Central Just Gave Me A New 2014 Truck....

I wish the timing was better. But I was just given a new 2014 White Freightliner Cascadia with only 22,000 miles on it.

I couldn't believe it. My last two weeks and I get offered this beauty! I got the information for it and walked for half a mile in the slush with tennis shoes on to find the truck. I finally found it!

Apparently the driver that has been working for Central for 7 years is taking 30 days off. They are taking the truck from him and giving it to me. Then they'll give my truck to a new upgrade.

The driver isn't done getting his stuff from the truck so I only enter partially.

As soon as I open the door, a wave of death hits me. I seriously couldn't breathe from the smell. It smelled like fish-flavored cat food in a can combined with a serious cigarette addiction. I mean, it was bad. I got out of it faster than I can blink!

I never thought this would happen. But I respectfully rejected a brand new 2014 truck.

I really didn't know how to proceed.

I called my DM and I told him that the truck is absolutely filthy and I seriously can't breathe in it especially with the cigarette smoke. He told me he understands and he would do the same thing. My lungs can't handle it and he said he doesn't blame me. He has the same trouble breathing in smoke as I do. So he actually agreed with me on my decision. In the end, I don't think he thinks low of me. He took it perfectly and I told him I am extremely grateful but I would rather take my truck over that 2014 truck. I let him know that I really appreciated it.

Today my DM really got my respect. I never thought I would reject a 2014 truck but I did.

With two weeks left, its just not worth the hassle and putting up with unhealthy living conditions.

I sit in the repair shop break room 30 minutes later coughing.

I really don't know why I posted this. Maybe to give you guys a laugh. But really, this is just another example of "everyday is different". I can't wait to see the mixed responses I will get.

I dont blame you on turning down the smoke smelling truck. U have to be careful with ur health and comfort driving long distances..

I don't blame you for turning it down. I am a smoker but always keep febreeze around because i know others do not smoke and it may bother them. I can't even take cigar smoke which might seem strange. If it was that bad i might also turn it down.

If I was in the same situation, I would do the same thing.

I have been around smokers all my life, and still find it very overpowering. As for the filth, there just is not excuse for that.

As others have said, just my .02 cents worth.

Ernie

Too bad you couldn’t have cleaned it up or had it cleaned up. It’s still a new truck. Filth can be cleaned up but an old truck is always going to be an old truck. These are just thoughts I had, FWIW, you know the situation better than I could ever know.

Good luck!

Tho I am a smoker, I don't smoke in a vehicle, and never in the truck. But I think that the company was hangin' a carrot out there, tryin' to keep you !!! What they didn't know was that the driver of that new truck was a pig. I mean, why would they offer you a truck you are just gonna use for 2 weeks ?? So take it as a compliment...

I would have done the same thing as well. The two smells that turn my stomach fish(which I am allergic to) and smoke which I personally abhor. So when is your start date at Prime? Perhaps I will run into you there. You are going to Prime correct?

Yeah, especially with only two weeks to go? The heck with that.

I think new trucks are overrated anyhow. I always wanted a truck that had about 75,000-150,000 miles on it. That way I knew it was well broken-in and the annoying bugs have been worked out of it. As long as you stay on top of it and put it in the shop anytime it needs something a truck will be reliable for 400,000+ miles. Of course there are tons of trucks that have over a million miles but not at major companies. They trade them in long before that usually.

I agree with you fully in rejecting that new truck-it is your home and you certainly would never live in that kind of environment for any length of time.

I don't think I could have stomached that either. What is really "interesting" is that that truck had the 'new car smell' just 22k miles ago. In the trucking world, how long does it take to go 22k miles? Just what level of cleanliness would trash a brand new truck in that amount of time?!? I would hate to see his house. . . .