Abandoned truck on DAC. Was rehired at swift, looking to buy a used truck and run it with Swift

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by DirtyhandsMcgee, Aug 24, 2019.

  1. DirtyhandsMcgee

    DirtyhandsMcgee Light Load Member

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    First off, I know I'm a piece of #### for abandoning a truck. I had left swift for another company and was at an all time low in life. Ended up ditching a truck and walking deep into the woods of northern Montana thinking I would play survivor man till I died. After 7 days of only water I realized that I still wanted to live so I came out of the woods and hitchhiked to Missoula. I bought a bus ticket home and got back on at swift.

    I've been back at swift for a year and am growing restless of driver cams telling me my following distance is too close when climbing a hill or in rush hour traffic. They also took away my standard in June and put me in an International LT. I dont disrespect drivers who prefer automatics but they just aren't for me. I hate using the brake pedal and find myself using it all the #### time. The stick is my brake of choice.

    So here I am thankful as all hell to still be employed in the industry but desiring a little more freedom while being blacklisted from any other company besides swift. Welcome to Hell, but I deserve it. Swift pays 1.02 a mile to owner ops with a 30 cent fuel surcharge. So about 1.32 a mile. I have $25k in the bank and am looking to buy a 2013 volvo with D13 with 500,000 miles on it. No warranties and they want $49,000 I'm hoping to get it for 40k with a bank note. How bad of an idea is this? Should I go for a newer truck?

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
     
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  3. Cat sdp

    Cat sdp . .

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    Pretty bad idea.......

    1st if your gonna lease the truck to swift are you sure they don’t require the same camera system your complaining about in o/o trucks.....?

    2nd $1.35 sucks.......
     
  4. DirtyhandsMcgee

    DirtyhandsMcgee Light Load Member

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    No they dont require any cameras in o/o trucks. I know 1.32 is terrible but I'm thinking about doing it for a year till I have enough saved up to buy a decent trailer and run through load boards like Convoy and Uber Frieght.
     
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  5. starmac

    starmac Road Train Member

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    Save money driving a volvo with 500,000 miles at a buckthirty two.
    I am not saying it can't be done, but would you to come back on here in a year and tell us how well you make out.

    Oh yea, all companies do not use dat.
     
  6. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    If u dont like the drive cam telling u ur following to close then dont follow so close and it wont go off. Who says u are blacklisted , there is plenty of companies that will hire u. But they are gonna be non megas
     
  7. DirtyhandsMcgee

    DirtyhandsMcgee Light Load Member

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    Oh yea, all companies do not use dat.[/QUOTE]

    All companies do some sort of background check on previous employers though. I havent really tried anywhere, I'm just assuming that no one will touch me with a ten foot pole.... not even in a hazmat suit.
     
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  8. DirtyhandsMcgee

    DirtyhandsMcgee Light Load Member

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    Really? I would love to get out of the megas, but who is gonna trust a guy who ditched a truck in the middle of nowhere?
     
  9. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    Dont look at it like that. Obvious it was a mistake u made. Most good companies if ur honest with them about stuff that happened with past employers, they can look passed it if u have a clean record since... Just look on local craigslist or job sites for the smaller companies. Or take note of the trucks u see on the routes u like to run , that will tell you who to check out. There is so many trucking companies out there that need drivers. As long as ur honest about it when the question comes up then u shouldnt have a problem. But dont get caught up in the mindset that u have to stay at one company because thats not true. 1.32 a mile as an owner op is just bad news . any company job pays better than that
     
  10. FlaSwampRat

    FlaSwampRat Road Train Member

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    Anyone who just calls to verify employment dates (most people I think). Dac seems to be a tool for low end mega companies only for the most part.
     
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  11. starmac

    starmac Road Train Member

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    Hell I had some friends that had a driver cut his throat trying to commit suicide in their truck. Thy spent 15 grand changing out the interior and getting the blood out of it. They hired him back a year or so later after he got his life back on track. lol
     
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