Bull Sh*t !! On day one of school over half of our class washed out the first day with reasons ranging from traffic infractions within the last 5 years, to high blood pressure, including people that stated that they smoked weed in the last three years. They also put you thorough a training schedule that is NOT for the faint of heart. You are up a 5:30 am - in the van by 6:30 am and get done with school at 5 pm , with homework assigned for the night - About an hour or 2 worth, first four days. 6 hour day on Saturday starting at 5:30 am. (I am the 1st week in on a 3 week intensive at the Truck Driving Academy in Sacramento.)
Swift don't care as long as you get through training. I got a room mate from the roll over from the class that started the week before me. Reason? The instructor didn't think he was ready yet. Did he take the practical and Skills test yet? No. Reason? The instructor didn't think he was ready yet - what my room mate told me. Why? He had the parallel and dock backing down and the last day before the test he ran the maneuvers one last time and blew the parallel parking bit and his instructor put him over for an additional week to perfect his skill to the level of confidence.
5 other students were rolled over for an additional week to make sure they had the material down pat. Cost for the additional week including hotel room? ZERO.
So, to all you nay sayers concerning Swift and their supposed
mentality? Sorry, but you are totally mistaken. The Schools care and so Does Swift!!! The Swift employee is the one that chopped more than half the class before we even got started. Chad may have seemed like an arrogant ass, but I can definitely see the psychology behind his act. Swift only wants the best of the best driving for Swift. Trust me, Swift could fill all those empty tractors if they accepted the unfit, in a heart beat, but Swift really cares about who they hire. (I am one of them - so far)
AND A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO PHIL WARD!!! GREAT TEACHER AND VERY THOROUGH. HIS WELL TIMED ANECDOTES HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WHEN HES TRYING TO MAKE A POINT. - So much in fact that on some of the written exam questions, taken at the CA Dept of Motor Vehicles, I could almost hear his voice and the anecdotes he used to make sure the information stuck. 8)
Kudos to My recruiter Robbie and the VP of operations Diana for not white washing the truth to trick the students. (Is TDA perfect? No. They're human and have room for improvement, but what company doesn't? My only complaint is that they could make sure the shuttle is a bit more consistent in their pick up time. 6:20 breakfast at the hotel is ready, pick up can be any where from 6:30 to 6:45 - not enough time to eat breakfast if your still groggy.)