Becoming an o/o

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by orangegoldwing, Sep 2, 2014.

  1. orangegoldwing

    orangegoldwing Bobtail Member

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    Sep 1, 2014
    Boston MA
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    looking for advice....56 years old i have been driving trucks,operating transporting and fixing heavy equipment for 30 years. I was a o/o 22 years ago and made a good living...had to sell the truck when my Daughter was born,i needed medical insurance and needed to be home...my first truck was a 4070B yup a cornbinder with a detroit i bought it for $1500 thats rite i started (GO BROKE TRUCKING) drove it for 6 months saved up enouf money to put a down payment on a 1980 kenworth k100 with a 350 cummons and a 10 speed that truck was a great truck ran it until it had a electrical fire than bought a 1985 freightliner with a 400 cummins 15 speed double bunk real nice truck, i did most of the repairs myself and leased on to a company..i ran the 48 states and canada i ran my ##### off and paid off the truck in 24 months...then came the family and i had to sell the truck....regretted it to this day...i have not been happy since then...Driving every ones junk making low wages been treated with disrespect...and worst of all no satifiction... FAST FOWARD i am now a free man, son on his own, daughter in collage and my divorce will be final the end of the month woo woo now its my turn........


    here are some thoughts i will probbly run a flatbed. I will not buy a truck until i have payed off all my bills to include all credit cards..i hope to either pay cash for the truck around $20-30k or put down 50% i plan on having 20K in the bank to get things going..i will be leasing to a company like Mercer,or Landstar,or JRC.....I LIVE IN BOSTON HAVE MY CDL WITH ALL ENDORSEMENTS ,i have a HOISTING LICENCE TO INCLUDE CRANES A TWIX CARD AND 30 YEARS WITH NO TICKETS OR ACCIDENTS...and i am thinking of running no further than mishigan and south to georga...i will be in the market for a pre 07 international 9400 witha cummins and a 10 or 13 speed,mack vision with a mack motor and a 13 or pete 387 cummins with a 10 or 13 or as a last resort a freitliner century/colimbia with a detroit.10 or 13, I do not need a long nose pete or kw WHEN I HAD MY K100 i made more money than the guy with the large car and we got their at the same time...... i would like to have an APU or a genset with a rooftop AC...I plan on using a computer program to keep track of my CPM and expenses for taxes....After i pay off the truck i hope to buy either a flat with a spread or a single drop also with a spread....

    sorry for the long post if i forgot any thing or got somthing wrong please let me know if my plan looks ok...I AM DETERMENED AND I WILL DO THIS...and i appreciate any and all comments.....:biggrin_25514:
     
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  3. Old Man

    Old Man Road Train Member

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    Apr 3, 2009
    Oklahoma City, OK
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    Stay away from JRC
     
  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    142,281
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    You can get a truck in that price range you mentioned from Schneider used truck sales. They have some mid roof & flat tops that would work for flatbed. If you check the website, they have about 20 pages of used trucks listed and all below NADA price. The cheaper mid roof & flat tops are on the last couple of pages.Can get used APU's at apucenter website.
     
  5. RebelYeller5

    RebelYeller5 Light Load Member

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    Mar 11, 2012
    Birmingham AL
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    At 56, heading into retirement, it seems you're rejecting the freedom you've just been given by getting remarried to your JOB. From what you said, you've been hauling local for decades, and want to take long interstate trips now that you're free. Wouldn't it be prudent to sign-on with one of the big outfits first, see if you like the lifestyle of the open road before saddling yourself with a truck and all the responsibilities that go with it? It seems so backwards, since local is the ultimate goal of paying your dues in driving across the US for Werner or Swift. You could score $65K with your background, without the hassles of going O/O. Just a suggestion. I was just thinking about the Dakota with all the fracking and all the demand for truckers up there, if only I were free!
     
  6. Skate-Board

    Skate-Board Road Train Member

    3,801
    3,994
    Aug 9, 2014
    Merrimack, NH
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    Welcome neighbor. Merrimack, NH here. $30k can buy you a very decent truck. You can lease on to many companies and pull their trailer. Not sure how recent your experience is but that may stop you.
     
  7. orangegoldwing

    orangegoldwing Bobtail Member

    19
    2
    Sep 1, 2014
    Boston MA
    0
  8. orangegoldwing

    orangegoldwing Bobtail Member

    19
    2
    Sep 1, 2014
    Boston MA
    0
    thats a great idea i will look at them , i was hopping to find a truck with a APU already installed so the idle hours will be low ????
     
  9. orangegoldwing

    orangegoldwing Bobtail Member

    19
    2
    Sep 1, 2014
    Boston MA
    0
    i ran the road when i was an o/o and loved it.. when i got seperated i went back on the road and was turning south dakota it was great..but no money crap company...than i went to work for a co in pa turning ma 3 turns a week it was great...the problem was every time i needed to get to the house for court they could care less about me...so i came off the road to work local and get my afairs finished that is when i developed my plan....i am making over $65K now at a crane/rigging co it is a decent co but not what i want to do...their trucks are poor at best and their trailers are horrable...it is not how i want to truck....i belive in safety and complyance....i realy enjoy driving so i realy dont consider it to be work.....
     
  10. orangegoldwing

    orangegoldwing Bobtail Member

    19
    2
    Sep 1, 2014
    Boston MA
    0

    hello neighbor to the north i have been looking...i just bought a ryder day cab for work because i told them i woulnt drive their day cab it hade no beakes,broken exhaust,it overheated the door kept popping open and it had bald tires....so they gave me a budjet and i bought a 2005 freightliner with a dd14 and 10 speed....i bought my freightliner from nh freightliner in lee..who are you working for i would love to meet you and pick your brain....lol how long have you been an oo....soo many questions....
     
  11. Skate-Board

    Skate-Board Road Train Member

    3,801
    3,994
    Aug 9, 2014
    Merrimack, NH
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    I drive for myself and have my own authority. Just one truck and roam the country. In Jackson, MS right now looking for a load today. I'm an ex software engineer that last worked in Norwood, MA at a lab. Got sick of it and hired someone to teach me to pass the CDL driving test. Bought a truck, flatbed and book on how to secure loads then quit my job and hit the road 8 years ago.
     
    blade Thanks this.
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