Although I only have a year under my belt, a local intermodal company will hire me as an owner op granted I have my own truck. Well my cousin works there and is wanting to upgrade and is willing to sell me his ride on pymts. This is definitely a huge pro as is being home every evening and off weekends which is important to me while my kids are young. Actually this deal seems to good to be true with everything I've been told. The pymts are affordable as they should be for a 2000 model flat top freight shaker, lol. Money that can be earned, medical insurance is affordable and a good plan. I realize my responsibilities will triple but I guess im just skeptical or scared to jump in with both feet. Good fortunes don't usually fall into my lap, if it does its covered in ######! Anyway, if anyone has any words of encouragement or bewares id greatly appreciate.
Opportunity Knocks: Should I Become an Intermodal Owner Operator?
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by philjo, Feb 2, 2012.
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I jumped in, and never looked back as an O/O. Just make sure you have finances for truck repair. They will break down on you when you are least ready for it.
TmGM Thanks this. -
What he said.....times 5 -
On the other side, Intermodal pays less than other freight, loads are usually heavier, the fuel mileage will be worse because of the rib sided trailers and bias ply tires, and you will spend hours finding, and getting trailers repaired, not to mention the check in waiting time at the ports and rail yards.
Look at the trucks that have been running intermodal for any legnth of time. They are ragged out. Look at both sides before deciding. Some people like it, some don't.401-Alex Thanks this. -
Don't do it! Buy a truck from ANYONE but not a friend or family member. What happens when he says it's in good shape and 5 or 6 months from now the clutch goes or a rear end or it drops a valve? What's Thanksgiving dinner going to be like after that? Been there and done it on a smaller scale and never did get all my $$ and now the car's wrecked( course he got paid by insurance)
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I'd like to think this guy has enough common sense to realize that a 12 year old Freightliner is going to have repairs on the horizon.Dump 6 axle- 35 and Sirscrapntruckalot Thank this. -
philjo,
Have you done any intermodal hauling ???
It is a little different from regular OTR work,
to say the least !!!!
Good Luck !! -
We dont have any ports here in the Louisville Ky area but I get what your saying. We do have a couple rail yards but from what I hear its better than sitting at a dock for who knows how long and eating up your time if your running legal.
As far as Intermodal paying less. Maybe for most experienced O/O but for a guy just starting out it doubles my current income, after all expenses paid. Fuel mileage is less Im sure because of the shorter runs and more stop and go. This particular company doesnt go any further than 100 miles, most are inside 50.
Working OTR for the last year Ive learned alot about living like a dog and having someone else tell me when I can eat and sleep. Im not knocking it, I can also see the benefits of it, but for me who has two young kids involved in sports and trying to be the dad I never had, its not for me. I run much harder than most just to have that balance with work and home. I wont go into detail on here, but I would make a super trucker proud!RubyEagle, Mooseontheloose and TmGM Thank this. -
did intermodal for a couple yrs. I never got in and out of a truck as much in a week as I did in a DAY !!!!!!!!!!! lol. 10 d/h in a lOOOOOONG day. I was a co driver, but they paid some guys $125. to go 15 miles to d/hook. depends on the rail freight pay.
good luck.Dump 6 axle- 35 and Mooseontheloose Thank this. -
Yeah being a company driver sucks. I was my own boss for a long time before I got into trucking. I'm looking into o/o as soon as it's financially viable. If the truck is as nice as you say and your cousin isn't blowing smoke I say go for it. From my research there are benefits to a pre emission truck being able to make it get much better fuel mileage. Kevin rutherford, he has a show on the trucker channel on sirius, would love that truck. He runs all pre 2004 trucks in his fleet and gets then to average 8mpg. The big question is can you afford the first breakdown until your maintenance fund gets built up. Anything can happen on the road.
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