Getting a T680 as a company driver.

Is there a trick to this?

I know it's a bit of a wildcard, an ace up the sleeve for many trucking companies. They use it to entice drivers with extreme credentials and also to bribe drivers ready to leave the company, something to get them to stay.

For me, I'm on the verge of leaving as is. I have plenty of good things to say about them, they are leagues beyond places like Swift and England but there are also plenty of issues that really frustrate me. I'm not a full time OTR driver right now and one of the reasons is because of the trucks they've tried to put me in. I know I'm not the most experienced driver in their rooster, but I've been driving for a steady 14 solid months now, 6 of which are with Schneider. I've never had an accident, the most I've had was one overweight ticket and it was only on one axle, not by much either.

I would like to go full time OTR but here's the issue... It's called Casscadia, and some times Columbia. These trucks are usually disgusting, haven't been taken care of, are not at all pleasant to be inside and I generally hate them. I drove a T680 once and it is what I believe all trucks should be for guys going out over the road, away from family, away from being able to live a very fit and healthy lifestyle, exhausting themselves, deserve. The lighting inside is pleasant, easier on the eyes and doesn't give me a headache when I use it to try and read. They are more ergonomic in many ways but most importantly, the bed...

The bed in the Frieghtliners that Schneider uses (for the company drivers anyways) is a tiny, undersized, horribly uncomfortable, flame retardant, plastic, glorified boxspring. Even when I'm incredibly exhausted I find it unbelievably hard to sleep and stay asleep on the things. The bed in the T680 is actually comfortable and helps me get a good night's rest.

I keep seeing more and more T680 company trucks around lately, even seen some really young guys driving them around, which is totally fine but how do I get into one? I've asked once before and they "tried to find me one" then never did, then said it would be a long time before I ever got one. Is there something I'm missing?

Thanks for any help and or advice.

 

Some of the older frieghtliners that guys may have maxed out and souped up might be okay, but generally speaking, as a company truck, they tend to just, suck. Especially the way schneider equips them. Yeah, any of the trucks with the little road decal going down the side of it is a company truck. Plenty of company drivers have them, not just lease operators. Also, to my understanding, the only way to get one as a lease operator with schneider is to do the non-walkaway program, which is a scary thing to consider that I just wouldn't want to plunge into. I don't really want to go to another OTR company, if I was going to do OTR I'd prefer it to be with Schneider, otherwise I'll end up doing something else.

 

This coming from a guy who has a T680? No offense, I'm not trying to be rude about it. But yeah, the truck is a HUGE factor when you think about it. That's where you live, that's where you work, that's what you drive, that's where you take your breaks. That truck is your entire life while you are out on the road. I'm not saying it has to be on the level of a new Rolls Royce, but it is sure nice when they have a bed you can actually sleep in, don't feel like you're in a sardine can, have lighting that doesn't hurt your eyes and head, drive 1000 times better, have seats that keep you from getting leg cramps. To me? It's one of the biggest deals there is for a truck driver

 

Joseph, did you read anything I said at all?