Profile For Roadpilot

Thanks for all the tips guys!

I didn't even think about the curtains, so I'll have a project for my 30min brake tomorrow.

Well after 3 1/2 weeks, countless states and 20k miles I got dropped off in Columbus last Thursday to start the upgrade process. After a waiting out the weekend to finish, I was assigned my truck yesterday afternoon, a 2015 Freightliner Cascadia. This morning I got a load out of Columbus heading to Louisiana to start this great adventure. Pretty happy with the truck, I asked for a manual so I can keep getting proficient with shifting, I used an automatic for close quarter training......did not like it at all. So if anybody sees a slightly clueless rookie in Swift 151507, come over and say hi!

Also, question. Does anyone have a good way to get rid of the smoked in smell. The truck is in otherwise great condition but the odor is bothering me. I've been spraying Febreeze and I've wiped down most of the interior but there is still that lingering smell

I know if you live in the in the Columbus area, rookies can get onto the Target account. However you have had to do your 200hrs with a mentor on the account AND the mentor has to recommend you

Memphis was overflowing with trailers as well. My mentor said it was the in preparation for the Walmart surge.

Here's my diary of Orientation & Road Training with Swift. (Almost 3 years ago)

Last year I chatted with a Swift Mentor. I believe they like the mentors to drive manual shift trucks so the rookies get the experience. But I bet your new truck will be an automatic.

I'm upgrading now in Columbus and the way they are talking is unless you actually need a automatic, plan to get a manual. I'm planning on a manual but won't turn down an auto if offered

Well I might as well update this while we wait.

We've still been running hard. After that Amazon load fell apart we got another load heading to PA. I got to drive the Donner Pass at night and in the rain. That was interesting, I crawled down the hill at 40mph, some guys were blasting down at 55+.....but i took the slow and steady route and made it down without any smoke or fire lol.

We've been pretty much been on a East Coast-Midwest boomerang dealing with mostly Amazon and UPS loads.

Got down to Dallas on Saturday, that was interesting trying to keep up with what the Qualcomm was telling me and where the construction was pushing me to go. I missed turns in and out but my mentor was able to get me back on track without any problems.

From there we went back Northeast on a UPS load and we brought a Amazon load to be T-Called in Gary. We are supposed to go to Joliet this afternoon to pick another Amazon load to Allentown however we're having the truck checked out by the shop because we heard a pretty loud air leak this morning. Hopefully they'll be able to find an fix the problem.

As of this morning I'm sitting at 189 hours so hopefully either Thursday or Friday I'll get dropped off at a terminal (probably Columbus) to upgrade. I'm anxious to get my solo career started even though I'm pretty nervous about it at the same time.

I'll update this again when I start the upgrade process. Everybody have a great week

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I'm having a hard time deciding between reefer and dry van.

Jim J and Roadpilot - really enjoy "seeing" where you've been running around to. Thanks a bunch!

No problem, just remember you aren't locked into one side of the house. Like I said I plan on going reefer but if I end up staying mostly east I'll go back to dry van. That's the beauty of Swift, they have enough freight that you can find a niche that works for you

Roadpilot, glad to hear from you sounds like been pretty busy so far,and sounds like been all over the place, my hope is when i get as far as you are to get out west as much as i can ,and they can give me . good luck michael

Thanks Michael,

I've been hoping to get west as well and my mentor and his DM made it happen. He said he likes to run his trainees west at least once during their time on the truck, he's not a fan of Cali but he's willing to come out here to give the rookies some relevant experience.

Well our Amazon load fell apart. After waiting 90 minutes we got told our load was cancelled because of "low volume". So we were able to grab the empty we brought in and we bugged out at the Lathrop terminal (which is awesome btw) for the night. We have a new load picking up outside of Sacramento going to Illinois this afternoon so we are taking the time to get a minor air leak looked at and do laundry. I don't have too much longer with my mentor, I have 140hrs of driving and 38 of my required 40 backs done. I feel ready to go solo but it'll be a bit scary not to have my mentor there with me.

Well I'm gonna enjoy some NorCal sunshine, you folks have a great day

I'm with my mentor on the dry van side. We've pretty much been all over.

Started in Columbus, OH, went to Commerce GA, then up to South Carolina, then to Norfolk VA, then Marcy,NY, down to Hazelton PA, then a long haul to San Marcos TX, then up to Nebraska. Over to Jersey then up to Detroit, back east to Baltimore then over to Columbus, up to Grand Rapids then out to Otay Mesa CA. Then up to the Bay Area and tomorrow we head back east to Illinois. I plan on going on to the reefer side when I upgrade so I hope they can keep me running like this

Holy crap, I can't believe it's been over a week since I've updated this. We've been running pretty hard so its been mostly just sleep and drive, sleep and drive.

Picking up where I left off, from Detroit we went to Hagerstown,MD then picked up a load outside of Baltimore to bring to Columbus. Then up to the Grand Rapids area to bring a load out to Otay Mesa, CA. That's the load we are currently on now, because it didn't have to deliver until Tuesday morning we had planned to spend a day in Vegas but the planners saw that we had extra time so they had us T Call this load in Vegas and well pick up a Amazon load at 1am and bring it up to the Bay Area. We already have pre plans out of the Bay Area to Moreno Valley then Kansas City so as long as Amazon holds up their end of the deal we'll be set for loads until at least midweek. Driving through the canyon's on I-15 was fun, the scenery was amazing, I hope to spend more time out west once I upgrade. I'm figuring on another 10 days with my mentor as long as the freight keeps moving as well as it has. That would mean about 30 days on his truck which is a bit less than average. My backing and shifting are still improving.....I was able to hit the dock in one shot earlier this week. I'm also getting more comfortable with the drop and hook procedures as well. So overall its going great. I honestly am feeling more comfortable running the truck and my confidence level is pretty healthy for once lol.

Like I said, I'll try to keep this updated as much as I can. Between the constant running and sketchy data service it's a bit tough but I will definitely update when I can.

Enjoy your holiday and have a great week folks