[dennis in se pa]

Keep up the posts. You guys going through this and posting here are providing good info for those of us thinking about taking the plunge.

I am hearing good about crete and bad about schneider and swift as far the schooling. But I am a self teacher. The less time in school and the more on the road the better. WHich makes swift look good to me.

We can have the discussion about how long school should be but please let's not. In my team of computer professionals all the good ones were self taugh. I believe in getting your feet wet to learn the basics in a school environment. Then figure the rest out on your own.

To each his own.

respects,
Dennis in SE PA

[matcat]

I graduated Swift Acedemy of Richmond Tuesday, 9 of us came up to lancaster PA to do our DMV tests. I failed the 45 but passed the rest with flying colors. so today i go back to do the 45 today at DMV then orientation Monday.

[dennis in se pa]

Keep us up to date with your progress matcat. If you get near the Reading, PA area and would care to educate me about your experiences I would be happy to buy your lunch. I believe the PA drivers for Swift all go to Richmond, is this correct?
My email address should be in my profile.

[gordoUSA]

Southernpride:[/b]

Drive safe. Please keep us informed as to how you are doing and what your learning.
Good luck[/b]

[matcat]

yes if you hold a PA, NC, or VA license you go to Richmond. I passed the alley dock and got my CDL today. Now I am sitting in Wilkes Barre PA bus stop until Sunday when I catch a bus to orientation. They send you home for a few days after you get your CDL, but I gave up my appartment, so now I have to chill at the bus stop for 3 days

[southernpride]

Hey Guys....

I've been lazy lately here. I've been hanging around the hotel since wed. afternoon.... I got word this morning that my mentor is here and i will be getting on the truck this afternoon. FINALLY!!!! I've been waiting for this since day one it seems. I did get a little upset yesterday because people that arrived after me got mentors before me. BUT... my coordinator was trying to get me a flatbed mentor instead of van. Either way i dont care, cause i'll have to be with a flatbed mentor at one point for at least 2 weeks.

My mentor is a van driver, so i'll deffinatley have 2 mentors.... which to me is a good thing..... more knowledge to harvest!

I'll check in again soon...

Matcat- Congrats!!!!! See ya on the road brother.

[matcat]

i will be in reading later today on layover on my way to jonestown for orientation

[matcat]

I am in Jonestown, PA now for orientation. I will post to let all know how it is.

[gordoUSA]

Southernpride

Hey you've been gone 3 days! What working? LOL> Good for you.
Very interested how you're doing and everything about the flatbed division. Especially, about what percentage of the loads are tarped? And what is the current tarp pay?
I'm in Texas, so they have the "comfort zones," and was hoping to stay in the zone covering TX to CA. But not sure how much flatbed freight they would have running those directions. Any info you hear please pass on.
OK. Get back to work!
Good luck!

[southernpride]

WELL !!!! here's a TWIST..... sorry i didnt check in earlier, there would have too many 4 letter words for this post to make any sese.

On Friday morning, i was leaving the hotel to go meet my mentor, I get to the front desk to check out, at which point i'm told i'm not checking out but staying through the weekend. I tell the guy there is a mistake and he tells me to call my co-ordinator.... so i'm thinking, ok no big deal just a mix up..... WRONG. The mentor they assigned me was a non-smoker who does not take smokers even if they smoke off the truck, this i understand, but now i'm pretty hot. Then i get told i have to wait untill monday. OR i can take a 12 hour bus to go home (Greenville, SC to Savannah, GA) thats only a 4 hour trip. I was pissed.

So i got permission (and a PO#) and rented a car and went home for the weekend. Now the car had to be back today (monday) so i went ahead and came up here.... NO MENTOR! So i have to wait untill tomorrow..... EVERYONE i was with, has already got their mentor. I'm taking a good long hard look at CRST at this point. SWIFT is really pissing me off. I'm trying to do "the right" thing, but it's not going so well.....

SO.... BACK to square one... waiting in a hotel room.....for a mentor.

Gordo: From what i've been told there is no such thing as comfort zones in flatbed Div. Not sure how true that is... we'll see. Also from what i've been told, tarp pay is 25 per load, and about 50% of loads are tarped. The terminal you'd be running out of would be Pheonix, ans there is another poster on here that runs flatbed for swift out of pheonix. I was reading his posts.....

I'll check in again later.... hopefully i get a mentor tomorrow.... Right now it's back to the Colts and Jags game.... (like the Jags ever stood a chance?!?!?!) oh well.