What to expect when I get my truck

A good company will want you to tell them and have the shop clean it out, install a new mattress and even disinfect it for you. I've even seen them pay for a professional cleaning company to come do the same. If this doesn't happen, go elsewhere and give them back their keys. Where I drive if this ever happens safety will put a request to the shop and you just consider it done, they don't want you driving in someone else's mess.

 

Its simple, really. Very first thing I do is climb into cab and check for smells (pets, smoking, body odor) and overall condition and cleanliness. Do not accept any truck thats not up to your standards.

Any used truck that Im going to live in is going to get wiped down with lysol or clorox wipes. Anything requiring more than a quick wipe down (for sanitary purposes) is unacceptable to me.

As far as these horror stories go, dont worry about all that BS, they may try to put you in a filthy truck but you aint going to accept it, right? Pets is a big one for me, I search in crevices looking for pet hair. Thats a no go for me.

Get used to standing your ground. No better time than when your being issued a truck.

When you get an acceptable truck TELL them youre going to walmart to stock it up. (PC) If you need lysol wipes, mattress pad, new mattress, seat cover, or whatever get it then. Dont bring any of this stuff with you cause you may not need it.

Bonus tip. The seat belt will show just how dirty the filthy animal who was living in that truck really was. It will get lightly soiled no matter what, but if the filthy animal never washed his hands it will be disgusting.

Bonus tip 2. These trucks all have 2 in cabin air filters. my 2020 freightliner has one under the dash by the fuse panel. The second one is in the sleeper in the bottom cabinet on the drivers side. Pull up the "floor" of that cabinet and you will see it. They can be washed, dried and reused but really they should be replaced with new. Not to be confused with the cabin air intake filter thats under the hood by the wiper fluid fill.

Good luck, hopefully you get a new truck.

 

Great post! Thank you for taking the time, and thank you for the advice.

 

One caveat to this is jobs like oilfield or end dump. The belts in these get trashed no matter what just due to the work enviroment. Hell i own my own truck and go out of my way to try and keep it clean. But my belt looks like the aftermath of strangleing a homeless guy in a city dump.

 

Sure, oilfield or construction work but thats "clean dirt" if you get what Im saying.

Im assuming hes going dry van or reefer. Lots of new guys have no idea what theyre getting into. They work 3-6 months and have near mental breakdowns and dont take care of themselves or the truck.

Another thing, if your going to a mega, dont do any "favors" or show that youre a "team player" for any of the desk jockeys at the terminal. Your direct supervisor sure, if its not asking too much, it may be rewarded and appreciated. These other office staff youll probably never see again and will have zero effect on the rest of your career or even your time with that carrier.

There is a shortage of trucks so you may have to chase down a truck but dont let them convince you to take a truck that you arent comfortable with.

 

I sure do appreciate all the words of wisdom. My experience so far has been construction, and oil field in Alaska. I get what you are saying, but not all that dirt is clean. Matter of fact, I was thinking back on my time slip seating up north with some nasty individuals up north and that’s what prompted me to start this thread.
I’m going flatbed; not sure if they are really a “mega”.

 

Did you actually roll with it?

 

Nope took my keys to the manager and told him he had a choice. Either he had that truck detailed by a professional team, gave me a new truck or i found a new job.

I got a new truck.