Profile For Richard

Yea every once in a while I get lucky and someone is slower than me. Kinda one of the reason for wanting to go o/o wanting to be able to run at a safer speed than 62/63 especially anywhere other than west sea board lol. And I'm getting tougher skin while with swift so I'm used to the jokes, what bugs me when people label all swift drivers badly because of the few bad apples out there. And yea I follow you on that scenario, now I understand that pre and post trip is only for what we can see and last I checked I'm not superman and don't have xray vision so I got you on that. Thanks OS again this is why I come here for advice.

OS that is why I come here for advice and not some forum on fb that would no sooner bash me for being a swift driver than help me, you guys actually help and I thank you for that from the bottom of my heart thank you.

I actually don't have a problem running with swift and the pay has been ok to decent, my dm is awesome she doesn't let me sit unless I ask for home time or absolutely have to take a 34 on the road and then she puts a loaf that had the time in where I can.

Yea that's what I heard from a few of the o/o's around the terminals and spa that when you need it the most it won't be there. Now I'm going to ask this and please don't take it as smart ass or rude because I have no other way to ask it, but isn't that what the pretrip and post trip inspections are for that the instructors and safety guys beat into our heads supposed to prevent? I know that is checking to make sure that you are road ready and safe but I also thought it was to also help with identifying problems early before they get bad. (Like I said please don't take that won't way I doesn't mean it to be disrespectful sounding I meant it as more input from the wise sages to fill in anywhere I have gaps in my information.)

Again thank you Old School for all the knowledge you have bestowed on me in my questions and forum rants.

One more question, this goes back to an older post I put it on here, when I am changing lanes from passing another truck I wait until I can see the entire truck in my right side mirror before I start moving back over. Is that enough distance or should I wait longer to move over. If I counted correctly is about 4 seconds gap between us.

So I'm starting to do research into becoming an O/O and I was wondering if I could get some advise on this, I thought about posting this else where but I trust the advice I get here and I don't feel like a failure because I currently drive for swift.

1. How long did you wait till you got your first truck? And by wait I mean how long did you run the trenches of company driving and/or just getting your road experience.

2. What would you recommend? I have only driven a 2013 Volvo (current rig) and a 2015 KW for extended periods of time, not including the trucks I drove in training.

3. What optional upgrades should I absolutely need or can't live without while on the road?

That's all for now like I said I'm just starting the research on this, and I plan on going through a dealership to get the truck and not going through lease/op through the company.

Thank you guys in advance for your information and wisdom.

Well then put some bad boy points on my csa because I'm have fun all the time Even when I'm getting made fun of for being a swifty

Just cuz you have a permit in one state don't make it legal in all states correct? I mean don't you have to register it if you move to another state.... If that's the case you would have to have a permit in all 48 states just to be legal.... I didn't mention the company rules because it will be made clear when this person starts working for a company and then there's shippers and receivers as well a lot of them don't allow weapons on their property and just because you have it locked up in a box your still breaking the rules

Actually a lot of states recognize other states ccw permits, and legally you can carry the weapon, as far as government laws go not company policies or shippers, if the weapon is locked up and the ammo is locked up and not accessible from the front compartment of the vehicle you can transport. But like I said government rules not the company or shippers rules in quoting.

Personally there are a few legal no matter where self defense items out there that are easily caked around on like key rings or in your case in your purse, if you carry one, or like my wife who has 19 different purses but doesn't use any of them It drives me nuts

Thank you all for the feedback and yes looking back on it I am at fault and now know how to correct my mistake I made. Thank you Pat and Old School for helping me realized where I messed up, I hope to one day be where you guys are in level of skill and it's the little things like this that will prevent big bad things happening later on.

Thank you I will take that to heart and not worry about the person pushing me when it's truly safe I will move out of their way thank you for the response Pat I appreciate it. But it did eventually turn into a a lashing because I drive a swift truck and every driver on a cb in range chimed in their opinions on how they feel about me. It just doesn't seem right to me that someone trying to learn and get experience should be treated so harshly, guess I just have a different outlook on things. But again thank you for the knowledge I never thought about the what I'd in that situation, and now no matter what I will remember to do that.

So I won't sugar coat this at all, but I have a small issue and I would like an honest opinion or two or however many want to come in. I drove for Swift earning my experience and knowledge steps in this industry. I never trained with Swift so I don't understand or know their training routines but that's the one I hate the the most, Sure Wish I Finished Training.

I have always been told to get anywhere in life you have to start somewhere and I am grateful to Swift to give me the chance to earn my stripes on the road. My issue is, what does everyone have against starter companies like this and against drivers that are trying everything they too learn and grow in an industry? Just today because I missed the timing of a gear shift going slightly up hill the truck I was passing passed me back, then when we crested the hill and I got back to speed I passed him. As I was passing him an intermodal truck rode my back doors close enough I wanted to ask him what my reefer temp was at on the door.

I checked my mirror on the right saw I had enough to get over and get out of the bumper rider's way so I moved over and probably had about 10 feet between me and the truck I passed and opening up in distance because i was still going faster than the other truck by about 3 mph, all of sudden the insults about being a swift driver got called out and how I should drive off the nearest bridge to save themselves from me.

My question is this what do some drivers or people in general have against the rookies trying to make it in the industry? I mean hasn't everyone been a rookie before and work their way up? Or are the vets that I try to learn from and have been doing this for years just born in the driver's seat and never started where I did and have to work my way up? Thank you for your time and opinions. ..... and Brett just made my first run into New York and I have to say some of the drivers up here driving 4wheel are suicidal when it comes to shifting lanes.

Good Luck! I think being a little nervous is a good thing because it will keep you on your toes. And while I haven't started school yet, I will impart one piece of wisdom Old School always gives...Don't hit anything!!!!!

That's the plan and the reason I joined this site, for the pearls of wisdom that everyone will be able to offer me because like I said before in older post left 20 years of computers to do this. So I will be relying on every bodies advice and insight to succed. Thanks Jolie.

So I just arrived at CRST and I will not lie I'm freaking nervous as hell. But I'm ready for it just gotta keep my eyes and ears open wish me luck guys.