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Message |
    
Chris142
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 - 11:08 pm: | 
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I got laid off from my job. I had a super easy and fun local 7a-3p delivering job.
Now I'm spoiled!
I have done the otr thing and was miserable. I like to be home more than once every 6 weeks.
The company that I was working for otr told all kinds of lies "Ya you can go home after this run" kind of stuff. Then they send you the opposite direction! I finally got home after I deadheaded 1100 miles back to their yard with the qualcom hanging out the window! From there I had to buy a ticket on a plane home at my expense.I was home 7 hours and they started calling me to come back to work!
I have applied to several companies. Only J.B. called me.After talking with their recruiter I decided that particular co wasn't what I was looking for. Plus the guy got mad at me and hung up on me!
So I'm wondering if it would be worth while to buy my own truck. That way I have more say so on my miles and hours....sorta.
Or do I gotta run 24/7 and 3 log books just to make ends meet?
I know a guy that has his own truck and trailer. he works 1 week a month, but he owns the truck so no payments.
I have been looking at used trucks. I really like Petes due to the comfort and looks. I detest freightshakers! Kw's look ok but there are a couple of things I dont like about them.
Maybe I'm too picky?
The used Petes I have found are between $46,000 and $60,000 for a 1999 w/400k on them.
So can O/O be done comfortably or am I better off trying to find another local job with a company?
Thx for your input. |
Txdx
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 3:48 am: |
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You can make a living as an owner op.You better have your ducks in a row and have a seperate account just for the truck.If you are going to lease your truck to a company make sure you read the lease agreement very carefully.
Dont set your sights to high on the make of truck.A cheaper less high dollar brand name will make the same money as that fancy high payment rig.Last thing subscribe to Land Line magazine.They have a lot of good info and support for Owner Ops.I hope this helps.73s |
Simon
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 9:46 am: |
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Chris,
A few years back I made over $46,000 running a little 1 ton pickup for a frwight company. Home every night - with the occassional callout for an urgent delivery. What did I do?? I just delivered/picked up at the places the larger trucks couldnt get into easily. Averaged $1200 every two weeks IN THE POCKET. OK I paid $8,000 in tax but with a good accountant I got $7,000 back. Might bear looking into. |
Sixkiller505
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 12:21 pm: |
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chris, txdx told you right,but let's go in depth here briefly.you are right,you are spoiled and picky.but that's okay if you have the money to support your habits!!if not,you know the rest of the story!!(right?)you say you like "petes"(what self repecting driver that does;nt dream of one)but you have to crawl before you walk.petes are good show trucks,but at a dock where there is tight"jacking"and parking,a century class freightliner will beat petes,kenny's and western stars hands downs.(and even in full dress the price most of the time will also)and right now fuel is"MURDER"the price of fuel along with the 1100 to 1800 a month truck payment can stick it to you(and they won't even use grease)after deductions i have taken from 350.00 to 950.00 home with a show truck!!but when i gathered my senses, thighten up my boot straps,and brought what i could afford,my take home increased to 1500.00 to 1800.00(sometimes 2000.00)weekly now i'am 53yrs young and have two trucks, and i leased them on to the company that i work for(i'am in the office now)they now gross(together)around 250,000 to 300,000 a year(that's before deductions) and my drivers are home wedsday and the weekend.(oh!buy the way they are full dress century class, chrome, chicken lights,tv,dvds,frige etc)txdx is right,you must have the right truck lease(or payment)and the right job lease."AND COMMON SENSE"DON'T GET HUNG UP ON THOSE LONG NOSES!!under the hood beats the same heart!! last but not least subscribe to land line mag.money well spent.if i can help you further e-mail me i did'nt do it by myself,i had a good "ELMER"also.good luck 505 bobby sixkiller love country |
Chris142
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 6:56 pm: |
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Well.......
I was lookin at Petes again. I got laughed out of the place. So I'm goin home all depressed and what do I see!
A 1995 Freightliner fld120 flat top. So I stop and check it out.It looks pretty good from the outside. The inside is cleaner than I expected, 448k miles....hmmmm
I walk into the place and ask about it.
Dude hands me a sheet of paper with it's stats.
420 hp series 60
ps and ac
Super 10
Air ride
60 inch sleeper, a 244 inch wheelbase and it has full farings (this means I don't have to polish the tanks  ) The steel wheels gotta go and the tires will need to be replaced soon.
I don't know what the axle ratios are yet.
He's asking $18,900. Said I can have it for $15,900 which sounds like a fair price to me.
I don't generally like freightliners but somethin about this one is calling my name!
Guess I gotta start talking to the banks in town |
Sixkiller505
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 12:07 pm: |
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chris!! hold up!!find a freightliner select truck dealer near you. why? because there will be new tires and the trucks,and will be completely serviced, the motor will be put on the machine and most major problems will be have taken care of already before they put it on the lot for sale,(it's the law for tractors to have this done before a state sticker is put on it) plus a 50,000 to 100,000 mile warranty is included. and you can get a stand up 70inch for that price. e-mail me 505 |
Chris142
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 8:29 pm: |
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Hey sixkiller505.
I e-mailed you today. I also went to the select trucks place. I saw mostly junk! Steer tires with cords showing, bald drive tires, brake shoes into the metal, ruined drums, headlights held in place with tape, holes drilled in dashes,trash falls out of the truck when you open the door, broken fenders and repaired fenders with chicken wire on the back.
These were the trucks that are for sale! I've never bought a used truck. I have bought used cars though. When you sell a car normally you clean it up. They don't do this with used trucks?
One truck even had a guys log book still laying on the passenger seat!
There prices were out the window too. The cheapest truck was a 96' fld 120 with the small sleeper, an m-11 cummins, 8 speed and a tag axle. They were asking $24,900 for it........Did I mention that it had 1.6 million miles on the odo!
The truck I like locally has the larger sleeper with a place to put a tv, a small closet, tilt steering and is much nicer inside and out than the ones I looked at, at select trucks.
There was a place next door so I walked over there. They had a 99'Freightliner Classic with the mid rise sleeper,N-14/525,13sp,10 NEW tires, clean inside and out, 450k and fresh oil and filters on it.
They were asking $38k for this one.
I'm beginning to get discouraged about the whole idea.GRRRRR! |
Stepchild
| | Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 11:38 pm: |
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Chris142,I own a select truck that I bought through Freightliner.I bought it on a program they were running.They are easy to get in to but you give about triple what the truck is worth.I bought a '98 FLD 120 condo(old covenant transport)470 detroit,super 10 with about 475K miles on it,10 new tires,4 new battery's,6 free oil changes,2yr/200k warrenty(power train) 1yr/100K warranty(A/C,Batt.ect),free tax service for the first year,$999.00 down $1445.00 per.mo for 54 mo's.$74000.00 DON'T DO IT!!!!The good news is it still does a fine job with almost 700K on it but it's still too much to pay for that truck.Find a leasing co. and lease one.The down payment will be quite abit more(usually 2 payments)but the monthly payment is a lot less,plus you will need to buy tags,insurance,road use tax and sales tax(depending on the state your in)I've got 3 of them. |
Mech
| | Posted on Sunday, June 08, 2003 - 1:04 pm: |
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Chris, You have been given some good advice! Shop around for not only a dependable truck, but also the company you wish to drive for. The company I work for as a Truck Technician has about 900 company drivers and about 1000 o/o. They lease o/o trucks (provide base plate & permits) and also hire o/o who run with their owne authority. As far as buying a truck? looks are not everything! As long as it's mechanicly sound and makes you money what else would you want? As far as how often you make it home? Well that is up to your dispatcher! He or she can make you or break you. You will either get along or not. If you want information on the company I work for send me an Email.
Mike Dx 8193 |
Shaun Y.
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 3:22 am: |
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Chris,
If you want a good company call National Carriers out of Liberal, KS. 1-800-835-9180 or go to there web site at www.nationalcarriers.net . I use to drive for them and they treated me good. They also have a truck buying policy that won't make you go broke or run your butt off. Good luck. |
Crafter
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 2:41 am: |
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Here's a thought also dont get it because its pretty it's a job dont get me wrong get a nice truck But the nicer it is "chrome" the more it costs and the more you drive the more you make. I helped a friend of mine get caught up once when he was over his head he worked for PRIME man they had him over a barrel. Trick is to shop around. |
Triplecguy
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 4:50 pm: |
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A few years back I spent the night in Liberal KS during the annual drivers meeting for National Carriers. I was in a local bar that was packed with drivers and they all said that it was a very good company to work for. You may want to look into them, they all seemed really happy. JM2C's!!!
DAN |
bruce
| | Posted on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 7:49 am: |
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Back in the early 70's a friend bob was a long haul trucker who was active on 52.525 fm. Now we both lived,in pinellas county fla but bob could be anywhere and with a old 120 watt lowband vhf radio in the truck it didnt take much of a opening to hear him. The best we did was montana to fl and he heard me when i was running .5 watts.
For almost 10 years untill he moved to boston he was on the road now he is still active but from his house. I have today even heard truckers on MURS no FRS yet but ill bet they are out there next to my caddy i cant think of a better ham shack! |
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