Swift and Experienced Drivers

Scottie...best of luck to you, hope you get what you need and want!

 

I really didn't want the Puke Blue lol but I did want the T-660, that shape really grew on me. The first time I saw one a few months ago (probably saw hundreds of them over the years but never really paid attention til I became a truck driver) I thought 'wow what an ugly design!'

I only drove it around inside the terminal a couple of laps but one thing I really liked about it was the turning radius is tighter (on par with a Volvo) than the T-2000 which you typically have to back up and get more turn to avoid the curb on a roundabout. Another plus is the mega leg room for my long legs-- being able to slide the seat all the way back because there is no wall behind the seat as in the T2000 or Volvo.

What was weird about it is that the gear shift seems to be way forward from what I am used to. Part of that might be due to the seat adjusted all the way back. Shifts effortlessly and seems to have mega power. Needs new mattresses and locks on the cubby hole doors.

Talked to shop manager about that, she said that oftentimes the first thing a L/O will do after signing is install new locks on the truck in an effort to thwart repossession. Another driver tried to hide his truck in a barn, driver's father in law called Swift and told them to come get it because he had hay to put up.

I'll take a couple of pix tomorrow and post them but be prepared for Puke Blue!

 

is that like petty blue?
i have never been in a t-660 but have driven 600's and i love them--for me they are perfect
are you allowed to put any kind of striping on the truck?
that might help break up the colour a bit--kinda expensive tho

 

You better......

 

Modifications have to be approved in writing. The color doesn't bother me to much since I signed the papers lol. Plus when my former mentor finds out about it he will have an absolute shart attack.

I can already see him trying to call the fleet manager to tell them how underhanded I am for not taking over his lease and kicking back 10% lol. Sooner or later we will cross paths at the terminal or a shipper / receiver and I predict it will be ugly. Won't be no static if he don't start none, but I will finish it....

 

Well best of luck to ya. But if you think you're going to make $100 more a week running the same miles as you did running as a company driver, well let me just ask you to come back here after you check your first few settlement checks. Lets just say you run 2500mi/wk, and IF you get 6.5mpg, the fuel alone will run you close to $1400 (figure 2200 loaded miles at .37cpm for FSC, you're still going to be OUT OF POCKET close to $600) Your MINIMUM overhead on the truck will be around $900....so right there you're in the hole $1500.

But i'm re-hashing numbers i'm sure you've already done. But don't think just because you're now a Lease/Op, that you're going to get priority over company drivers. Regardless what your DM or L/O recruiter told ya (did you deal with Lucy in PHX?) you dont. I know, you're SUPPOSED TO, but you dont. The only ones who get "priority" are teams or mentor's with students. Solo L/Os are 2nd from the bottom....the bottom being company solos.

when i got mine, it didnt have any numbers on it. And the only color shops had was blue. Finally went to Cabella's and got some vinyl numbers in the boat section, and put them on myself.

stick it out. once you get your down payment paid off and the performance bond, that'll be like getting $600/mo bonus...goes a long way.

also, check your info sticker on the inside of the drivers side door. i'm willing to bet swift said it was a 2010, when in fact, its a 2009. If you ever go to a KW dealership, they'll pull up your truck id (last 6 of VIN) and it'll show manufactured in 2009. Your 660 must have been a team truck with that many miles on it. 100k more than mine....

 

sure wish i had priority when i needed a quick 30 min. fix and i'm at a terminal.

 

Welcome to the mega carrier where your priorities mean nothing to them. Why is that? Because you aren't costing them a dime while you sit there.

 

"YOU" aren't is correct since "YOU" get paid per mile driven...but the cost of the tractor, the trailer seem to keep recurring...so revenue earned by the tractor/trailer is technically money lost each hour that unit sits without a load on it!

But your "shot" isn't about the driver...just a cheap shot at a company who hires drivers and gives them employment...right?!