Profile For Gabriel Q.

I'm planning on getting cdl training with swift. I wanted to ask you if it's required to have a valid drivers license for a year to qualify for training. If so, are there any cdl training companies that don't have that requirement.

I just wanna give those who are doing research on driving schools an idea how Swift Training Academy works as today 11-07-13 i just finished my orientation with Swift at El Paso TX my home terminal and Im waiting to have a mentor assigned...

Week One

I got to school on October 14 I went to the Corsicana TX academy close to Dallas TX the first day you will be with Rita Morehead she will introduce you to the academy and explain how it works... then you will go to Drug Screen and DOT physical if you hadn't got one... after that you will be taken to the local DPS to check that you have your 5 test done... so make sure you have them done before going to school... depending on how many students are in your class you will be early released that day... Day 2 you will be with Mr. Collaway or Mr. Coffman they will teach you logging, mapping, and trip planing... Day 3-6 its when the fun starts they are gonna show you how to do the Pre-Trip Inspection, In-cab Inspection and Air Brake Test then you will be practicing backing maneuvers on the range, straight backing, off-sets, and parallel parking... On Sunday you will spend all they doing written exams so study all the notes you took the first two days and the material they gave you...

Week Two

Day 8 you will watching some videos and pics over life on the road and defensive driving... Day 9-13 you are gonna be out on the range continue practicing all the backing maneuvers including the 90 degree backing, I had Randy Fortney for range instructor he is very good in teaching backing maneuvers so between those days depending on how are you doing they will test you so you can advance to the third week, before saturday (day 13) you will be testing on pre-trip and air brake test also... Day 14 (sunday) you will be off.

Week Three

Your final week... Day 15-18 will consist on road training the first thing they are gonna teach you is how to upshift and downshift, I had Robert he is also a very good instructor Im glad that I had him he is a tough looking guy but he is really nice, you cannot choose your instructors but if get with Robert he will take you to drive on the Dallas Cowboys Stadium the Dallas airport and some other places around there so expect to be driving on heavy traffic, on day 18 you will do the Swift road test in Corsicana you must pass it so the can take to do the DPS road test... Day 19 the most important day, you will go do the DPS to do the road test, Im from Texas so I tested on Waxahachie TX it was pretty easy compared to the Swift road test all you have to do its pay attention to the road the cars and trucks around you and especially your trailer and the path its taking behind you, dont hit the curbs, dont hit the white line on your parallel parking and dont impede traffic those are auto fails, if you pass you may go home that friday.

This is how it works or how it went for me, it was really nice going to Swift Academy they have good instructors, after you get your CDL they will send you to your home terminal for orientation the following week and its three days and its pretty much about the benefits and policies of the company you will do another drug screen and you will get your driver code and commdata card.