Taking your truck away just because you are in shop status

Yes I understand his DM wanted to switch him. She doesn't understand that Lancaster is trying to push a garbage truck onto him. It happens at almost all terminals.

But we can either sit around and say "I won't get in another truck" and "his DM is a ##### who doesn't care" OR we can attempt to solve it.

However, I'm much to tired tonight. I hope it works out for you and I apologize for butting in and trying to help.

 

There is your answer right there...they are trying to force you into a lease!

Shoot Oldnewbiegonnabe a PM and ask him what I PM'd him about...could be something to think about!

 

Sadly what likely happened is the DM was pressured into asking this by the FM. Your DM is there to take care of you, as a driver. However, people above your DM are looking at the money. On a spreadsheet, you are a tool that gets the job done, same as a screwdriver to a mechanic. If the screwdriver is broken, the mechanic cant do his job, and if he has to pay someone until he can, he is gonna find another screwdriver.

Bad analogy really, but the bean counters dont wanna pay a driver to sit, when he/she is capable of getting into another truck and doing the job.

Now... that being said...

Totally on your side here. I would not want another truck either, unless I was in an old one and they offered me a newer one. Thats how I got out of an International and into a Freightliner that was 2 years newer when I worked for Ozark. And the fact that you said you would forfeit your breakdown pay to keep your truck, it shows that you care about the equipment you are given, which is nice, because I have heard some stories about drivers who really dont care...

 

A truck is a tool- it's provided to us by Swift to get a job done. As long as it does that, what does the rest matter? "Your truck" is not getting the job done- it's in the shop. I can recall a few whines from you about sitting and waiting for the shop to get it fixed so you can get back out on the road. Now you've been offered a solution to get back out on the road, and you're whining about the solution.

Perhaps you would be a good candidate for leasing- but I'm sure you'd find something to whine about then, too.

The ultimate question I have is this : Are you sure you want to be a trucker? Are you sure you can handle this?

 

Pass the popcorn this one's warming up.

 

I likey some drama....that was a hard punch there 1only.

 

sounds like the honeymoon phase is over for bluebonn. it took six months with me, but i'm not done with trucking or swift. after the honeymoon comes learning the art of compromise.

 

I feel ya bluebonn, my dad works for Swift and takes plenty of pride in his truck, we wash it every weekend, polish all the aluminum, a little chrome here and there...we keep it looking immaculate inside and out....but my dads DM and FM is a little different though, when my dad smacked a deer in 2009, the truck needed a whole new bumper assembly, it took two weeks to fix...we had to empty it out and use another truck, but my dads FM and DM promised that when it was finished they would hold onto it, and get my dad back to the terminal to switch back because they know my dads cares for his truck, and they kept their promise....this happens everytime it will be in the shop more than 24 hrs...they give him another truck until his truck is fixed, then give his truck back. I guess it's different from terminal to terminal.

 

perhaps do to the amount of trucks, and lack of service bays available at the terminals, swift should have PM services done or minor problems at the T/A truck stop or SPEEDCO, this will keep the trucks moving in route instead of trying to get the truck to the terminal and DM trying to find a another driver to take the load