TRUCKS - Which would you choose?

Why the hostility? I am just a newby like the MSgt so what do I know, but none of you experienced drivers can offer an oppinion? It sounds to me like he just wants to know what you, as seasoned drivers, would prefer to drive. I know that there is a certian amount of resentment towards the flood of new drivers out there, but were you all born with driving experience? Lighten up... Good luck to you MSgt and thank you for your service!

 

Mack.

 

he wants to go to work for a company solely for the trucks they have, which IS NOT any reason to choose a job......it HAS BEEN explained to him.....did you NOT read the other comments...???

 

DID YOU NOT READ ANY OF HIS ORIGINAL POST?


What he said was that he has a choice between a few companies and that all of the jobs were pretty much the same and that the only real difference was the make and type of truck that he would be driving.

So now for him it boils down to what truck is going to be a more dependable truck for him to be in.
But once again many of the responders to the question seem to have not comprehended the question!


Oh yeah....My answer to the OP would be any Kenworth that's not a T2000 or the new version of the T2000 that's just as crappy!

 

ignore the negativity and take all advice with a grain of salt. I read the question and did not take it as you were not just choosing a company for the truck only. If you you do that is on you. For people to get so negative and jump on a newbie for asking a question is outragious! Please don't respond to any questions I may ask if all you have is a negative response.

Oh and them Pete's sure look cool!
I don't drive one or think I would, but I like the look of em!

 

Right now I drive an '06 Freightliner Columbia. Don't really care for it.

If I ever decide to go OTR again, equipment will be a deciding factor. If it ain't a Peterbilt, KW T660, T800, W900, or International 9900, I'm not intersted. Y'all can keep your Prostars, Columbia's, Cascadia's, etc.

And yes, the OP's question is valid.

 

I saw May, Werner, Swift and Gordon (aka: GTI).

I'm in the Seattle area. GTI, May and Swift have terminals here (or near). I made it a practice to take a good look at company rigs while stopping at a truck stop, basically checking what I could on the rigs without disturbing or irritating the drivers.

The GTI's and May's were kept in good condition and for the most part clean. Swift (the company I drove for) and Werner were more widely varied on problems; worse condition of tires, more rust, older hoses, less maintained trailers etc.

Now alot of that falls to THE DRIVERS THEMSELVES. Some guys don't want to "waste time" putting a trailer or truck in the shop line. They just drop it in a yard and leave the problems for the next guy to deal with. I kept my rig well maintained and she rewarded me by busting her booty for me to earn a decent check.

Swift (up here) runs alot of Volvo's and some KW and (older) Freightliners. Side note: I've had bad luck with Volvos so I tend to avoid them if I can.

GTI seems to run alot of Freightliners. I've only seen 1 GTI truck that was in desperate need of shop time. The only time I've seen them on the shoulder of I-5 was for an occasional blowout tire (we all get those occasionally).

I've never seen a garbage May truck. All seemed to be well cared for. They seem to run the aerodynamic Petes (sorry, model escapes me).

Werner seemed so much like Swift that I stopped paying attention to them. Lots of border-line tires etc.

Out of your 4 selections, I think GTI has the best maintenance attitude. From what I've heard from their drivers, they really push the drivers into keeping the rig taken care of. May looked like they were replacing rigs on an accelerated schedule, since everything was 1-3 years old.

As far as the attitudes (dispatching, logs etc), I haven't worked for either so I can't help you.

I hope my observations help somewhat. Like I've said in other post, I couldn't care less what brand name is on the grill. I just want a truck that works well, then is comfortable.

Pal

 

I just want a truck that runs...lol I am not picky i find all tucks good looking in an ugly duckling kind of way....

 

i say trucks are a semi important yet not quite deal breaking factor. once you narrow it down to a few companies its something to consider. its one of the reasons i went where i did. i had a decent shot at getting a volvo and/or an apu. i got both, and considering your in the #### thing 20+ hours a day it helps if you get something decent.

 

whats an apu