So. One thing in the trucking industry that is really bothering me lately is all of this crap Swift, JB Hunt, Werner, C.R England, Prime, and Crete (I could go on and on with names here) are doing when hiring unqualified drivers who couldn’t hold a job at Mc Donald’s. There are a lot of people who DO NOT belong in a truck but our wonderful government is looking the other way because these big companies can throw their money and weight around.

Did you know most companies have the authority to both train and license their drivers? There is no outside person at the DMV who says, “No, I’m sorry your not qualified”. What the whole training process (In just 3 weeks YOU and become a truck driver and see the country making big bucks!!!) becomes is a money making scheme.

Here is an a little bit from the Swift Transportation website.

A career in trucking offers tremendous opportunities for financial rewards and professional growth. Whether you’re just out of school or you’re in a dead-end job, whether you’re retired or even if you’re looking for a job you can do with your spouse, this could be the ideal career for you. The best part is that even if you don’t have previous experience, Swift can help jumpstart your career as a truck driver.
To get your career in trucking rolling, a Swift Driving Academy is the place to start. Tuition for the comprehensive 23-day course is $3,900. Swift Academies offer the following:

• 207-hour course
• Financing available for student housing
• Bus transportation to and from the Academy
• All study materials and testing
• Physical, and drug screen testing

New classes start weekly on Monday. For complete program details, contact the Swift Driving Academy nearest you.

Do you see the scam here? A comprehensive 23-day course? Comprehensive??? You can not even begin to learn how a truck moves on snow, ice, wind, rain, or dry road in 23 days, let alone how to back into docks and parking spaces. In 23 days you would not know shit. After your so called training, they put you in a truck with a “Trainer” who has maybe a year or two experience (which in my mind is not even a start on training someone else) and then it’s the blind leading the blind. So, in 23 days and you can drive around 80,000 lb. of freight in places like New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago and hopefully you don’t dump your truck and trailer in a ditch which Swift does regularly, kill someone else, or yourself. Doctors, Lawyers, and even teachers have to have a real education…. So, what gives in the trucking world?

I unfortunately run into this Swift driver in California earlier this year. He couldn’t back into the hole next to me, so after about 20 tries he nosed his rig into the spot next to me. His trailer was blocking the road to he pulled up on the curb so he was out of the way…

(Taken out my mirror) This is how he was able to get his truck somewhat straight and out of the way of traffic…. I was just relieved I left before him, because I’m thinking someone lost something on their truck when he “tried” to back out.

These schools and big companies are taking people from all walks of life, most that don’t know the first thing about a truck, most that have NO business being in a truck, and telling them they can make big money while seeing the country. Yes, you see the country. Yes, the money isn’t bad if you love what you do. The problem is, your going to see the same interstate more than state parks and pretty blue oceans. Your going to be on shitty roads if you run west or midwest 5 to 6 months out of the year. Can you drive it?  You have to love what you do! Can you do it?

For the American public, don’t go against all truckers. There are a ton of wonderful, good, highly skilled truckers out here on the road. They LOVE their job. They have diesel running through their veins and wouldn’t have it any other way. They are the people we NEED out here!!! Problem is, there are a ton of unskilled, untrained, steering wheel holders than do not belong out here on the road and big business companies like the above mentioned is allowing this to happen.