Swift Orientation/Mentor Phase

Dan B., hoping it ain't so...

So ………. if I will be expected to be part of a team and ‘sleep’ while someone else is driving, I know right now I will not get any sleep. And if I am too tired to drive safely, I would not drive. I’m afraid now that could become a huge issue for me and I’m hoping someone can clarify how you sleep during training. This may burst my bubble.

Sorry to say, teaming is exactly that, one driver sleeps while the other one drives. No getting around this with most of the carriers. I have seen some smaller companies that execute training solo, but I do not recall names (maybe someone else can shed light on this). Sleeping on a moving truck is (at least for me) difficult but I was able to do it using ear-plus and two pillows.

Well I even tried getting hammered on one of Asia trips and I still couldn't sleep. It is what it is. I'm not going to give up on the idea entirely but it sounds doubtful that I could find a way to train and still get some sleep.

your truck switches to team operation and you're on your own while your mentor is in the sleeper berth.

I don’t want to steal theLT’s mojo on his thread, but I have a question about that comment. I am still researching on how all of this training will play out so maybe I am missing something, but your comment did cause some concern. You mentioned about the mentor sleeping and I’ve been wondering how some of this OTR would play out during my training.

I have never been able to sleep in anything that is moving; ever, and I’ve been like this since I was a little kid. I have made several long haul flights into Asia where I went without sleep for roughly 40 hours (24 hours in the air and 16 hours on the ground). I also made quite a few long hauls into the Middle East which were 35 hours (19 air, 16 ground). I didn’t get one second of sleep until I arrived at my destination. Same thing coming back into the US, in fact I would not get a rental car until after I slept because I knew I was too tired to drive.

So ………. if I will be expected to be part of a team and ‘sleep’ while someone else is driving, I know right now I will not get any sleep. And if I am too tired to drive safely, I would not drive. I’m afraid now that could become a huge issue for me and I’m hoping someone can clarify how you sleep during training. This may burst my bubble.

Not speaking for anyone else - but once the training progresses to where the truck is running as a "team operation" - you will get your 10 hour break, while your partner is driving. And the truck will likely be moving while this is going on.

From what I've gathered here - every "training company" (Swift, Prime, etc.) runs the second phase of OTR training like this, so this is something that's likely going to be unavoidable.

So sorry if this "bursts your bubble" - but this is something you're going to have to adjust to.

Rick

I appreciate your answer but I won't drive if I am tired and from the sounds of it, I'd be doing OTR training for a week or so at a time. Not sure if I can find a way to train just doing day runs, but if not, that sticks a fork in the idea.

Congratulations LittleTrucker, and welcome to Swift! Good for you!

Meant to extend well wishes earlier but I got caught up in work activity,(Walmart DC is crazy busy this time of year). You should be very proud accomplishing something that is unreachable for many people. OK to be a little nervous, but hopefully the excitement of your achievement will quickly overcome your angst.

A couple of quick thoughts to add. To the best of my memory (and it's fading), formal orientation really lasts 2.5 days, you are assigned a mentor after lunch on Wednesday. You will basically meet three people; your orientation instructor, your driver development manager (more on that in a moment) and your finally your mentor. Although much of orientation is rather dry, it's not automatic. It's an extended, informal job interview. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders (from the posts I have read) so you should do fine, just be aware of the added incentive to project a positive and professional attitude. The driver development manager (DDM) is the person you will work with for mentor assignment. You have some input to this process; smoking or non, male or female, etc. Your DDM is your primary advocate and direct manager for you once the road with your mentor. They will check-in with you periodically once you are on the road and by all means contact them if there are any issues that require intervention. When you meet your mentor, it's also your opportunity to ask them questions regarding their experience and how many students have they trained, etc. This 6 week partnership is important to your future success so it's important that there is a reasonably good personality fit with this person.

That's about it. Best of luck and let us know how you are doing and if any questions, you know how to get answers.

Safe travels!

Congratulations LittleTrucker, and welcome to Swift! Good for you!

Meant to extend well wishes earlier but I got caught up in work activity,(Walmart DC is crazy busy this time of year). You should be very proud accomplishing something that is unreachable for many people. OK to be a little nervous, but hopefully the excitement of your achievement will quickly overcome your angst.

A couple of quick thoughts to add. To the best of my memory (and it's fading), formal orientation really lasts 2.5 days, you are assigned a mentor after lunch on Wednesday. You will basically meet three people; your orientation instructor, your driver development manager (more on that in a moment) and your finally your mentor. Although much of orientation is rather dry, it's not automatic. It's an extended, informal job interview. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders (from the posts I have read) so you should do fine, just be aware of the added incentive to project a positive and professional attitude. The driver development manager (DDM) is the person you will work with for mentor assignment. You have some input to this process; smoking or non, male or female, etc. Your DDM is your primary advocate and direct manager for you once the road with your mentor. They will check-in with you periodically once you are on the road and by all means contact them if there are any issues that require intervention. When you meet your mentor, it's also your opportunity to ask them questions regarding their experience and how many students have they trained, etc. This 6 week partnership is important to your future success so it's important that there is a reasonably good personality fit with this person.

That's about it. Best of luck and let us know how you are doing and if any questions, you know how to get answers.

Safe travels!

Thank you so much for the congrats and the helpful info. I have the next few days to just kind of chill at the hotel so I'll be on here a little more often. Geez, I remember back when I first came to this site. I was so nervous and yet excited about the whole idea of it all. I had no clue what company I would work for or how to start my career in the trucking industry. And now here I am, after the guidance of everyone and asking some questions. I still can't believe it. I'm sure that this is just the 'honeymoon' phase as they say and that sometime later on I will be asking "What the H**L did I get myself into?!" But for now, I'm proud of the hard work I did to get here and I am excited for what's to come. More than anything, I am happy to be able to contribute to an industry that has literally given us everything. And Brett, if you're reading this, thank you for creating this website. Without the help I've gotten from this site and the wonderful people on it, I doubt I'd be where I am.

Oh, and Good luck Dan B. from PA. I think sleeping in a moving truck is just a part of how things are. But remember that it, just like being stuck in a small space with a stranger, is only a SMALL part of how things are and it too shall pass. It's only like 6 weeks or so, sometimes less depending on the company you're with. Try to find a way to sleep. Talk to a doctor or something and see if they have any suggestions. If this is something you really want to do you'll figure it out.

your truck switches to team operation and you're on your own while your mentor is in the sleeper berth.

I don’t want to steal theLT’s mojo on his thread, but I have a question about that comment. I am still researching on how all of this training will play out so maybe I am missing something, but your comment did cause some concern. You mentioned about the mentor sleeping and I’ve been wondering how some of this OTR would play out during my training.

I have never been able to sleep in anything that is moving; ever, and I’ve been like this since I was a little kid. I have made several long haul flights into Asia where I went without sleep for roughly 40 hours (24 hours in the air and 16 hours on the ground). I also made quite a few long hauls into the Middle East which were 35 hours (19 air, 16 ground). I didn’t get one second of sleep until I arrived at my destination. Same thing coming back into the US, in fact I would not get a rental car until after I slept because I knew I was too tired to drive.

So ………. if I will be expected to be part of a team and ‘sleep’ while someone else is driving, I know right now I will not get any sleep. And if I am too tired to drive safely, I would not drive. I’m afraid now that could become a huge issue for me and I’m hoping someone can clarify how you sleep during training. This may burst my bubble.

Not speaking for anyone else - but once the training progresses to where the truck is running as a "team operation" - you will get your 10 hour break, while your partner is driving. And the truck will likely be moving while this is going on.

From what I've gathered here - every "training company" (Swift, Prime, etc.) runs the second phase of OTR training like this, so this is something that's likely going to be unavoidable.

So sorry if this "bursts your bubble" - but this is something you're going to have to adjust to.

Rick

I appreciate your answer but I won't drive if I am tired and from the sounds of it, I'd be doing OTR training for a week or so at a time. Not sure if I can find a way to train just doing day runs, but if not, that sticks a fork in the idea.

I thought I would have the same problems. But the bed is nice and some soft music or a fan help me sleep. For the must part the roads are smooth enough that you don't even know when the truck is moving. At least that's how it is for me. I hope that helps you come to the right desitions.

Oh, and Good luck Dan B. from PA. I think sleeping in a moving truck is just a part of how things are. But remember that it, just like being stuck in a small space with a stranger, is only a SMALL part of how things are and it too shall pass. It's only like 6 weeks or so, sometimes less depending on the company you're with. Try to find a way to sleep. Talk to a doctor or something and see if they have any suggestions. If this is something you really want to do you'll figure it out.

Thanks, but I’ve been in the same body for 50 some years now and I know I will not be able to sleep. I’ve been like this since I was a little kid and can remember probably from the time I was 4 or 5 years old being unable to sleep in a moving vehicle. I’ve flown probably close to 1 million miles and never slept. Probably the same distance in cars, trains, etc.

As far as a doctor, they might be able to give me something to knock me out, but I think that also presents a safety issue. I am definitely interested in driving but I know my limitations and this is an issue I don’t think I can overcome. I’m going to search for something where I can be ‘trained’ on local runs, but if I can’t find that I am not going to waste the time or money on a CDL course.

I’m also wondering ……. if I am being trained, how well am I being trained when the trainer is sleeping?

BTW – my last job was in Afghanistan. I had bullets, RPG’s, and rockets flying over my head. I toughed that job out, but I’m not sure I can make this one happen.

Dan B. asks a great question:

I’m also wondering ……. if I am being trained, how well am I being trained when the trainer is sleeping?

To clarify this, the initial 50 hours (or in some cases more) your trainer observes while you drive and they must do this from the passenger seat. If for any reason the trainer does not believe you are ready for team driving after 50 hours, they can delay that transition for a while but not indefinitely. Also keep in mind that although you and your trainer must take a 10 hour break, specifically your trainer can be off-duty sitting in the passenger seat, continuing to observe while you drive for a couple of hours.

Part of the training is to determine how you handle "running" the truck and all that goes with it while your trainer is sleeping.

Oh, and Good luck Dan B. from PA. I think sleeping in a moving truck is just a part of how things are. But remember that it, just like being stuck in a small space with a stranger, is only a SMALL part of how things are and it too shall pass. It's only like 6 weeks or so, sometimes less depending on the company you're with. Try to find a way to sleep. Talk to a doctor or something and see if they have any suggestions. If this is something you really want to do you'll figure it out.

Thanks, but I’ve been in the same body for 50 some years now and I know I will not be able to sleep. I’ve been like this since I was a little kid and can remember probably from the time I was 4 or 5 years old being unable to sleep in a moving vehicle. I’ve flown probably close to 1 million miles and never slept. Probably the same distance in cars, trains, etc.

As far as a doctor, they might be able to give me something to knock me out, but I think that also presents a safety issue. I am definitely interested in driving but I know my limitations and this is an issue I don’t think I can overcome. I’m going to search for something where I can be ‘trained’ on local runs, but if I can’t find that I am not going to waste the time or money on a CDL course.

I’m also wondering ……. if I am being trained, how well am I being trained when the trainer is sleeping?

BTW – my last job was in Afghanistan. I had bullets, RPG’s, and rockets flying over my head. I toughed that job out, but I’m not sure I can make this one happen.

Dan b I think your are right about the prescription. That might be a safety problem. And the quality of you training depends on the trainer.

Good luck

Oh, and Good luck Dan B. from PA. I think sleeping in a moving truck is just a part of how things are. But remember that it, just like being stuck in a small space with a stranger, is only a SMALL part of how things are and it too shall pass. It's only like 6 weeks or so, sometimes less depending on the company you're with. Try to find a way to sleep. Talk to a doctor or something and see if they have any suggestions. If this is something you really want to do you'll figure it out.

Thanks, but I’ve been in the same body for 50 some years now and I know I will not be able to sleep. I’ve been like this since I was a little kid and can remember probably from the time I was 4 or 5 years old being unable to sleep in a moving vehicle. I’ve flown probably close to 1 million miles and never slept. Probably the same distance in cars, trains, etc.

As far as a doctor, they might be able to give me something to knock me out, but I think that also presents a safety issue. I am definitely interested in driving but I know my limitations and this is an issue I don’t think I can overcome. I’m going to search for something where I can be ‘trained’ on local runs, but if I can’t find that I am not going to waste the time or money on a CDL course.

I’m also wondering ……. if I am being trained, how well am I being trained when the trainer is sleeping?

BTW – my last job was in Afghanistan. I had bullets, RPG’s, and rockets flying over my head. I toughed that job out, but I’m not sure I can make this one happen.

Dan, when I mentioned a doctor I wasn't necessarily referring to medication. Maybe a doctor might know some tricks you haven't tried. Maybe they can send you to a sleep specialist. Doctors understand the body and how it works. Their job is to find out why a person's body is doing something or behaving in a certain way. If you can't even sleep during a 35 hour flight or after getting hammered, there could be underlying problems. Since you served your country (thank you for that service btw), maybe it's symptoms of ptsd. They might recommend therapy or a different diet or meditation or some new trick the public doesn't know about. I have a friend who used to be an insomniac and hated meds so he refused to take them. He got a different doctor who suggested a sleep number mattress and a Delta Sleep System designed by some guy named Dr. Jeffrey Thompson. It supposedly using sound frequency to do something to your brain's delta waves or something like that. He found out there is a whole science dedicated to sleep and people have many strange conditions that are solved in weird unconventional ways. My friend was able to sleep perfectly after that. I figured if you talked to your doctor he or she may suggest something not involving meds that just might do the trick. It's worth a shot, don't ya think?

Dan B. asks a great question:

I’m also wondering ……. if I am being trained, how well am I being trained when the trainer is sleeping?

To clarify this, the initial 50 hours (or in some cases more) your trainer observes while you drive and they must do this from the passenger seat. If for any reason the trainer does not believe you are ready for team driving after 50 hours, they can delay that transition for a while but not indefinitely. Also keep in mind that although you and your trainer must take a 10 hour break, specifically your trainer can be off-duty sitting in the passenger seat, continuing to observe while you drive for a couple of hours.

Part of the training is to determine how you handle "running" the truck and all that goes with it while your trainer is sleeping.

I've read about the HOS rule and think (only think) I have a decent handle on the legal restrictions for driving, at least I hope I do. When I first began considering this as a career move, I guess I just didn't understand how the training would play out. But I get your point about the trainer having to watch me constantly during my first 50 hours behind the wheel. If I understand you correctly, he could drive for 12 hours, then he would have to watch me for up to 14 hours if that's how long I drive. That leaves the trainer with no sleep by the time he should be climbing behind the wheel again, at least during my first 50 hours.

The more I think about this, the more I realize there has to be a way to do it on local, shorter runs. I know I've read about jobs where people are driving shorter routes and home every day so I'm not sure why I couldn't find a route like that to train on. That may not be the way the industry works and I'm not familiar with it at all, so that's just a guess. And maybe a hope too. I'm sure it would be a LOT harder to find, but if that is my only option I have to at least look for it.