Profile For Pokey

Everyone I've dealt with at Swift has been great, and they've all been honest also, which is a big deal to me. I've still got a few days to kick things around, nothing's set in stone until I show up at Orientation somewhere. I could still very well be at Swift Orientation on Tuesday.

Well after re-reading my post I can see how you fellas would take it as a dissing on swift. When I said Swift has always been a stepping stone, I meant that when I got into this I viewed Swift as a stepping stone for my career. I have no ill views of swift or their drivers. One of my Instructors at Swift had been a company driver for 10 years and an O/O with them for 5 years before becoming and instructor, he loved the company and it's where he'll finish his career. I know Swift has a ton of drivers that call it their home, It irks me when people on post all the Swift accidents and give them hell. Swift is the biggest trucking company in the US, of course they're going to have more accidents than anyone else, it's simple math. I'm just looking at Melton because I may be a better fit for me. And yes they have a Tuition Reimbursement program and a sign on bonus that should help with the sting of owing Swift all that money.

Pokey's original question'

The only thing I'm not clear on is whether or not I'll need my certificate from Swift.

I'm not speaking for Melton, but generally your training certificate is your only written proof of your 160 hour course. Swift will keep that in a file until you pay them your tuition fee.

Now Melton might pass on a "hiring bonus" that will cover Swift's charges.

Errol, Thanks for answering my question.

I don't see where I've dissed Swift at all, Like I said their training is great, I just didn't see Swift as a career company for "myself", I went to Swift for the training and because they're one of the few companies who pay their trainees more than a mere pittance. I just see Melton as somewhere I can potentially spend my career, I'll know for sure after a year or so. I understand how Swifts reimbursements work, I'm saying if I choose not to work for Swift, the loan contract gives you 13 months to pay the amount in full.

I don't feel I wasted my time with Swift, I went through their training and obtained my CDL, Melton doesn't have a student program, they just accept recent trucking school grads, and train them for flatbed and OTR.

A lot of the companies that I've applied to require your transcripts, I guess if they have proof that you went to a school it lowers their insurance.

So I just graduated from Swift Academy last Friday, due to an error on the 3rd party examiners part it took me a couple of extra days to get my hands on my CDL, which pushed my Swift orientation back another week. Which left me time to start looking at other companies and other options. I've looked at Swift as a stepping stone since day one, and I enjoyed the academy, if you paid attention and did what the instructors told you, everything worked. But looking at the company itself, I didn't see it as a place I could spend my career.

So after talking to numerous friends and neighbors who've worked for companies that are a little more local to me, I put in an application to Melton, within a day the recruiter touched base with me and yesterday we got me scheduled for Orientation.

The only thing I'm not clear on is whether or not I'll need my certificate from Swift. I've read my contract over and over and the only thing it really says is that I have 13 months from the 10th day of the following month after training to pay my loan for schooling, I understand that I have monthly obligations to keep from going into default, but swift is financing the note @ 0%. Which means I should be able to obtain my certificate/transcripts before the note is paid right?

I have every intention of paying the note, It's just that initially the Melton recruiter asked me about the certificate, when I'd told her that I haven't received it yet and that I wasn't sure when I would, she told me not to worry about it. I've got a friend who is scheduled for orientation the same day with Melton, and she told him the same thing. I'm just worried about getting to orientation and possible getting sent home due to not having the certificate.

tl:dr

So anyone that has went to a Melton orientation. If you could, chime in and let me know if you had to have your certificate/transcripts, or if there's anyone who's gone through the Swift Academy and chosen not to work for Swift, did you get your transcripts before having the note paid in full?