Condition of trucks

I drove for Swift (in an O/O truck though) for a year and a half and I've got to say from the looks standpoint alone that Swift's stuff appears to be head and shoulders above CRST. I don't know if it's the paint on the trucks or what but CRST's stuff just looks rough around the edges to me.

Someone with some more experience with CRST may be able to tell you otherwise and they would probably be 100% right. IMO Swift's stuff is really not bad at all though as far as the equipment itself goes.

 

Swifts trucks by far. CRST trucks are basic fleet spec'd whereas Swift's has some owner ops features such as Trailer brake handle (aka trolley), lights on the front bumper, air slide 5th wheel, power divider. However, both Swift and CRST have 3/4 fairings.

KH

 

I drove for crst 17 years ago..and had a top of the line cornbinder with a eagle package....pretty nice back than..dont think in the 9 months i was there, had a truck older than 2 years...they had a great shop in cedar rapids and ok city.....but im sure things changed

 

Seems like every newbie is always trying to go to Swift or CRST. Why is that? guess the students eat up all that bullcrap they feed them at the schools. I do know that Swift sure did paint a pretty picture when I was in school back in 2006. The Swift recruiter that came there was trying to act like a pimp or something.

He even said this to all the students there about his life before and after trucking. "back then they didn't want me! now I'm hot and there all over me" quoting some lyrics from a stupid rap song. I knew then that company had to be a joke to send some idiot like that to our school.

I started out with TransAm. They ran the crap outa me. They have super nice equipment. KW T-660. T-700's. If you want to make money I'd say stay away from the BIG companies.

 

I just left CRST, they probably have the worst equipment on the road! Base model Columbias that dont even have aluminum wheels as an option! They are stripped down and god ugly! Maint is a joke! They don't want to spend a penny to fix anything and they only allow you to wash your truck every 60 days!

 

Hate to say this, but, if your main concern for a company to
work for is the condition of their trucks (i.e. color,type, etc )
than you are going about this all wrong. You need to look at a
whole lot of other things first.
Such as working conditions(yes,this includes the truck ),
do they seem to fit to YOUR needs and can you put up with
what their needs and demands are. Pay, for example, miles,
hometime, good dispatch,support from the company, etc,etc.
You can work for someone who has marginal trucks and be
treated like a PROFESSIONAL DRIVER and live with good miles and that goes with it. Or you can work for 1 of the LARGE MEATGRINDERS Co. ( Swift, Knight, JB Hunt,Etc ) and
starve to death in your pretty truck..............JMHO

 

I drive for Prime as a lease op.We have some awesome equipment,probably some of the best out there,But I wouldn't look at Equipment only as a deciding factor.

You can make good money at Prime,the equipment is well maintained,but if you do come over here,I would suggest staying as a Company driver for a long time.The company Trucks over here are very well taken care of,but you don't want to Lease a Truck from anyone until you get to know this industry inside and out and make sure it is right for you.

I drove for Super Service inc.out of Somerset Ky. for a year before I came here,and I was very happy there and made decent money for a newbie driver fresh out of School,but,looking back,the equipment was not that good.I did talk to a driver from them the other day and he said they have a new owner,some group of investors from Wi.He said they plan to replace half thier fleet this year,so,that will be like 500 new trucks.