Swift Truck Driving School Memphis TN
Topic 1461 | Page 1
Steve, welcome to the forum! Glad to hear that you've already got the ball rolling. I'm looking forward to following along with you. When you go to one of these company sponsored training programs it's a lot like an extended job interview. Each day you're gonna find things that might make you think twice about what you've decided to do. Hang in there, and jump into this forum if you've got questions or concerns - we'll be here to help if you need us.
Trucking can be a tough job, especially for someone that's not committed and serious about seeing it through at the beginning. Trust me, they will be trying to weed out the ones that don't have what it takes right from the start. They know what they are looking for, and it will probably be obvious to you also when you start seeing the little cliques of naysayers gathering together. Avoid those folks and hang out with anyone that seems serious about getting a career started.
It can be very tough when you first get started in this, so keep a positive attitude and be expecting new challenges everyday. Wake up and face each day with a resolve to see it through and conquer what ever comes your way.
I love this lifestyle, and I love moving my rig across the country. I think you will too, so I'm giving you a heads up about the difficulties you may encounter at the first, but believe me, it's a very satisfying career once you get over those first hurdles. Roll on!
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
That sounds great Steve. I can only echo what Old School has just said. Trucking is a great life and has many rewards after you get past those few hurdles. That is all they are too, hurdles. It will be what you make of it. Some will make it and some won't.
I started in trucking back in 1983. I went to a company sponsored training school. They taught me a great deal in a very short period of time. I had wanted to be a truck driver ever since I was just a little boy. Used to talk to truckers on the CB radio all the time in my bedroom at night. I have worked as a fleet manager , warehouse supervisor and change my career path several times in the last 25 years. I am soon to be 51 years old and am back in a Technical school get my CDL again. I just couldn't stay away. After all these years I realized the only real time I am happy is when I am in a truck.
So give it everything you have and then some. I promise you, you won't regret it.
Good Luck and keep us posted.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Fleet Manager:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Welcome aboard Steve! Definitely looking forward to following along with ya! 
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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Hey I'm Steve and I'll be starting Swift's trucking school 9/23/13 in Memphis TN.. I'll be sharing my experiences as well as a rundown of what we're doing daily.. Just got my cdl Permit today 9/20/2013. For those wondering you have to take a general knowledge test airbrakes test and a combination vehicle test for the class a CDL..
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Combination Vehicle:
A vehicle with two separate parts - the power unit (tractor) and the trailer. Tractor-trailers are considered combination vehicles.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.