Upgraded To Solo With Swift...truck Assignments...

Been lurking a while to soak it all in but now that I have finished with my mentor and have upgraded to solo I am have a ton of questions about what's next. I upgraded Friday but there was no one in driver services to assign me to a truck so I am stuck in Lathrop CA for the weekend making up things to worry about with my free time.

Should I be afraid of the condition of the truck I am going to get? I'm not expecting new, but I've seen some drivers' trucks and they are horrifyingly filthy. I can't imagine the smell. I am not a neat freak but it's going to be my home so I am interested to know what others have been assigned and what condition they have been in.

Thanks!

It won't be filthy, but don't expect to be able to eat off the floors unless you get lucky and wind up with a new truck. It may or may not smell like smoke depending on whoever had it before. This can be easily remedied with a box of your favorite dryer sheets stuffed into the air vents and a $5 can of "ozium" air spray (spray it and then go find something to do for an hour or two, as it's not good to breathe that stuff in).

They generally take the garbage out and (perhaps) vacuum. When assigned my truck it was not spotless but not really what I'd call dirty, either. I left the truck much cleaner than the condition it was in when I got it, after all that's only polite. I vacuumed, detailed with wipes and armorall, air freshener, etc. So maybe you'll get a truck that was previously used by someone like me and it'll be super tidy.

Swift in Memphis has a detailer crew to shine up the trucks they reassign. But currently at least two TT members have had problems getting trucks here. (Like, there ain't none!)

I've seen some truck interiors that are truly nasty. And a person lives in that filth! But Eric, that's you're living space, make it like you feel comfortable.

Added piece of advice: if a DOT officer stops you, a big part of his decision on what to do next depends on the inside's cleanliness. A clean cab indicates a good driver, and a trash can on 18 wheels just begs for an inspection!

I don't even know if there are trucks here in Lathrop for me. I assume that they would have sent me to West Valley on a bus if not since there are a ton of trucks there judging from my last visit.

I do plan on keeping it clean. Make a good impression, right?

I can clean it if need be, but smells are what worry me. I just can't stand the smell of cigarettes.

I have a CPAP so hopefully I can take a peek - and a whiff - at what's available.

Eric has his limits:

I can clean it if need be, but smells are what worry me. I just can't stand the smell of cigarettes.

If that's the case, use Febreze "all over", and ask the parts desk for a new mattress. I had that problem when I got my current truck.

Didn't know I could do that, but I certainly will now.

Thanks!

Absolutely a new mattress. It's the least the company can do. Troutdale also has detailers although sometimes they don't clean them until you check out the truck and accept it. And fabreze is in my basic kit for the truck.

Got issued a 2014 Freightliner with 310K on it. No smoke smell.

They did detail it and did a pretty good job. New mattress too and I didn't even have to ask. The guys in Lathrop did me right.

Got issued a 2014 Freightliner with 310K on it. No smoke smell.

They did detail it and did a pretty good job. New mattress too and I didn't even have to ask. The guys in Lathrop did me right.

Awesome, good for you. That's a decent truck, good luck with it! Safe travels.