Swift Owner Operators

[Jackrabbit379]

No, I'm not an owner operator, and I aint interested in signing on to Swift. :P I'm just curious about Swift's owner operators. Well, we all know that Swift's trucks are governed at 65. Yesterday afternoon, I saw a 379, pulling a Swift trailer, and then about an hour later, a Freightshaker, pulling a Swift trailer. Just so happens, both owner operators were running 65. Does Swift require owner operators that sign on to them, to have their trucks governed at 65? :shock: I'd have to say, "thanks, but no thanks", if that was the case. :P Like I said, I was just curious.

[pepe4158]

Hmmm some one who was a company swift driver told me it was, but I never confirmed it.

[Jackrabbit379]

Hmmm some one who was a company swift driver told me it was, but I never confirmed it.

I havent ever heard that, but I thought it was funny that both of those guys were puddling along at 65. That 379 that I saw was purty. Once I got around his trailer, and I saw that red Pete, I was like, :shock: I thought, "a Pete, pulling a Swift trailer, man, that aint even right." :P

[tootie04]

We drive 63-65 mph anyway.....fuel is too expensive to blow up the stacks :wink:

tootie

[pepe4158]

Well Sysco this was the conversation I recall with a swift driver pulling into the pumps one day, but it was the word of another driver so who knows

Me(standing by my USX truck) Hi there Swift
Swift driver: Hi
ME: Say how they treating you over there?
Swift: I got no complaints
Me: Yeah,,,dunno....maybe I should have gone over there to start my trucking years back, seems Max has turned his Co. over to this bonehead broker Pat Quinn whose running us into the ground....I train her n always been happy till then
Swift: yeah me...no complaints
ME: Hmm yeah one guy that came over from Swift to us says old man Swift treated him better then he is getting treated here tho....me tho...dunno about that 60mph crap tho (this is 3.5 years ago)
Me: I wouldnt mind being an Owner OP with you guys tho...so I could run a little faaster.
Swift: Oh they turn them down too....they make them
Me (GASP) hmmm hardly seems fair????????
Swift: yeah there suppose to, 'voluntairly" comply
Me: Definitly wouldnt be voluntary on my part

Although the disclaimer I will run is now that I actually pay for my own feul (gulp) 65mph is looking better n better sometimes, just want the extra speed to get me out of certain situations you see coming up as you scan ahead, and since my truck is completly ungoverned I just confirmed that concept in my mind. Was nice to see a potiential problem ahead coming home and be able to accelerate around it cuz im ungoverned.

[jnk2001]

short answer: YES they are goverened or used to be. They have to follow all the rules the swift trucks do, the only difference is, they get the miles. Most O/O's I ever talked to there, had no complaints.

[jnk2001]

Although the disclaimer I will run is now that I actually pay for my own feul (gulp) 65mph is looking better n better sometimes, just want the extra speed to get me out of certain situations you see coming up as you scan ahead, and since my truck is completly ungoverned I just confirmed that concept in my mind. Was nice to see a potiential problem ahead coming home and be able to accelerate around it cuz im ungoverned.

Thats what I think too. you can save a couple miles a gallon under 70. but having the power to get ahead of someone, or around someone trying to squeeze you out can be a real life saver.

[marcel27208]

talked to o/o's from swift(son and dad) swift turns there trucks down to 65mph, they make them sign a form also saying they will run no faster than 65,,,,,, but i dont think they bought those trucks to swift they look like lease trucks!

[Dejanh]

Swift O/Op , those are company drivers with alot more headache..

I had that "problem" fixed in Efiingham, IL.

[heavyhaulerss]

i like the freedom of having no speed restrictions put on my truck, but also to run 65 or slower when i can. i get 7.2 m.p.g. loaded w/ 49 thou lbs. with my foot in it 5.5-5.9 huge difference in fuel bill.

[LOAD IT]

Me: Yeah,,,dunno....maybe I should have gone over there to start my trucking years back, seems Max has turned his Co. over to this bonehead broker Pat Quinn whose running us into the ground....
(this is 3.5 years ago)

3.5 years ago? Max Fuller and Pat Quinn have been together since the inception of USX. One was a trucker and the other a lawyer. I drove for Victory, who they brought out and that was about 10 years ago. How long were you stuck at USX or are you just telling us trucker BS?

[PackRatTDI]

Swift Owner Operator trucks are governed at 68 mph. About a year ago or so they got a 3 mph bump.

The Swift O/O on the Wal-MArt fleet seem to be happy with their position, though the ones that were with Merritt before the takeover kind of miss the way things were under them.

[GMAN]

Me: Yeah,,,dunno....maybe I should have gone over there to start my trucking years back, seems Max has turned his Co. over to this bonehead broker Pat Quinn whose running us into the ground....
(this is 3.5 years ago)

3.5 years ago? Max Fuller and Pat Quinn have been together since the inception of USX. One was a trucker and the other a lawyer. I drove for Victory, who they brought out and that was about 10 years ago. How long were you stuck at USX or are you just telling us trucker BS?

I don't believe Max ever drove a truck. His dad, Clyde, drove and started a company called Southwest. If I remember correctly, Max worked in operations for his dad before hooking up with Pat and starting USX. I believe you are correct about Pat Quinn being a lawyer. Attorney's have messed up a lot of good companies.

[Dejanh]

Before they were bought out M.S. Carriers was a pretty decent company.

[jnk2001]

Before they were bought out M.S. Carriers was a pretty decent company.

I remember MS carriers bitchin about swift drivers before they were bought out. Now there's some irony for you... :P

[pepe4158]

Me: Yeah,,,dunno....maybe I should have gone over there to start my trucking years back, seems Max has turned his Co. over to this bonehead broker Pat Quinn whose running us into the ground....
(this is 3.5 years ago)

3.5 years ago? Max Fuller and Pat Quinn have been together since the inception of USX. One was a trucker and the other a lawyer. I drove for Victory, who they brought out and that was about 10 years ago. How long were you stuck at USX or are you just telling us trucker BS?

Hmmm I think you deliberty miss-quoted me, you will see I had the 3.5 year remark over refering to when swift was running 60mPh now they run 65 mPh.s The conversation itself with the swift driver was approximatly 3.5 years ago.
As far as when Pat started running the operation for Max (while Max went to Washington to play politician) I cat remember all the exact dates. I just personally believe a lot of the bone-head decisions I saw getting made couldnt have been Max (just thought Max was to cleaver for that).
They even lost a major labor dispute filed by drivers against them ( I wasnt involved in that 1). Which USX lost of course.

[Dejanh]

I know that M.S. Carriers had a hook to a good paying loads man, owner of that company had connections in the U.S. government of some kind and all of those high teck loads ended up in their trailers. Couple that owned it got divorces and thats when all of that went to ***** as swifty came on board.

Friend of mine leased 10 trucks to them and he is talking about them all the time.....

[LOAD IT]

Me: Yeah,,,dunno....maybe I should have gone over there to start my trucking years back, seems Max has turned his Co. over to this bonehead broker Pat Quinn whose running us into the ground....
(this is 3.5 years ago)

3.5 years ago? Max Fuller and Pat Quinn have been together since the inception of USX. One was a trucker and the other a lawyer. I drove for Victory, who they brought out and that was about 10 years ago. How long were you stuck at USX or are you just telling us trucker BS?

Hmmm I think you deliberty miss-quoted me, you will see I had the 3.5 year remark over refering to when swift was running 60mPh now they run 65 mPh.s The conversation itself with the swift driver was approximatly 3.5 years ago.
As far as when Pat started running the operation for Max (while Max went to Washington to play politician) I cat remember all the exact dates. I just personally believe a lot of the bone-head decisions I saw getting made couldnt have been Max (just thought Max was to cleaver for that).
They even lost a major labor dispute filed by drivers against them ( I wasnt involved in that 1). Which USX lost of course.

NOOOOOO I didnt mean to misquote you, sorry. How long have you been away from USX? I'm glad to see you getting out on your own. Its a good move, just be smart with every penny and be careful who you haul for. There are a lot of pit falls out there. This forum is great to help avoid falling into some of those pits. Good Luck and welcome to the Carrier side.

[geeshock]

Although the disclaimer I will run is now that I actually pay for my own feul (gulp) 65mph is looking better n better sometimes, just want the extra speed to get me out of certain situations you see coming up as you scan ahead, and since my truck is completly ungoverned I just confirmed that concept in my mind. Was nice to see a potiential problem ahead coming home and be able to accelerate around it cuz im ungoverned.

Thats what I think too. you can save a couple miles a gallon under 70. but having the power to get ahead of someone, or around someone trying to squeeze you out can be a real life saver.

If you buy from swift, you'll get governed, if you purchase your truck from another source you don't have to govern. You may have to stick to the rules but it's easy enough to disable the part that tells them speed and rpm's especaly if you buy your own quailcom. It's yours so all they need to see is where you are at and so forth.