Is This Info About Swift CDL School Really True?

There is a guy posting on another site about his experiences at Swift school in Georgia.

He claims that in his class only 2 of the 8 students in his class passed the CDL test. And in the previous class only 1 out of 17 passed. Is the failure rate really anything close to this?

He also talks about how everywhere and everything at the Swift school is under video surveillance. Including all the Swift personnel at the school wearing body cams that records audio and video of every interaction with students. Seems a little overboard to me if true.

There is a guy posting on another site about his experiences at Swift school in Georgia.

He claims that in his class only 2 of the 8 students in his class passed the CDL test. And in the previous class only 1 out of 17 passed. Is the failure rate really anything close to this?

He also talks about how everywhere and everything at the Swift school is under video surveillance. Including all the Swift personnel at the school wearing body cams that records audio and video of every interaction with students. Seems a little overboard to me if true.

I'm not a Swiftie but someone will chime in. As far as class shrinkage, it happens everywhere for a few reasons:

People have poor attitudes. My company says "the entire orientation and schooling is an interview". They watch how you interact with others. If you can't portray the company to customer well, they don't want you.

Applicants lie. They tell the recruiters they have no background problems or no convictions, or no medical issues...no drugs etc. Then they get to orientation and the company does a more thorough and more expensive background check and finds out the person omitted a DUI cause it was "expunged" or bounced around from company to company cause they were fired. Etc.

My class had 76 in it. By the end of orientation...where we didn't even step into a truck, we were down to like 20. After a few weeks on the road only half failed the behind the wheel or left not wanting to finish.

Is the CDL testing hard? Its not a cake walk. You have to learn it and apply it. If you don't take it seriously you will fail. Is training after the CDL test while teaming hard? Yes. Its like boot camp where you have no control and someone dictates your life for a couple months. But get through it and the rewards can be amazing.

As far as the cameras... My company has cameras everywhere too. One reason is that we were required to take computer classes and when we log into the computer the cameras record us to prove we completed the training. They also have cameras throughout the parking areas. So do many of the customers. Bang a truck and leave? Its on camera. If you do that in the terminal , what are you doing out on the road? Guess what some of those cameras catch? Drunk drivers.

I worked at the post office where they had cameras, directional microphones, and guys on cat walks above us with binoculars. They even timed us in the bathroom and used our vacation time. So security cameras that I don't notice...especially when we are recorded in our society most of the time anyway...doesn't bother me.

The body cams is a new one though. Never heard that one. Lol

Out of my class of 7 in Phoenix in April, 6 of us passed the State Exam. 2 of us on the 1st try 4 on the 2nd and the last guy had 3 chances and washed out. In my experience, their goal was to make sure everyone passed. It is in their best interest to do so. It is not cheap to run those Academys! Cameras on the Campus and Classrooms? Yes and Yes. It never felt intrusive or uncomfortable to me. I'm sure you have heard about or read stories of A-hole instructors or unruly/ threatining behavior of Students or Personnel. We now live in a technological day and age where EVERYTHING is on camera. It has become a fact of everyday life. I had a great experience at the Swift Academy, and the Company continues to treat me well. One closing thought. Be very wary of what you read online about Trucking, or Restaurants, Auto Repair, Doctors, Dentists, etc. You get the point. Disgruntled individuals always make the most noise. People who are happy with the service they receive, normally continue to patronize these places and rarely take the time to post positive reviews online. This is a very positive Forum with tons of resources, take advantage of them. Good luck on your adventure!

I am going through the same training that Rainy spoke of, and yes, there was some attrition...mostly because they couldn't pass the medical or drug tests. I also agree that they really want you to pass. I know of one person that took a week and a half to pass his CDL written tests (normally should only take a couple or three days at best). I am currently out on the road for my phase two training, which is preparing me for my pre-trip, backing, and driving tests, which I should be back at the yard next week to pass (gonna trifecta it, Baby!). After seeing some of my fellow classmates on the simulator, I'd bet a few will unfortunately fail then, though I hope not. As for the cameras, we were told the same thing Rainy was...that they were everywhere, watching. I pay them no mind at all because I knew I wouldn't be doing anything I wouldn't want the CEO to see me doing. I'm working hard, being courteous to everyone, and do everything I can to present a very positive example of my company to all of the world...but then, that's how I was raised. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right! My goal was and is to always be the example the trainers and the company want to tell others about...in a good way!

Amendment to my last post. Body Cams? Yes

I echo Tractor...my Swift training was very good, schooling and road training.

Class started with 32, three and a half weeks later 7 graduated, 4 got the CDL first try, 2 more on the second try.

Over fours years later, of those 6 only 3 of us are still driving, me and another guy for Swift, the third for Toll Brothers.

Careful what you read about trucking on the Internet,...many times false, and almost always exaggerated.

Amendment to my last post. Body Cams? Yes

BODY CAMS? Tell me you're kidding...

Rick

Not kidding.

Not kidding.

That's just downright CREEPY.

Rick

Amendment to my last post. Body Cams? Yes

BODY CAMS? Tell me you're kidding...

Rick

Yep, that was my thought too. Body cams seemed over the top. But I guess it is what it is.

And on the pass/ fail numbers I questioned, this guy gave the impression that out of 8 test takers at the END of school, that only 2 moved on to getting a CDL. And in the previous only 1 out of 17 moved on with a CDL in hand.