Anyone here complete a Lease/Purchase with swift?

Stranger - You seem to really know what your talking about and full of knowledge, But now a days as an OO I still feel that sense of freedom, and love that pride of ownership. Im inly 24 so me or fluffy wouldent know what it was like to run in the good ole days. But I can tell ya that its just a diffrent feeling driving your own truck, and Im doing way better as an OO than as a company driver.

 

That would have been the ideal situation for you. I had a guy that all I ever heard from him was he wanted to drive a truck. I took him from NC to Phoenix and back one hot August week in the old White in the picture. Just about everything that could go wrong did. He never again mentioned driving.

You just never know for sure until you try.

 

That's why companies want young drivers and new drivers of any age. There's no bad habits to try to break. That's the way of life. I can adapt to most situations, but I will not stay out in a truck for weeks or months at a time. Never have, never will. Now it is required. No thanks. I have a life besides a truck.

You can look through "my trucking photos" and see all the trucks I have owned. I loved owning my own truck.

 

I totally hear you on that! I spent at least 10 weeks at a time out and in for only 4 days most of the time, But im willing to sacrafice my time now and hopefully one day own a few trucks and be home alot more often.... Like i said im only 24, hopefully by the time im 30-40 ill have more relax time...

 

100% agreed! This driving stuff isnt like how CDL schools or movies or even the general public make it out to be! This is exactly why These mega carrier training companies have the turnover rate they do... Most people THINK they can drive a truck for a living, when infact MOST cannot handle life on the road.

 

I did have a guy with Prime tell me once that they leased the same truck 3 times before anyone actually completed the lease. If that is the average, then they have a 67% failure rate or 33% success rate, depending on how you want to look at it. Since most of these programs are similar, I would expect that other carriers will have similar success rates.

I have some thoughts about why so many fail. Carriers who do these programs will put anyone into a truck with no credit, no money and no driving experience. About all you need is a CDL. You can't totally blame the carriers. They can't rent or lease these trucks unless someone is willing to pay the price. Unless you have been driving for a while you have no idea whether what you are being told is correct or not. This industry has an annual turnover rate of about 136% the last time I checked the figures. In order to complete your lease you may need to commit to that carrier for up to 5 years. If you choose to leave the carrier you also leave the truck or pay a big balloon payment to take the truck. You may also have to leave any money that is in your mandated maintenance account. Some programs you will never own the truck because they are only a lease, not a lease purchase. If you own the truck you can leave at any time and take your truck with you.

 

My mentor finished his lease and paid his truck off. Got the title in his hand and then promptly signed the truck back over to Swift. He went home to Senegal with no plans to return to the US, trucking or Swift. I hear he has almost paid off his second truck. Another W900.

My friend (also out of the same terminal) paid his W900 off and had the title in his hand. Ran it with Swift for about 9 months before he had a second heart attack and was forced to give up trucking. He sold his truck to another Swift lease guy who paid his off...and it is still active in the fleet.

It is possible. But it is work. If you expect a company to do it for you, stay company.