C1 Driving Academy - Indianapolis, IN... Adventures With Swift

Star date : 09/20/2017

Bright and early. Came here with another student to help them with their pre trip test. They will definitely pass.

Yesterday I worked on my first offset backing. I didn't do so well, but on my third attempt, I nailed it. They want us to use all our pull ups, and our GOALS, "if we have em, use em" is the philosophy. So, we were shown the key spots, that need a GOAL or pull up. And to NEVER assume we don't need to do it. After the range, I experienced my first butt pucker moment, of my fledgling career. As I was turning left, onto the final stretch before we pull into our school, a car came flying into the LH turn of the intersection, before slamming on their brakes. I though they were going to go underneath me. There was a quick bathroom brake, when I got back inside the building.

A little advice from a rookie: whenever you are not on the range, or on the road. Be on the range, watching the other students, and listening to whichever instructor you happen to be observing. This way, when it is your turn, you will have an easier time understanding the instructor, when you are in the truck.

Stay safe

Star date 09/20/2017 part 2

DO NOT LOOK AT CONES WHEN BACKING!!! THEY DON'T MOVE, THE TRAILER DOES!!!

I learned this valuable lesson today. Sadly though, 1 cone passed away, and I sent another to the cone hospital. I realize, that I was just lucky, on my initial straight back attempt, this last Friday, but that is OK. After learning the correct way to position my flat mirrors, the backing exercises became much more improved. My setup for the offset is really good, but once I start to put the vehicle in the hole, my focus for some reason goes right to those blasted cones. I was able to correct my mistakes, but I had to take an extra Goal, and pull up. The parallel parking, for whatever reason, I just get it. Both my attempts today were successfully done. Of course, tomorrow might be the exact opposite.

My road portion went really well today. However, when the instructor tried to teach me the "bump & run," I failed miserably. I was not able to grasp it. Then he told me I wouldn't be tested on it at the State test, for which I am grateful.

Allina all, it's great to see the other students walking taller, as they improve, and become more confident in their/our new found abilities. It amazes me, how far we have all come, in a very short time. But then I also think, I still have a ton more to learn, beyond this small, but significant blip in time.

Stay safe

Star date: 09/22/2017

Yesterday, 09/21/17 was a up and down day. My backing improved a lot, but my road time was a valuable lesson in gear recovery speeds, and remembering to use the selector switch. Several times, I forgot to hit the selector down, when shifting into 5th, only to have the truck voice it's extreme displeasure at my doing so.

Today:

I tested out on the C1 portion of the road training, tomorrow I will finish testing on the range, I preparation to take my state test, on Monday or Tuesday.

Star date 09/23/2017

Backing range: I think today was my most productive day I have had so far. The reason, is I asked my instructor if he would let me fail. He did, sort of. He allowed me to make the mistake, but he showed me how to fix it. That, was, to me, the best lesson I could have gotten. It taught me to be more mindful of ALL the space around me, and taught me how to better utilize my convex mirrors. It also gave me 10 points on the offset portion of the exercise. But now I know what NOT to do.

After I was done with my practice, another student tried to tell me that, I could have "gotten it in." when I tried to explain why it wouldn't work, he just dismissed it, saying that he knew what he was talking about, and the instructors only want us to do it "the C1 way." I told him that the C1 way works, and that we can do it "our way" after we are finished here. He called me a sheep, I just laughed and said that i am glad he wasn't going to Swift, or PAM. (he is an independent student.) a short time later, he hit several cones doing it "his way."

Saturdays are set aside for the students they want to work with who are ready to test out of C1, or the State test, on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. My original goal was to be ready for State ON Monday. I can confidently say, I will be ready BY Monday.

At one point, I was more confident in my parallel, than my offset backing. Now, not so much, but I know I will have it down, I have the basics, and just need to focus on doing it exactly the way they showed me. Overall, I am happy with my progression, and enjoying every minute I get to be in, and around the trucks.

Star date 09/25/17

Sunday the 24th, I relaxed, and took a forced reset. With the extra time I spent at the school during the week, and on Saturday, I needed a reset so I could start fresh, today. I was using the restroom, when the class was told to reset the weekend, regardless if we were here on Sunday. The upside of not doing this, is I learned the math, albeit, confusingly, once I got to my 7th and 8th days.

I tested out of my backing for the school, and I am on the board to take my state test, tomorrow. I am cautiously confident in all aspects, but a little shaky on my parallel parking. I know the steps, and the reference points needed, I just have a hard time seeing them in the convex mirror.

Small edit : the class was told to do the resets on Friday of our first week.

Star date 09/25/17

Sunday the 24th, I relaxed, and took a forced reset. With the extra time I spent at the school during the week, and on Saturday, I needed a reset so I could start fresh, today. I was using the restroom, when the class was told to reset the weekend, regardless if we were here on Sunday. The upside of not doing this, is I learned the math, albeit, confusingly, once I got to my 7th and 8th days.

I tested out of my backing for the school, and I am on the board to take my state test, tomorrow. I am cautiously confident in all aspects, but a little shaky on my parallel parking. I know the steps, and the reference points needed, I just have a hard time seeing them in the convex mirror.

Star date 09/26/2017

Today was a great day. I learned a lot about myself. During my practice drive this morning, it wasn't great, but my downshifting improved. My backing practice absolutely sucked, but I learned how to backtrack out of my mistakes, and make it work.

And then I took my state driving test. Did I pass? No. I made it past the pre trip, and 4 point brake check, and the passing range. 10 tested today 4 of us made it off the range, to the road portion, All met their end at the parallel. 2 of us made it to the very last turn, back into the school parking lot. Only 1 passed today. On my very last turn, I lost focus, and was already back in the classroom celebrating, and .... I impeded traffic, which is an auto fail. I do not actually feel that I did impede traffic, HOWEVER, I should have waited, I had plenty of time. We need to be as safe as we possibly can, and I wasn't. I realized what happened, and I accepted my fate. I parked the truck, asked the Testing agent what all he thought I could do to improve, took his advice shook his hand, and kicked myself in the arse all the way back to the school side of the range.

In a way, I am glad I didn't pass. I can use the extra backing practice, and the road driving, making me a better driver.

Star date: 09/29/2017

I passed!

Today concludes my time at C1 Truck Driver Training. I passed my state test, and now prepare to head to the Swift Syracuse Terminal , and start this grand adventure. My time here has been one I will never forget. Each of the instructors that helped me along the way, were awesome. Their individual ways of teaching, helped me see the various skills, and tasks from a different perspective. They pushed me when I needed to be pushed, and allowed me to make mistakes, and showed me where I went wrong, and how to correct them. The foundation that they helped me build, is the beginning of a challenging, yet rewarding lifestyle, and career.

I would recommend this school to anyone.

10/03/2017

First day of Orientation -Syracuse Terminal

There were 12 of us that started the day, and 9 of us going into the 2nd day. We were told that there are 22 orientations each week, at the various terminals, with an average of 19 new drivers, and re-hires. That is a lot of drivers!

They are cramming A LOT of information into these 3 days. I wonder how I will be able to process it all, but I am happy for all the materials, so I can study on the road. I am really excited to be here, and my classification is Refrigerated OTR. From what I have seen, this terminal is nice.

We had a choice of 10 speed, 8 speed, or Auto, to do our road test. If we chose auto, then we will only be eligible for an auto during our time with Swift. I am considered an academy student, so didn't have to take the road test, and classified to drive either. There are 3 of us from the academy, in this group.

My question is... there is an 8 speed? I have always thought a 10 speed was the "smallest" option.

Be safe

10/03/2017

First day of Orientation -Syracuse Terminal

There were 12 of us that started the day, and 9 of us going into the 2nd day. We were told that there are 22 orientations each week, at the various terminals, with an average of 19 new drivers, and re-hires. That is a lot of drivers!

They are cramming A LOT of information into these 3 days. I wonder how I will be able to process it all, but I am happy for all the materials, so I can study on the road. I am really excited to be here, and my classification is Refrigerated OTR. From what I have seen, this terminal is nice.

We had a choice of 10 speed, 8 speed, or Auto, to do our road test. If we chose auto, then we will only be eligible for an auto during our time with Swift. I am considered an academy student, so didn't have to take the road test, and classified to drive either. There are 3 of us from the academy, in this group.

My question is... there is an 8 speed? I have always thought a 10 speed was the "smallest" option.

Be safe

Yes, 8 speeds were common in the Swift fleet before the transition to auto-shift.