Swift Orientation/Mentor Phase

Dan b you would drive the first 50 hours and the trainer would just sit and watch you. Then you would both go to sleep. At least that's how swift dose it.

I'm the same way I can't sleep in anything that's moving but you got to understand that in a plane,car and train you are cramped and sitting up for the most part... I started driving trucks 9 months ago and don't have a problem sleeping in a bed.... You will have enough room in the truck to get comfortable and fall asleep... And you can take sleep aids to help you get use to it

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?

I was in Afcrapistan as a civilian but thanks for your comment. I could have left at any time but I stayed. There were a few times when there was so much stuff blowing up around me I think I was one grunt away from crapping my pants, but I stayed on.

I don’t think there are underlying problems, at least not physical. Mentally, well ………….. I am certifiable!! My health has been remarkably good all my life and my sleep pattern has been consistent my entire life. When I was a kid, I slept 5 hours a night. Now that I’m in my 50’s, I sleep 5 ½ hours every night. You can almost set your watch by my sleep pattern.

I’m not sure exactly what my problem is, but given that I only have issues falling asleep in something that is moving, I think a doctor may have a hard time identifying why I am like that. I have fallen asleep in some of the worst places you can imagine (rocky riverbeds, wet concrete etc) but if it is moving, I can’t get to lights out.

I’m going to keep looking for something where I can train on local runs. Something has to be there.

I'm the same way I can't sleep in anything that's moving but you got to understand that in a plane,car and train you are cramped and sitting up for the most part... I started driving trucks 9 months ago and don't have a problem sleeping in a bed.... You will have enough room in the truck to get comfortable and fall asleep... And you can take sleep aids to help you get use to it

Good point on laying down. Is Crown Royal considered a sleep aid? Seriously, I may have to check into the sleep aids but it would have to be something that would not interfere in my ability to drive.

LittleTrucker wrote:

Thanks for the info. I think people keep bringing you up because you're top notch at your job, you're very knowledgeable, and you, of course, drive for Swift which a lot of people go for or plan to go for. You seem to have a lot of insight and wisdom and I think I'm not the only one who can see that. So think of it as more of an honor if someone brings your name up. :)

I'll add this to my resume. Thanks!

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.

You are only allowed to drive for 11 hours of the 14. and you are required to take a 30 min break within that 11 hours, but before your 8th hour.

Not all companies require Team driving as part of your training. You can use that requirement, to narrow down your search.

Stay Safe

Congrats on getting your cdl! I actually just went through Swift orientation in Denver this week, so if you're wondering exactly how it goes here check out my description of it under the "cdl training journals" section of the forum. Mine should be near the top. Did you go to school in Arizona or at USTDS in Colorado?

Congrats on getting your cdl! I actually just went through Swift orientation in Denver this week, so if you're wondering exactly how it goes here check out my description of it under the "cdl training journals" section of the forum. Mine should be near the top. Did you go to school in Arizona or at USTDS in Colorado?

Wow, thanks and congrats to you, too! I attended USTDS. I moved back to Colorado because I had better luck with trucking companies, so I decided I didn't want to travel to Phoenix when I just got here. Plus the recruiter told me USTDS has waaaaayyyyy smaller classes, so there's more one-on-one time with instructors, which I find to be important when learning how to operate giant 18-wheeled, 80,000 lb missiles that are a million times my size and could kill me and anyone else in a heartbeat.

USTDS was a great school with amazing instructors. I learned tons. Did you go to Phoenix or USTDS? And I am about to go read your training journal right now. Thanks!

Congrats on getting your cdl! I actually just went through Swift orientation in Denver this week, so if you're wondering exactly how it goes here check out my description of it under the "cdl training journals" section of the forum. Mine should be near the top. Did you go to school in Arizona or at USTDS in Colorado?

Wow, thanks and congrats to you, too! I attended USTDS. I moved back to Colorado because I had better luck with trucking companies, so I decided I didn't want to travel to Phoenix when I just got here. Plus the recruiter told me USTDS has waaaaayyyyy smaller classes, so there's more one-on-one time with instructors, which I find to be important when learning how to operate giant 18-wheeled, 80,000 lb missiles that are a million times my size and could kill me and anyone else in a heartbeat.

USTDS was a great school with amazing instructors. I learned tons. Did you go to Phoenix or USTDS? And I am about to go read your training journal right now. Thanks!

Dang that's awesome! Yeah I went to USTDS and liked it a lot, but I went to the one in Pueblo...I'm guessing you probably went to the one in Denver? I saw you're staying at a hotel--you don't happen to be in the one just down the street from the Swift terminal?

Congrats on getting your cdl! I actually just went through Swift orientation in Denver this week, so if you're wondering exactly how it goes here check out my description of it under the "cdl training journals" section of the forum. Mine should be near the top. Did you go to school in Arizona or at USTDS in Colorado?

Wow, thanks and congrats to you, too! I attended USTDS. I moved back to Colorado because I had better luck with trucking companies, so I decided I didn't want to travel to Phoenix when I just got here. Plus the recruiter told me USTDS has waaaaayyyyy smaller classes, so there's more one-on-one time with instructors, which I find to be important when learning how to operate giant 18-wheeled, 80,000 lb missiles that are a million times my size and could kill me and anyone else in a heartbeat.

USTDS was a great school with amazing instructors. I learned tons. Did you go to Phoenix or USTDS? And I am about to go read your training journal right now. Thanks!

Dang that's awesome! Yeah I went to USTDS and liked it a lot, but I went to the one in Pueblo...I'm guessing you probably went to the one in Denver? I saw you're staying at a hotel--you don't happen to be in the one just down the street from the Swift terminal?

I went to the US TDS in Wheat Ridge, which is close to Arvada. Also, as we speak I'm staying in the hotel close to the school in Arvada. HOWEVER, on Sunday I will be moving to the hotel right down the street from the Swift terminal. Crazy how things work out!