Taking A Road Test Monday For Swift

Hey guys, I'm Sean. I am taking my road test for Swift Monday the 19th. I got my cdl's back in 2010 but due to problems at home I wasn't able to go out with a trainer at Werner. The Swift Recruiter Laura was really cool and said they would work with me. What advice do any of you have for me, I am nervous. I grew up around trucks but that is a lot different than driving one. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Driving truck is my dream job since I was a little kid.

Hey Sean, welcome aboard!!!

Listen, everyone is really nervous whenever they're taking their road test for a company or for the CDL license. That's totally normal.

First of all, have a look at an article I wrote called Passing The CDL Road Test: What Are CDL Examiners Looking For?. I know this isn't your CDL exam, but the same concepts hold true for a company exam. That will help you understand what they're really testing you on and help you relax a bit.

The biggest thing to keep in mind is that they know you're not a top-notch professional driver with 20 years on the road. You're new. You're going to grind gears more often than most. You're not going to make that perfect turn every time. You're not going to be as smooth on the brakes. All of that is perfectly fine.

They know they're going to be sending you out with a trainer to polish up your skills. So what they want to see is that you're capable of handling the very basics. You have a feel for getting around turns, you can find a gear most of the time, and most importantly they want to make sure you have the nerve for this.

Believe me, your nerves will be tested to the extreme once you're out there on the road and that doesn't go away with experience. You're going to be on icy roads, in steep mountains, and in massive traffic snarls in giant cities. Trucking takes a lot of nerve. You have to be able to remain calm, control your nerves, and focus on what's important to get through each moment safely. That's the kind of things they're looking for.

So certainly you're going to be nervous. But control it. Take a deep breath, smile a lot, and focus on positive thoughts. As far as the actual driving part, just relax and do what you already know how to do. You have your license - you've been through the training - you'll handle it just fine.

Remember, they're not testing to see if you're an elite driver. They're testing to see that you understand the basics and you're ready to continue on with your training. They'll tolerate some mistakes. They'll give you second chances. They'll continue to work with you as long as you show them you care deeply about becoming a safe, productive driver. Just keep a positive attitude, be friendly with everyone, and give it your best. They KNOW how to train drivers that are willing to listen and capable of keeping their nerves under control. Just show them that you're the type they can work with. They'll make sure you get the training you need so you wind up becoming a safe, productive driver.

Well Sean, I can't offer you advise, but I would hope you will keep posting your experiences with being a new driver for Swift that might be beneficial for other new drivers. I am leaning toward going with them at this point and may start their training program in Texas in about three weeks. Good luck.

Best of luck to you, listen to Brett as he gives great advice and tips. I test for my CDL with the AZ D.O.T in approx. 4.50 hours now. I am nervous but also know I can do this as I have many times before with all the instructors from my Truck Driving School. keep us posted.