Former Swift Flatbedders

I guess that says it all.

 

I started with them, drove for one year and moved on.

 

Just ####!

 

From August '07 to July '09. Out of Phoenix terminal. They put me in a van-spec Columbia (short WB) with a headache rack, a 455hp (supposedly) D60 governed at 1700 rpm, and 9 speed.

Stayed long enough to pay off the debt I accumulated in my previous life, and to save another $20k so I could get my own truck.

I don't miss those days at all, but every now and then, I get craving for Tuscan chicken sandwich from the cafe in Phoenix terminal.

 

I was thinking about trying Swift's flatbed division, I'd like some honest thoughts on that please. I haven't pulled a skateboard before and I felt I could try there first, in case it doesn't work out I wouldn't feel too bad about moving on. If you have some negative s### to say please be specific and does anyone know if it make sense or more money to team on flatbeds.

 

I still cannot understand why any O/O would want to train a new driver fresh out of school.......they must not like their truck very much.

 

Because most of them are not O/O. They are L/O and will turn the truck in when the lease is up, lease another one and commence tearing the piss out of it.

 

Not to mention the FACT, that the training is the only way they can afford to be a L/O with them. Same as CR, etc etc etc. Cant afford the payments by running solo.

Martin

 

Really?!?

WTF am I doing wrong? I have never had a student on this truck, never will unless it's to give him or her a lift somewhere. I have been the only driver in this truck for the past ....over a year and a half. I have been on a dedicated account only for the past roughly seven months. Before that, I was doing just fine. I'm doing even better now. I don't really even work that hard.

The ones who start training because they "can't afford the lease" were doomed to fail before they ever started. They can't manage money, waste fuel, turn loads down, don't set money aside for maintenance and, once they are in the hole, turn to mentoring to increase their income. The total fixed payments on this truck are only $675/week. That's about 500 loaded miles. If you start your week with 4/8 on fuel, your truck note and insurance are made the first day. After that, all you have to do is buy fuel.

If you can't buy fuel and still make a profit, you are doing something very wrong.