Profile For KD-Cue

Thank you all for your replies! I really appreciate it. I do have questions, and I also would like to respond to you each of you that gave me advice and information. But right now I have to eat first and finish reading, Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking. As soon as that happens I will definitely get back to each of you, even if it ends up being tomorrow am. I do really appreciate all of your comments, it is nice knowing there is a community of support to fall back on if need be. Thank you again!

Hello to all. Well my subject kind of says it all! I am a military vet (got out in 2011). I have not had the easiest time since I got out, mainly have had a hard time getting my educational benefits consistently, and as a result have had to start and stop school numerous times. I am finally tired of the stress of financial instability and decided it was time to make a change. I still live where I went to high school, so many of my old friends are around...not the best people to surround myself with anymore and I am going to make a fresh start.

I have always been fascinated with trucking; the open road, the seclusion, the monstrous rigs :), and have decided that I want to make a career of it. I am no stranger to long/hard hours of work, isolation, stress (and managing that stress as a result lol), and think I have the ability to be pretty good at this.

I have been on here for the past couple weeks doing research and looking into all the information on the industry that is on here (it is a lot!), and decide that it was time to now join the community and say hello. I think it is only fair seeing as I have been using your resources. I just decided yesterday to go ahead and pull the trigger if you will on this new career and was hoping to get some questions answered, and maybe some I didn't even know I had!

I have been researching several companies, and gotten in touch with some recruiters, but I believe I have settled on Swift as the company I am going to start with. Now before someone jumps in to tell me that may be a mistake or how much, trouble (for lack of a better word) the company is, let me say this. . . I understand. For me it seems like the right option. First off, you are going to see far more negative reviews on any product or company than positive ones. People just are more apt to complain about something than they are to praise it. I have heard good things and bad. What it seems to me is that you get out what you put into Swift (as with most things) for the most part. Also as a veteran their CDL course will be completely free up front (with a 12 month driving contract) without any loan, financing, or paycheck deductions (I am getting it in writing). The course is in Phoenix, AZ. . . which is where I am, and most importantly, it looks like they'll have me :).

So yeah, it looks like that is the company I am going to start with. I would like to get in touch with a few Swift drivers to pick their brains and get some more info. As I have said I have done an extensive amount of research already (most on here and a few other sources), I believe I have read almost every article on the site believe it or not. Well lets say a majority. One thing I wasn't completely clear on is home time. My question is more about the use rather than how it is accrued. Since my whole goal is to get away I am getting rid of my place and putting my car in storage. When I have time off I will stay with family, friends, or a hotel for a night or two if it comes to it. What I am interested in though is if home time can be taken anywhere. Must it be in AZ to count? Or, say for instance, could I go to Boston to visit my brother and stay with him, then pick back up from there? Or LA? Or anywhere? You get the idea lol. Also how big of a deal, or how intrusive, are these cameras I have heard about that watch the driver? Not thinking I will or would be doing anything that would be a problem, more just the idea of it is something that leads me to inquire about the policy and gain a little more information.

Now after writing all this, sorry a lot of unneeded info, I am forgetting some questions. I'll leave it at that for now. I appreciate any help and information anyone might be able to send my way. And lastly thank you to all community members who contribute to this site, it really is a wonderful resource.