New Grad Starting At Swift

I received my CDL yesterday and will be starting at Swift Jurupa in about two weeks. What should I expect during orientation? I am hearing conflicting reports that dry van is slow for some right now. Any thoughts? I guess that it depends on the region of the country. Hopefully, being in the area of the distribution centers for all of the good comming into the ports of LA and Long Beach, there will always be a high demand for dry van out of Jurupa. I am also considering reefer , because I hear reefer has more consistent miles. Are reefers really very noisy? Is it a hassle to keep reefer fuel tanks fueled sometimes? Are there times that you need reefer fuel, but not truck fuel and therefore have to make an extra stop. I have also heard that reefer live loads/unloads take a long time sometimes. But, hearing that reefer drivers are still getting miles, that doesn't seem to be much of a problem. I would also rather do regional or 11 Western. I know that the miles might be as much as 48, but is it that much less? I am definitely not interested in local or intermodal/ocean container. What kind of dedicated accounts run out of Jurupa to Southwest regional or 11 Western? If I missed asking any questions that might be of help, please feel free to add. Thanks!

Congratulations Jim and welcome to Swift!

My initial suggestion is don’t get too far ahead of yourself. Focus on orientation and road training. Much has been written about training and trainers...

Here is a blog article I wrote a few years back specifically on Swift’s orientation and Mentoring...

Going On the Road With a Trainer

Good luck.

I haul dry van and have run 5k miles the last two weeks combined, with two more days to add to this weeks total. Not world beating by any means, but I wouldn't call it slow.

Jim, I'll just say that the advice you received from G-Town is very sensible. You need to get through the process to make an intelligent decision. Keep your options open until you get more education and information.

But don't fret the reefer option. There are many drivers here that are very successful with reefer. You will do fine with either dry van or reefer, as long as you apply yourself, educate yourself, and work hard. Whatever you choose, being safety conscious is the most important.

I agree with G-Town, you need to get through orientation and training first. Both dry van and refer are places to be. Though I do get dry van loads on my refers, I like doing refers for Swift. They keep me rolling and yes sometimes at the shippers and receivers can take a little extra time. And you get used to the refer noise. It will be like a little lullaby to put you to sleep at night. Sometimes I have to get refer fuel when I don't need tractor fuel, but it isn't that often. My trainer had a triangle route, Utah, Nevada and Southern California. So they do have west coast accounts. And sometimes he would do Northern California also. What ever the miles were we did it. So focus on your training first of all, then you can make your decision to go either dry van or refer.

Raptor

Congratulations Jim and welcome to Swift!

My initial suggestion is don’t get too far ahead of yourself. Focus on orientation and road training. Much has been written about training and trainers...

Here is a blog article I wrote a few years back specifically on Swift’s orientation and Mentoring...

Going On the Road With a Trainer

Good luck.

Thanks G-Town. Good article. I am hoping for patient trainer that will allow me to make mistakes, as long as they don't endanger people or property, and insist that I correct myself without his or her jumping in too quickly. I feel that I learn from my mistakes. I want to really get the feel of the truck and the ways in which things should be done, and not just go by instructions doing it this way or that way. One of the first things that I will ask of my instructor is to allow me to make mistakes.

I haul dry van and have run 5k miles the last two weeks combined, with two more days to add to this weeks total. Not world beating by any means, but I wouldn't call it slow.

Five thousand in less than two weeks is pretty good. I am encouraged by what I see here in the inland empire area of So. Cal. In the last five years, there have been and still are huge warehouse be constructed like there is no tomorrow. These warehouses all have rows and rows of loading docks. Another good sign is the large amount of big rigs traversing the freeways in this area. The Inland Empire area is a large distribution area for goods coming into the ports of LA and Long Beach, the number one and number tow busiest port in the nation.

Jim, I'll just say that the advice you received from G-Town is very sensible. You need to get through the process to make an intelligent decision. Keep your options open until you get more education and information.

But don't fret the reefer option. There are many drivers here that are very successful with reefer. You will do fine with either dry van or reefer, as long as you apply yourself, educate yourself, and work hard. Whatever you choose, being safety conscious is the most important.

I have heard hat Swift ask you what division you want during their orientation. That doesn't make much, since that division might not be available once you finish your four to six weeks mentoring. But, if it is true, that means I would have to make a decision at orientation in two weeks. So I am trying to find out some information now.

I agree with G-Town, you need to get through orientation and training first. Both dry van and refer are places to be. Though I do get dry van loads on my refers, I like doing refers for Swift. They keep me rolling and yes sometimes at the shippers and receivers can take a little extra time. And you get used to the refer noise. It will be like a little lullaby to put you to sleep at night. Sometimes I have to get refer fuel when I don't need tractor fuel, but it isn't that often. My trainer had a triangle route, Utah, Nevada and Southern California. So they do have west coast accounts. And sometimes he would do Northern California also. What ever the miles were we did it. So focus on your training first of all, then you can make your decision to go either dry van or refer.

Raptor

That triage/Southwest is what I would like to do. I hear that it doesn't pay as much as 48 usually. But, as long as the bay isn't that much less, I would definitely think that the advantages of it would outweigh a little less pay.

What division you pick doesn't really matter. Both will be available when you get done with your mentor.

You can switch divisions if you want. I'm a mentor on the reefer fleet out of Jurupa Valley, but the last couple students I've gotten were hired on for dry van.

Jim, I'll just say that the advice you received from G-Town is very sensible. You need to get through the process to make an intelligent decision. Keep your options open until you get more education and information.

But don't fret the reefer option. There are many drivers here that are very successful with reefer. You will do fine with either dry van or reefer, as long as you apply yourself, educate yourself, and work hard. Whatever you choose, being safety conscious is the most important.

I have heard hat Swift ask you what division you want during their orientation. That doesn't make much, since that division might not be available once you finish your four to six weeks mentoring. But, if it is true, that means I would have to make a decision at orientation in two weeks. So I am trying to find out some information now.