabulous money with them, and times when I swore I was going to starve to death. It's all what you make of it.

The schooling itself could be greatly improved... I attended the Swift Academy in Millington, TN (Memphis), and I will be frank with you... you will not learn anything other than how to pass your CDL test. Learning to be a professional driver is something charged to your mentor during your additional six weeks of training on the road. It is IMPERATIVE that you get a quality mentor and feel that you are learning from him/her. Your first year will be *HARD* - but stick it out and generally between 10-12 months in, everything starts to gel in your mind and you realize it's not that bad - or you find out it's not for you and you go home.

Thanks for the responses. Yes I only had to get two signed papers stating that I was a stay at home dad.

anybody else going to the swift in tennesee on the 9th?

Re: Headed to Swift
 

I'm sorry.

Pay for your own training, you'll be better off.

Re: Headed to Swift
 

Maybe someone can explain why Swift is so bad. All I hear is pissing and moaning about how bad a certain company is. Based on all the negative things I read one might think that EVERY Swift driver is a heap waiting to happen. I just find that hard to believe. I guess what I'm getting at is if Swift is as bad as some say then it would follow that all their drivers are crappy drivers? Maybe someone that has the negative things to say can be more specific and state facts rather than general statements. Speaking for myself, I'm a quick learn and take responsibility for my own personal learning curve. That being said, Is it possible for someone that has his shit together to go to a Swift school and become a decent safe driver?

Re: Headed to Swift
 

Maybe someone can explain why Swift is so bad. All I hear is pissing and moaning about how bad a certain company is. Based on all the negative things I read one might think that EVERY Swift driver is a heap waiting to happen. I just find that hard to believe. I guess what I'm getting at is if Swift is as bad as some say then it would follow that all their drivers are crappy drivers? Maybe someone that has the negative things to say can be more specific and state facts rather than general statements. Speaking for myself, I'm a quick learn and take responsibility for my own personal learning curve. That being said, Is it possible for someone that has his shit together to go to a Swift school and become a decent safe driver?

I'm going with Swift in TN too :wink:

Get in touch with Rokk on the boards.. He'll give you a no bullshit run down on Swift he's awesome :)