Reality of Swift: How to get screwed

Sorry, but anyone who blindly signs a contract without reading it, much less having an attorney review it, gets what they deserve.

 

Who said anything about not reading a contract?
Plenty, if not all, read their contracts before they sign; they just don't fully understand them ( but think they do) as by intent from the folks that write them.
And seriously, how many out there that drives a truck for a living has been able to accumulate enough money to obtain an attorney?
Sadly, this macho "they all get what they deserve" mentality is not a sign of strength, but a sign of weakness, and it shows.
It's also very convenient for those who would take advantage of both you and I because it keeps us divided and...weak.

 

So it's not worth maybe a couple of hundred dollars to have an attorney review a contract VS spending thousands and thousands to pay charges that are spelled out, but not understood?
People still have the freedom to choose, sadly, most choose to hear and read what they want to.

 

If an entrepreneur cannot afford to hire a lawyer to go over the main contract their business runs under then they do not need to start a business. And remember, doing an l/o is a business.Too many drivers see it as still being a driver first and a business owner second.
No, it's a business first, that you employee yourself to run....

And, at least for me, I'm not saying "they get what they deserve". I'm saying that they are partly responsible and need to realize that. If they don't, then they will never learn always seeing all the crap that happens to them as someone's fault, not theirs. They will never be able to actually succeed with that mindset.

 

Seriously? I drove truck for 42 years and I was able to take care of my family! I even bought a couple of new cars and a home and upgraded several times and even went on vacations. I even hired an attorney several times!

 

While I agree on having a lawyer review any major contracts you enter into, with financial obligations. His most likely advice, would tell you that the contract is all in the company’s favor. If you think the company would accept any changes, possibly suggested by the attorney, you’d be in for a rude awakening. I’m sure they do not allow any changes, or cross outs. Why would they, when they have a steady stream of fresh meat coming through the door. A lease purchase comes with way more disadvantages to the operator, then any advantages. If LP was such a great deal, the company would be hiring nothing but drivers, rather than leasing. Recruiters are nothing but salesmen, candy coating to play to OP’s weakness and desires, they promise nothing in writing, only verbally. Nothing that would be legally binding, or enforceable by the Op.
I’m sure there are exceptions to this negative scenario, but the road is littered with failed lease purchase operators. Many enter without having enough money, one major failure not covered by a warranty, and your done. You can’t start without a healthy amount of cash reserves.
Hard work is required whether you choose a lease purchase, or traditional financing. Also being a lease operator dependent on the company for loads, and being limited to only their freight, can leave you sitting more than rolling.
As I see it, financing a truck through a bank or credit union is “the” way to go, with a fighting chance of success. Provided you have a good amount of cash reserves.
If you’re just getting out of school, look for a good driving job, get a couple of years of experience, save up your money, then you can start looking for other opportunities. You’ll know a lot better if this life is for you.
Please don’t cite exceptions, they do exist, but they are not the rule. There is no shortage of BS, or BSers in trucking. Take your time, walk before you run. Most successful Owner Operators that I know, started as drivers, there is no shame in doing that.

 

OOIDA has contract review lawyers available.

 

Not everyone belongs to OOIDA.........

 

Here is one perspective. Start learning to be an O/O while you are still a company driver and AFTER you have completed three years. Log your fuel purchases by recording the amounts of your fills in a log. Determine your costs per mile based on fuel used. If you have tires replaced, just note what retail costs were and add this to your fuel used metric. There really is no way to know the true cost of insurance but ask theoretically what your liability insurance would cost. Determine what it would cost...see where this is headed? I quit with about 10% of the costs you would incur to be an O/O. There are many more factors and costs to consider. If you can think of the many more, then you stand a chance of making it. If not...

 

Remember it is not fashionable to take responsibility any more. These days, it is always the fault of the big bad trucking company, never the poor lowly driver. People complain about micro managing, start acting responsibly and you won't be treated like a child. I had plenty of good honest drivers I never had to worry about. I also had several that acted like 10 year olds and couldn't do the simplest things.
Everybody knows Swift, JB Hunt, CRE, and the like are problems. Stop acting surprised when you have trouble there and take responsibility for YOUR choice to work there. No one has forced you to go to work for a bottom-feeder company that was your choice. People complain about the pay scale and have absolutely no idea what it cost to run a truck. Don't believe me? Look at every person was ever failed as lease purchase or an owner operator. And after failure, they still cannot tell you what it cost to run a truck.