It was that way when I was with Swift. 6 months, regardless of previous experience, with no accidents and only minor log issues and you could become a trainer.

In fact it was a major recruiting pitch when Swift came to the school I attended. The recruiter talked about how much more money we could make by "passing on what we learned".

 

I appreciate your encouragement, how ever I must correct you about the less than 1 year trainer statement:

Just showing you whats on Swifts new website - Maybe they do allow you to be a trainer after 6 months but this is what their website states.

 

I second what the others have said... The bad reputation revolves around the fire hose pace of the training, nasty run down training facilities and hotel(depends on location), and then the finisher training you are suppose to get with your trainer.

There are too many horror stories about lousy trainers running as teams and then letting new drivers take the fall when there is an accident or fender bender. Just watch your P&Q's and you will be fine. Just remember the goal is to get through the finisher training without problems so you are in your own truck.

The real issue revolves around how big Swift is and the presence they have on the road. One bone head driver and everyone assumes all Swift drivers are the same. It isn't fair and it is just a stigma that Swift drivers have to live with. Sounds like your getting alone well in training. BOL

Longsnowsm

 

That would be a short day for me, and many drivers out there. Only 11.5 hours plus an hour or two of homework? You still have at least a half hour before you need to take your 10 break!

I need you to write on the chalkboard there "Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty" 100 times.

-p.

 

CHALK BOARD


"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"
"Work 100 hours, log 70, and get paid for forty"


See - I'll make a great Swift Company Driver - I do what I'm told with a smile on my face. 8) - or is that a smirk?

 

No sir, its not the best way to learn. The only correct way to train a new driver is for the trainer or as in my case the title is "Finisher"... to be in the jump seat at all times when the student is driving, and the trainer is logged on line 4 during those times. At no time during a students training cycle do I or one of my peers go into the sleeper berth while a student is driving.

All the mega companies are doing with that "turn and burn" as you call it, is use you for "cheap labor"....and give you some fairly "half-assed" mediocre training. Don't kid yourself about your trainin... I've been there and done it, and frankly...its a truly "half-assed" way to train a new driver.

And frankly....some of the trainers/mentors for the mega carriers are "truly half assed" as well.... If you had any idea how many times I have held "mini-seminars" for drivers from other companies because the new driver had not been taught by his or her "trainer" how to axle out a trailer, or what kingpin length they needed to be at for this state or whatever....

So before you slick your hair back and put on your "rose colored glasses", you might want to sit back and watch alittle while...and you'll see what we mean....

 

Yeah, uh huh, sure. If they wanted the best, then it would follow that they'd pay the best wages and have the best hometime. But that sure ain't the case.

Low cpm, HHG miles, training trucks dispatched as teams...no thanks!

 

I just got mine all done at Swift and I can tell you it was hell week. e busted our hind end every day and night it was tough. They let nothing easy go by. We was studying for our next test before we finished the one we was taking. I'm a certified Engineer and have never been in a class as tough as they was.

 

Ok don?t get me wrong I work for Swift and I like them. The school is not that hard. I mean please, you are just studying for a DMV TEST. The only really hard part was trying to stay awake when watching the videos. All you had to do was pay attention in class and study the DMV book and well that was it pretty much it. Now the driving part of class is different. Its not hard just well some folks pick up driving a tractor and trailer, and shifting faster then others.

Also ColdFrostyMug

The CPM is about same with the other companies. Yes I know there are other companies that pay more but average about same. As far as trainers being dispatched as team trucks that is changing, The new CEO is starting to turn this company around. But like any thing it takes a little time. But the HHG miles can suck not going to argue over that one. Home time I have no problem getting home none I go out for 3 to 4 weeks and stay home 3 to 5 days granted sometimes I might be a day before or a day after I wanted to be home , but well stuff happens sometimes

 

Your exactly right staying awake was rough with 4 people in a room and no sleep. But we didn't get a book to study we got a book some lady wrote they ran out of DMV books. So the one we recieved had nothing about air breaks or hazmat. I passed because I had done my permit in Ohio before going but of course it was no good there.