My Journey To And Through School Using High Road Training Program

Hey guys, I am starting this thread as someone that does not yet have a CDL permit (CLP). I am going to be updating how High Road Training Program is going as i study and the impact it has on my permit. I have received the ok to attend a company sponsored school, as I read many forums and blogs here and made my decision to be able to start quicker. It would take me about a year to save up the $4,000 to pay my own way so I will be glad to get my year or two experience with a company anyway to make sure I like it. This has been a dream of mine since I was a child, and now at 27 I am finally following my dreams. And I know questions may come so I will answer the ones I know. I do have a girlfriend and she is extremely supportive especially since when she was growing up she had her parents as a team driving for Roadway. I am aware of the hometime or lack thereof and so is she. We have taken many steps to keep communication while I am on the road. I am aware of the contract I will be stuck in to pay off my schooling and I am perfectly fine with it. As the saying goes, sometimes you have to make sacrifices in the present to get what you want in the future.

Now about the High Road Training Program. Many people may get put off of it because of the repetitive nature. I know I did at first. But I also know now 12% in that those questions that have been asked 6-7 times already are probably going to be on the CLP test. I am finally confident that at least those couple of sections completed I could ace on the test. As of right now, my plan is to take my test Thursday or Friday while all of this will still be fresh in my mind.

Now for those of you asking, I am going to be driving for a company that catches a lot of crap. However, while you guys may be complaining about Swift drivers, just know that not all of them will be taking the High Road program. Also while you complain, I am personally thanking them for giving me the opportunity to learn through them and get my experience with them even with a recently reinstated license from a ticket that I recently paid from a few years ago. Sometimes you don't know what the drivers are doing at Swift. Some are like me and it was the only company that would take them on.

So stay tuned for my progress and join me on this journey. You guys have all been a help to me with all of your posts even if I have not always responded to them. There have been times that I have read over 30 pages of replies to get a feel for the general consensus on a question that I have had.

Now a side note to Brett if he reads this. I would like to start a blog if possible. I am very long winded and people may be put off by the length of my posts, so if I could put this in blog form or you would like a blogger you can contact me at the email address I have registered here. I am not worried about putting up ads to get paid as you mentioned in your blog about blogging.

Also to give you guys an idea (not to put you off at all but rather show you how much it gets drilled into you do you don't forget) through 12% of the program which is 20 pages in, I have been asked 110 unique questions. Some of these questions are repeated as I stated above, so I have actually answered 325 questions. To give you an idea, I have been asked 50 separate questions 4 times. Also I have been asked two questions seven times, as those were to this point the only two that I have missed. This program is very reactive and will make sure that you understand questions by asking them more if you miss them. This allows you to basically memorize those. So far I really like the system and recommend it to anyone trying to get their CLP.

Long-winded or not, write away my friend. You will help more people than you know.

ObnoxiousQueso wrote:

Now for those of you asking, I am going to be driving for a company that catches a lot of crap. However, while you guys may be complaining about Swift drivers, just know that not all of them will be taking the High Road program. Also while you complain, I am personally thanking them for giving me the opportunity to learn through them and get my experience with them even with a recently reinstated license from a ticket that I recently paid from a few years ago. Sometimes you don't know what the drivers are doing at Swift. Some are like me and it was the only company that would take them on.

I don't think anyone will be asking about that, at least not in this forum. We do not tolerate company bashing and will shut it down almost instantly. No need to apologize or justify your decision to drive for Swift. Most of the complainers are bandwagon-jumpers and former disgruntled drivers (unable to hack it) with nothing else better to do than slam the largest TL carrier in the US. Easy to blame the company for failing a driver, and rarely taking responsibility for driver failure.

Many of us on this forum, including two of the mods, are Swift Drivers (me and Errol). I have been with Swift for over four years now...assigned to a Walmart Dedicated account in northern PA, occasionally loaned out to Johnstown NY. I deliver grocery; dry and perishable to Walmart stores, SAMS Club and vendor/supplier backhauls to the DCs. Very happy, well paid, treated professionally, and with respect.

Use the search bar if you want to reference information I have written on Swift and/or Walmart by typing my name first then the topic you want to review, press enter or search if on a smart phone. Same holds true on searching for posts by Errol, Paul W., Jim J, Gladhand, and TractorMan (all Swifties). I will hit the report button in the lower right prompting Brett to read your request about blogging.

Good luck, keep us posted.

Hey ObnoxiousQueso, glad to have you aboard. Definitely let us know how the permit testing goes. And don't forget to get your endorsements. They're pretty easy and they're only a quick written test so get those out of the way right away in the beginning.

Also, you're in the perfect place to share your experiences. We now have everyone blog their training experiences right here instead of in our blog. It's way, way better here. Not only can you easily share quick thoughts and photos and the like, but it's a much better format for conversations so that people can ask you questions or give you advice along the way.

And the last thing you should worry about is being long winded. You say everything you'd like to say. People who want all of the information they can get will appreciate it. If someone is in a hurry and doesn't want to read the whole thing that's perfectly fine also. Just do your thing and don't worry about that at all.

Also, after you get your permit it would be a really, really big deal if you completed the Logbook and Weight & Balance sections of the High Road. You won't need them for the exam but you will need them every day of your life on the road and it's materials that won't be covered in school nearly as well as we cover it here.

Keep us updated and best of luck!

Thanks for the responses guys. To G-Town thanks for the support as literally every other site I have researched has had people bashing all of the Megas. But I am pretty sure that at one point, probably in the start of their career they drove for one of those companies. And like you said people bash companies for their own shortfalls. If you only deliver at 85% on time rate (and still have a job) you aren't going to get the good loads until you prove yourself, kind of like a probation. But many are quick to blame it on the dispatchers. Your success or failure on the road is up to you. That is why I will never say no to a load unless I am heading toward hometime and the load is the wrong way. What these people don't realize is if you turn down that short load (say El Paso to Las Cruces) you won't get that bigger load waiting for you there (like Las Cruces to Seattle). That is why I won't be turning down loads.

Brett, I will be getting all of my endorsements but won't be able to do that immediately due to the same financial strap that has me going to a company sponsored school. But when I take hometime I will probably drop in and do that. Also on top of the two you mentioned, I fully plan to complete the entirety of the training program. I never know when the Coil endorsement may help me even being based in Denver. There is so much information on the program and I fully believe that I will learn more here than I will at the school.

For the rest of you reading, I do have an update. I am going tomorrow morning for my CLP test after I spend tonight finishing what I need on high road. I want to make sure it is fresh in my mind when I test. Also I am pencilled in to start my schooling at the USTDS in Denver on January 30th. I completed everything I need except the CLP. Tomorrow I will update with how the test goes and continue to use this thread while in school. My goal is to help anyone going through schooling. Also as USTDS is a private school as well as a SWIFT authorized company school, I can give feedback to anyone that may be looking to use them for their own schooling.

Until next time, be safe out there!

ObnoxiousQueso wrote:

To G-Town thanks for the support as literally every other site I have researched has had people bashing all of the Megas. But I am pretty sure that at one point, probably in the start of their career they drove for one of those companies. And like you said people bash companies for their own shortfalls. If you only deliver at 85% on time rate (and still have a job) you aren't going to get the good loads until you prove yourself, kind of like a probation. But many are quick to blame it on the dispatchers. Your success or failure on the road is up to you. That is why I will never say no to a load unless I am heading toward hometime and the load is the wrong way. What these people don't realize is if you turn down that short load (say El Paso to Las Cruces) you won't get that bigger load waiting for you there (like Las Cruces to Seattle). That is why I won't be turning down loads.

Couple of points to reply with:

Yes, you are correct. However it's not only about turning down loads. The learning curve during your first year is rather steep and extremely challenging. The risk of an incident is very high, actually expected. Mistakes will occur, lots of them. The ability to learn from those mistakes, building on knowledge and skill is how a novice driver gets through year one. I consider myself a hardworking person, good motor skills, with above average intelligence. Nothing could have prepared me for the difficulty of learning this job, especially the first three months. The learning never, never stops.

Not sure if you read Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving or reviewed the Truck Driver's Career Guide. Both of these informational pieces focus on what to expect. Far too many people enter this career with totally unrealistic expectations. Be grounded in reality, never letting the highs get you to high, and the lows get you too low. Balance, mental toughness, and a positive attitude are paramount to success.

Swift, although highly maligned is also totally misunderstood. My gross pay (before taxes and deductions) for last week was over $1500.00...money talks, people listen and in the case of someone who mocks me as a Swift driver, that's how I shut them down. Like all of the megas, Swift offers a top-performing driver a myriad of opportunities once they prove their worth; operating safely and efficiently. This will take a while, some folks longer than others. Yah gotta stick it out and find your way. One of my favorite Swiftie stories (on-going) is Paul W. Search on his name with Swift and you will see what I mean.

G-Town I think those are all valid, and spending the last year on this site has shown me that it is going to be difficult. Currently, I am a karaoke DJ. If I wanted an easy job, I would just continue doing that. I am fully prepared to work hard for my money. I am 27 years old and its about time I try to find jobs that I have to earn my money. I have read the ones you posted, but have not read Paul's story. I will definitely do that.

An update for everyone following this thread, and even those of you reading this in the future. This morning, I completed the CLP test and obtained my CLP. The one thing that I can say is that the High Road Training Program is what made me pass the test. If it wasn't for the 300 plus unique questions in the permit sections alone, I would not have passed. I read the Colorado CDL book a couple of times and I could have read it until I couldn't see straight and still would not have retained the information the way I did here. So a HUGE shout out to Brett who started this site and put all of this together for free so that we can all succeed at this. I recommend this site to anyone I meet that is interested in this career.

So I start my trucking school On January 30 at the US Truck Driving School Denver Campus (referred to as USTDS after this) in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. I am going to continue to use this thread as I go through school. That way you can keep up with me as well as those of you reading this that are considering using that school or any of its branches as a private school or as a Swift sponsored school. I am super excited that everything is coming together. And more than anything else I am glad I found this site for both the studying as well as the blogging. Hopefully being that I will be on the road, I will be using this site to blog and let everyone know how life on the road is going for me.

Congratulations on getting your permit! One step closer to your goal. Keep us updated on how the training there goes.

I am in same situation dont have a CDL Permit just waiting to Attend school to get my cdl i think i will probably use this high road training as well to prep for permit. I am gonna go thru Maverick trasportation CDL sponsorship program thru Arkansas State Univ. Newport, AR campus. I may just post my experience on here as well.

Hey guys, I am starting this thread as someone that does not yet have a CDL permit (CLP). I am going to be updating how High Road Training Program is going as i study and the impact it has on my permit. I have received the ok to attend a company sponsored school, as I read many forums and blogs here and made my decision to be able to start quicker. It would take me about a year to save up the $4,000 to pay my own way so I will be glad to get my year or two experience with a company anyway to make sure I like it. This has been a dream of mine since I was a child, and now at 27 I am finally following my dreams. And I know questions may come so I will answer the ones I know. I do have a girlfriend and she is extremely supportive especially since when she was growing up she had her parents as a team driving for Roadway. I am aware of the hometime or lack thereof and so is she. We have taken many steps to keep communication while I am on the road. I am aware of the contract I will be stuck in to pay off my schooling and I am perfectly fine with it. As the saying goes, sometimes you have to make sacrifices in the present to get what you want in the future.

Now about the High Road Training Program. Many people may get put off of it because of the repetitive nature. I know I did at first. But I also know now 12% in that those questions that have been asked 6-7 times already are probably going to be on the CLP test. I am finally confident that at least those couple of sections completed I could ace on the test. As of right now, my plan is to take my test Thursday or Friday while all of this will still be fresh in my mind.

Now for those of you asking, I am going to be driving for a company that catches a lot of crap. However, while you guys may be complaining about Swift drivers, just know that not all of them will be taking the High Road program. Also while you complain, I am personally thanking them for giving me the opportunity to learn through them and get my experience with them even with a recently reinstated license from a ticket that I recently paid from a few years ago. Sometimes you don't know what the drivers are doing at Swift. Some are like me and it was the only company that would take them on.

So stay tuned for my progress and join me on this journey. You guys have all been a help to me with all of your posts even if I have not always responded to them. There have been times that I have read over 30 pages of replies to get a feel for the general consensus on a question that I have had.

Now a side note to Brett if he reads this. I would like to start a blog if possible. I am very long winded and people may be put off by the length of my posts, so if I could put this in blog form or you would like a blogger you can contact me at the email address I have registered here. I am not worried about putting up ads to get paid as you mentioned in your blog about blogging.