Any O/O's running local aggregates in Florida?

If so, how did you get in to the business, and how are things currently treating you? I've driven for nearly ten years, have a lot of offroad experience, have pulled both dump and pneumatic trailers, but all as a company driver. I've grown tired of the BS with a lot of these companies, but am nervous as hell to step out on a limb and do it myself.

1.What was your first truck, how much did you spend on it, and was it already piped with PTO and hydraulic set up?

2.What kind of rate should you look for if leasing your truck on to some of the local Florida carriers?

3.Do you own your own trailer, or rent? If you rent, what kind of price can be expected, is it weekly or monthly?

4.Do most companies offer a fixed cost on fuel? I recall seeing Tri-State/New Line Carriers offering fuel at $1.25PG, there must be something hidden in that cost.

These are just a few questions, I've never even went as far to ask questions about these things, but like I said some of the crap I've dealt with over the last few years with companies, and their higher ups have left me scratching my head. I know I'm a hard worker, but sometimes I don't feel that work is rewarded, or even recognized.

I'll post a link to a truck I found on C/L, now don't laugh I know the exterior is faded, but the tires look to be in good shape, the interior seems to be immaculate, and it is already plumbed with a PTO, hydraulic tank and line set up, and the price seems relatively inexpensive. I don't know the mileage, I messaged the owner but haven't heard anything back yet, he's obviously hispanic, and I am not so I'm sure there will be a language gap there.

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto/3405829545.html

 

So many variables, all of which I think I understand but it's still a nerve wracking thought to actually move forward in this. I would not want to haul freight, I would prefer to pull a dump trailer around north/central Florida, my old company Pritchett Trucking where I drove as a company driver for a little over 3 years states on their website that if you rent a trailer from them, trailer rental and brokerage will be 22%, which essentially leaves the truck with 78% of the weekly revenue? Is this the norm on brokerage and rental, or high?

What amount of money do most of you have put aside for repairs, maintenance, and unforseen events with the truck?

Did you have this money already available, or is it with credit?

There would be no winter lay offs in Florida, and from what I understand there's no holdbacks on pay, Pritchett states weekly settlements, I gather this is true since I would essentially be operating as a Pritchett truck, just under leased terms, therefore Pritchett might be the ones waiting 90 days for settlement, but me as a lease driver would be paid weekly. Thanks for any advice, my wife and I still need to get back to Florida, she sits for her state board of nursing exam on Dec.5th, and with any luck I'll be married to a LPN by Christmas, thus financially helping out our situation greatly.

 

Oh she's been my wife for years, but has just now completed her LPN training. I really appreciate your insite, especially being in the area that I speak of. http://pritchetttrucking.com/content.cfm?page=15 That is the basic information for their O/O's, and I'm just using Pritchett as an example, I pulled both locally and regionally for them throughout the course of the 3 years I was with them. It is something I'd really like to pursue, but at the same time I get very nervous about losing what little bit of a nest egg I have built up over the years. My committment level to this is what's up in the air, but I can honestly say that the whole company driver thing has me completely burnt out on this profession as a whole.