Orientation - Day Three

Today started early.  We had to pack our bags and check out of the hotel.  Today we were scheduled to complete our orientation.  We met the safety Manager for the terminal.  We met the Terminal manager.  We received some additional instruction on how to keep the vehicle running by doing some minor repairs on our own. If we are unable to do the repairs by ourselves, we then have to contact the company.  The company then has to contact an outside repair firm and have them come to the truck to make the repair.  This all takes time.  We might have to wait up to four hours until the repair truck arrives.  Since we only have so much time to drive during each day, losing this time means loosing money.  If the truck isn't moving, we aren't making any money.   We get paid by the mile. 

We also spent time going over the Qualcom system.  The Qualcom system is a computerized communication system that is installed on every Swift vehicle.  This is how the company knows where we are.  It is how we let them know that we have delivered our loads.  This is how we receive our instructions on the next load to pick up.  The company is also upgrading the system, so we will be doing all our  logging electronically.

All in all it was another busy, busy day.  During the course of the day, someone would come into the room and announce that this driver or that driver had been officially hired and would receive their drivers code.  It was very tense for the drivers whose name wasn't called.  They were sitting there trying to concentrate on the information being presented to them while still wanting to find out that they had been hired.  By the end of the day, many of us still hadn't received their driver codes.  I was lucky.  I didn't have to wait all that long until my name was called.  They were able to match many of us with a trainer and we were told when they would be meeting with them.  Unfortunately I haven't been matched with a trainer as of yet.  I was told that I should know who my trainer will be sometime tomorrow or Friday.

My room mate Linzie got his driver code and was told the name of his trainer.  He doesn't know when he is supposed to meet up with him as of yet.  So Linzie and I are at the hotel again tonight.  Hopefully we will both be with our trainers soon.

That's all for today.....Tom