Are The Modern International Lonestars And Lonestar Eagles Good Trucks?

I have looked at trucks a lot through out the years and I have to admit I liked Freightliner until they changed ip their design with the Cascadia and then now that I am.driving it I like how much room it has. One other truck other than Peterbilt and Kenworth that I like the design and all is the International Lonestar. I have heard just like Freightliner that they are good and then some say they are junk. Could some of you clear up the dust on this topic thanks.

They're not a bad truck. Interior wise, they're a step up from a Pro Star but aside from a couple small improvements are identical. It has a long hood and the front axle it set farther forward to achieve a more classic look and that's really about it to be honest. The 2017 and newer have the newest version of the Cummins which corrected some problems which plagued the previous version, mainly a sleeve issue in the cylinders which caused excessive oil consumption starting around 300k on average and usually led to an in frame rebuild which if you're lucky would be covered under warranty, otherwise, around a 20k investment. Are they the best truck? No, but they aren't terrible and can be found pretty cheap. The kicker would be on resale which the champion there is the W900 and has been for decades.

Ok cause that is something that I have thought about when I have 2-3 years experience going and going to invest in my company and I dont want junk at all. I am going to probably switch to Simbeck and Lord willing get my backing improved. Thats the reason why I was let go from Swift Transportation was that, now that I have 5 months experience and thats the only thing that absolutely PLAGUES me then I can go with this smaller company that can give more attention to my needs as a driver when it comes to training.

Victor, I was unaware that Swift let you go. What happened?

But seriously, you are getting let go by a company who is usually very lenient on their new drivers, so you think it would be a good idea to start your own trucking company? Victor you probably have read plenty of my commentary on the problems of being an owner operator. I can lay it all out fairly plain and clear, but I realize that some of us have got to learn things the hard way. But think about it... It is not a good plan for a guy who is having trouble keeping a job in an industry to just go out and start his own company so that he can stay in that industry. You are merely going to buy yourself a job, and that is never a good idea. The best way to start a business is to have a better idea than everybody else, or to have some revolutionary way of doing something or providing a service in a revolutionary way that becomes a game changer. In trucking you are just going to try and do the same thing that millions of others are trying to do. What in the world makes you think that you can do it better?

No Old School, I dont plan on starting my business until I have very good experience in trucking. I was merely suggesting that after a few more years of working UNDER somebody not start a company. Why would I even think of going and starting my company if I cant even get my backing perfected? Nay but I will submit myself to the wisdom and power of another campany in order to get more experience and perfect my skills. I think this was Gods way of moving me away from Swift and to a different company thats better suited for my needs. Like I still want to finish up my diploma studies which I dont have a whole lot more to do and I want to study Solid Works which is an engineers program I am wanting to learn.

On top of that I did mention a company named Simbeck. A company of 60 trucks and also my good friend works there and he will train me once I get there. They pay up tp 26% of the load, I will be home for the weekends for my 34 hour reset, closer home and they have new equipment. All dry van frieght and it would help me get good at one thing before I begin doing flatbed.

Does this help?

Victor, to be honest your thinking is a mess.

Why would I even think of going and starting my company if I cant even get my backing perfected? I can go with this smaller company that can give more attention to my needs as a driver when it comes to training.

Really? You think a small company can afford to give you more time and attention toward becoming a decent driver than a large carrier like Swift who specializes in this sort of thing. No, it's quite the opposite. At a small company each driver is a much larger percentage of the overall workforce. Small companies need every driver to be far more efficient overall than a large company does.

And besides, you don't need more help from anyone. You've been driving for five months and from what little you've said it appears you've backed into too many things so they're letting you go. Am I right? Why haven't you been getting out to look? Why haven't you been more careful? No one can teach you that. You have to do that yourself. You have to have the awareness of what's going on to prevent backing into things. No amount of practice or instruction is going to make you safer. Safety is a discipline. Maintaining following distance, getting out to look when backing, watching your mirrors - all of that stuff. It's discipline. It's awareness.

I think this was Gods way of moving me away from Swift and to a different company thats better suited for my needs.

Don't blame God for your lousy backing skills and lack of discipline. No wonder there's been big hurricanes rolling through one after another. You're angering the Gods. Trust me, when God backs a trailer he gets out to look. Jesus would have kept his head on a swivel and watched his mirrors.

Getting fired from Swift wasn't God's way of letting you know anything. It was Swift's way of letting you know you're not learning. Take the responsibility on yourself to follow all safety procedures closely. In the meantime the rest of us will be praying that God watches out for the people parked next to you at truck stops.

Come on, man!

Does this help?

No, not really.

But this made me chuckle...

Trust me, when God backs a trailer he gets out to look. Jesus would have kept his head on a swivel and watched his mirrors.

That should inspire you to take a whole new approach to backing. While backing your truck at this new company, keep in mind that silly little slogan that was popular among Christians several years back... "WWJD"

Wow Victor, that seriously stinks. As you know I work for Swift, so I know their policies...if you flat-out can't back you would not have been upgraded to solo and/or your mentoring would have continued. I've seen it happen many times.

No sir. Victor there is only one way Swift will terminate for having difficulty backing;...you hit something, and likely had three such incidents within a very short span of time. I know for a fact they would have you attend a LCQT class if you were having difficulty, and/or if you happen to clip a trailer or stationary object. Swift is incredibly well equipped to support new drivers.

Short of hand-holding you and/or keeping you on a mentor's truck for a year, what else did you expect from them? Seriously, I am not trying to be a smart a**, what more do you need? Honestly Man, very sorry to hear of this...

Well that all may be true from what you all said but on the flip side of that, I dont believe in the GODS I believe in one God and also I realize that these small companies are not going to have as much time to try and give me more time to "train" me but I was not blaming God but rather the opposite because I have been praying for God would give me guidance, wisdom, understanding, knowledge and prudence. Well about a month ago I felt that God was possibly telling me to quite Swift and finish up my diploma and then come back out to trucking again. Well I am not always the best at discerning Gods soft and gentle voice when He is trying to lead and I ended up staying and by the way I did GOAL and I did for the most part not hit anything but I realize that I also did bump a couple things and I admit to my fault with that.

I will not say you all are wrong but I sure as heck tried. Also to G-Town I did complete those classes just last week but they decided by that time to let me go. They didnt even give me a safety coaching class. By the way Brett you can say what you want but I will be honest no one tries as hard as I do to do a good job, sure I screwed up, but not a single one of us are PERFECT the first time around and 2nd I have a great friend who was in the first school I went to get my CDL who works at Simbeck who said that he would most likely be training me to be better at backing up and what not for a week and up to 4 weeks. I checked it out. Even called him. And quite honestly, I needed more time with my mentor he literally waited till last minute to try and get me 40 backs and we didnt get to it which would have helped a lot which 3rd I thought I was supposted to put in claims right as something happens and thought that we were supposed to put it in when we got to a terminal NO ONE told me to do.it right away so I looked really bad to them. SORRY I am not perfect at this yet give me a little room to breath. Like I said I am going to ADMIT to.my fault and MOVE on to bigger things.

I dont believe anything happens by chance. Cant say I didnt try and by the way I have not quite I just fell down but I dont QUITE I get back up and try to knock it out with a whopping 100% good backing and maneuvering that truck.

QUITTERS NEVER WIN. So I will get right back up again.

Victor wrote:

And quite honestly, I needed more time with my mentor he literally waited till last minute to try and get me 40 backs and we didnt get to it which would have helped a lot

Victor...do you recall my advice to you before you began the mentoring phase? I emphatically suggested that you own your training. And Blah, Blah, Blah, you came back like a frothing puppy stating how great that advice was. What good was it? You failed to heed the advice you thought was so great...

I also explained the importance of regular communication with your Driver Development Manager (DDM). You also understood that. I know for a fact, every DDM checks in on a regular basis with student drivers, worst case every 7-10 days. Why didn't you voice concern over your lack of backing at the point it became obvious your Mentor was sandbagging? You should have had the DDM's direct dial number, their cell number and the ability to send them a directed message through the QC so that your concern was DOCUMENTED.

My friend, this is on you and is diametrically opposed to my original suggestion. You did not "Own" your training, you went along with whatever the Mentor wanted to do, like a lemming and allowing their laziness to negatively affect your training quality.

Grow a set next time and speak up before it's too late. You knew "40 backs" is the minimum requirement and should be spread out over the duration of your Mentoring time. Five months in and you now state you didn't get enough backing practice? No wonder Swift terminated you. No excuse for this Victor...none.