Profile For Michael B.

Hi G-Town! I am diligent in my communication with my driver leader and fleet leader. They are both excited for me and very supportive. I am just wrapping up my first week solo and have driven in Arizona, Nevada, California, Nevada again, Utah, Idaho and now Oregon. Tomorrow I will be in Washington. I’m doing exactly what I hoped to do. Thank you for all your guidance.

Congratulations Michael!

We’re here to help in a pinch… however building those relationships with your driver leader and planner is going to be a key success factor going forward.

I enjoyed my 8+ years with Swift. Wishing you the same.

Best of luck and safe travels.

Thanks for the reminder that there is great support here. I kinda disappeared during my on road training w my mentors. I’m in frequent contact w forum member Grinch, a fellow Swift driver I got to meet in person while I was attending the driver academy in Phoenix. He always gets right back to me and has been a crucial resource on multiple occasions.

I know it feels good to be ready to get out on your own.

Always remember that there are a handful of drivers here, each with multiple years of experience who are willing to answer questions and offer advice. You also have your trainers. Any driver I have personally known to train is willing to answer calls and respond to texts from a former trainee. It's a resource that I have personally used.

Time management! Truer words were never spoken. I have struggled w hours of service since day one on my own. I was so excited the day I picked up my truck that I went on duty to do a pre-trip inspection. It made time really tight for my first run, a Costco distribution center load from Phoenix to a store in Henderson (Las Vegas). Now I only log in AFTER I know how long my day is likely to be so I do not run out of hours.

Congratulations on upgrading! Driving solo is when you will really start to learn how to manage your time.

I've completed my training with two mentors and am set to receive my own truck on Monday, November 28. The truck is a 2021 Kenworth T680, and it's a beauty. I feel so lucky! I've also received my first solo trip info. I will take a load from the Costco distribution center in Tolleson (Phoenix) to a Costco store in Henderson (Las Vegas). After that delivery Monday night, the future is wide open, as I am to be an Over the Road driver. I'm up for whatever comes next, and whatever comes next after that. This is exactly what I wanted, and I am really proud of my accomplishment.

I spent four weeks with my first mentor and nine days with my second mentor. During those first four weeks, I learned to efficiently drive long miles, with multiple trips from Phoenix on a dedicated Target account. We delivered a little in and around Phoenix but mostly did longer runs to Tucson, Las Vegas, Alburquerque, El Paso and Las Cruces. I did not get much practice backing on those trips and did not pass the backing portion of my upgrade test the first time around. I am grateful to Swift for its willingness to send me out for more training with a local mentor specifically to teach me to back. Nine days hitting Home Depot docks in and around Phoenix worked wonders!

I want to thank everyone for following along. If anyone has any questions, feel free to add to this thread and I will reply. Safe travels!

Thank you Grinch for adding my update, the pace has been fast w this mentor. I'm gonna add an update about my experience w my mentor in just a bit. I appreciate you letting folks know I was still alive and kicking out here in the vast western desert :)

Micheal update for the group since he has been silent again. He has been texting me every couple of days. He is currently on his trainers truck, doing a dedicated Target account in the southwest. He has been doing good so far with only a couple of missed turns as he put it. He will be on his 3rd week this week and sounds like he is hitting his stride.

Thank you Old School! I'm getting better at staying focused on what's in front of me, and that helped w the nerves on the air brakes test!

Nice job! We understand about getting nervous. It happens to the best of us.

Congratulations!

G-Town I am really glad I prevailed too! It's been quite an adventure!

Congratulations!!!

Happy to hear you prevailed.

Thank you PackRat! I appreciate your interest and support!

I was wondering about you, too.

Congratulations!

Smoke show, hot truck!

Edna version 2.0 thanks to the radar being on indefinite back order. I'm not complaining lol

Kearsey that's really cool! Brag all you want, this story represents the positivity you bring to all you do!

One of my students who passed the exam in February was recently featured in Prime's magazine and website for excellence among female drivers.

Highway Diamond Spotlight

One of the greatest parts of being a trainer is to see the excitement on someone's face when they succeed and to hear them boast about how much money they are making. Being able to help someone change their lives permanently for the better is amazing.

She had a phenomenal male team trainer, which demonstrates students sometimes unnecessarily stress over "creepy trainer" or even "opposite sex".

In addition, she is married to a woman. Other posters asked about treatment of "females" and "LGBTQ" in trucking. This is one more example of how trucking just doesn't care!!!!

Sorry.... Had to brag about my student. I am so proud cause she has been doing great!