Last One Standing

Well everyone in my class from Virginia has failed or dropped out at the Swift School. They break up the class into the 3 states that can go to the school, my group started with 10 and they are gone. In a way its good for me, more training time for me. I got 37 miles in today.

I just got to work on my turns and down shifting a bit more and hope to graduate at the end of the week.

Well everyone in my class from Virginia has failed or dropped out at the Swift School. They break up the class into the 3 states that can go to the school, my group started with 10 and they are gone. In a way its good for me, more training time for me. I got 37 miles in today.

I just got to work on my turns and down shifing a bit more and ope to graduate at the end of the week.

Way to go!!! Sometimes things just have a way of working themselves out!!!!

Well everyone in my class from Virginia has failed or dropped out at the Swift School. They break up the class into the 3 states that can go to the school, my group started with 10 and they are gone. In a way its good for me, more training time for me. I got 37 miles in today.

I just got to work on my turns and down shifting a bit more and hope to graduate at the end of the week.

This is what I don't understand about company sponsored schools. When I spoke to a few recruiters they all said they don't send people to the school that wouldn't qualify. They do background checks and dmv checks and verify employment before hand. How in the world do 10 people fail out that quickly after having passed the inital qualification process? I just don't get it. This is why I find it more worth it to just pay for private school. Why take the chance of getting sent home over something silly. Or are they getting kicked out over serious matters? Thats the question of the day i guess.

Jeez Eckoh,when I said you got this, I didn't mean to vaporize everyone! Wow! Lol way to go!

Do you know why any of them were sent home?

I thought Eckoh said earlier that a few had been drinking when they were told not to and at least one guy said he could drive but couldn't do a pre-trip or shift, even after talking up a storm about himself. If I'm not mistaken, there's more pressure to do well in the company-sponsored schools because while you're there it's also your job to succeed, so these guys who goof off and don't take it seriously, get sent home. I also think that these companies bring on way more candidates than they know will make it so that by the time the training is done, they actually have the numbers they need and the bad apples have been weeded out by the time training ends. Most people who go through this training don't realize they're being watched so closely and screw up along the way.

-mountain girl

Way to be, Eckoh! You're surviving! Last week, you were worried about your pre-trip but you stuck it out and you're still there. Nice work, Dude! Hang tight. You got this!

-mountain girl

Do you know why any of them were sent home?

Overall my class started with 16 total, we lost 6 at the straight line backing test (it is a pass or go home test). Another was lost during the pre trip test, one gave up before taking the pre trip. The last one of my group has a ver ill child and had to drop out.

The class that started the week before me began with 32, only 8 completed the school, the class that started the week after me started with 18 an i think has 8 remaning.

People on tht other forum claim that Swift will take and pass anyone, that is far from the truth at this school.

I thought Eckoh said earlier that a few had been drinking when they were told not to and at least one guy said he could drive but couldn't do a pre-trip or shift, even after talking up a storm about himself. If I'm not mistaken, there's more pressure to do well in the company-sponsored schools because while you're there it's also your job to succeed, so these guys who goof off and don't take it seriously, get sent home. I also think that these companies bring on way more candidates than they know will make it so that by the time the training is done, they actually have the numbers they need and the bad apples have been weeded out by the time training ends. Most people who go through this training don't realize they're being watched so closely and screw up along the way.

-mountain girl

We were told day one its a 3 week job interview. The intructors pay more attention then most realize. They know who want to earn their CDL and who ant to jut get by.

Why take the chance of getting sent home over something silly. Or are they getting kicked out over serious matters? Thats the question of the day i guess.

Mountain Girl really nailed it:

If I'm not mistaken, there's more pressure to do well in the company-sponsored schools because while you're there it's also your job to succeed, so these guys who goof off and don't take it seriously, get sent home. I also think that these companies bring on way more candidates than they know will make it so that by the time the training is done, they actually have the numbers they need and the bad apples have been weeded out by the time training ends. Most people who go through this training don't realize they're being watched so closely and screw up along the way.

I don't even think I can add anything to that. That's exactly right. They'll give anyone who has a qualifying background an opportunity to get their career started with basically no money up front. The company will take all of the risk and make all of the investments in time, personnel, money, and equipment but they're only going to keep the people they feel have the best shot at becoming safe, hard working, professional drivers for the company.

Well think about their situation. They're bringing in say 100 people each week knowing that only 25 of them will have the attitude and work ethic to become productive drivers for the company. So they watch you like a hawk. They pretend they're not really noticing a lot that goes on but they're allowing it all to play out. If you give people an opportunity they will quickly enough reveal their true nature. So they listen in the background to see who has good attitudes and who doesn't. They watch as little clicks form between people of like mind. They read body language, they watch your driving skills, they see your test scores, and they put all the little clues together to figure out who they're going to keep around.

In fact, they'll purposely test people. They might tell you you'll be doing one thing at 10:00 but then two or three times they change the schedule. They want to see who's going to roll with the punches and who's going to start crying and complaining that the company is being run by a bunch of idiots. Or the instructor might really get on you when you make a simple mistake just to see if you are teachable and can handle a little pressure. Why do you think Swift has that initial pass/fail straight-line backing test? They want to see right away who is going to crack under the pressure. If you can't do something as simple as backing a truck in a straight line without crumbling then how on Earth could you ever handle backing in off of a busy street in the pouring rain during rush hour in Downtown Chicago, ya know? I mean, when you're out there doing it for real it's not a video game - there is no reset button or do-overs. There are lives on the line with almost every move you make out there. You have to have people behind the wheel that can handle the pressure and care deeply about being safe drivers. They only have a few weeks to determine who that will be from a large group of complete strangers so they'll test you at every turn to weed people out quickly.

This is why I find it more worth it to just pay for private school

The biggest difference between company-sponsored programs and private truck driving schools is that company-sponsored schools are more like a tryout where at a private school you're a paying customer. At company schools the company is taking all the risk by making the initial investment in you up front. At private schools you're taking all the risk yourself by paying for your own education up front. So you show up at a company-sponsored school thinking, "Man I hope I make the team!" but if you fail you really haven't spent much in the way of time or money. You show up at a private school thinking, "Man I need to get my CDL and get the best value I can for the money I'm paying to be here."

One way is really no better than the other. It's really just a matter of finances and personal preference.