Question for experienced O/O's

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by samletch, Apr 21, 2015.

  1. samletch

    samletch Bobtail Member

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    Hello,

    I've been working for a company hauling feed to a pig farm the last two years. As of now, the company I work for and the farm i haul feed for are having a wage war. My company wants to charge more, while the farm doesn't want to pay more.

    The farm owner asked me today if I would be willing to buy my own truck to haul their feed. I would use their 40T auger trailer. The rate would be 480 (1.5% yearly increase) per load with 8-10 loads per week. I average 1500 miles weekly and use between 70-90 gallons of fuel per day.

    My question... Would it be worth it? Im not sure of all of the costs outside of fuel and mechanical. Also, i would be responsible for the maintenance on the auger trailer, except for the hydraulics. Trailer is a few years old, in decent shape.

    I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks!
     
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  3. Travisroland

    Travisroland Light Load Member

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    You need to know all your fixed and varible cost before you purchase a truck.And don't forget taxes and permits.Go to Ooida web sight they have free education classes that are broken down into subjects.Like buying a truck,taxes and so on they run about 45 minutes
     
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  4. wore out

    wore out Numbered Classic

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    One thought of mine is any time an O/O has one primary customer it only takes one boo boo to really pinch the game off. Something else to think about is they are wanting to cut your company out to help with cost. What happens if some jack leg comes along and under bids you. Payments is still due. Not saying it won't work just don't commit to one place it's to risky
     
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  5. maggard359

    maggard359 Medium Load Member

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    I am sure your company needs to have a rate increase after two years, not that they aren't making money on it, but simply you cannot haul freight on ten year old rates and stay in business. I can forsee you buying a truck getting it ready and pig farmer calling your boss saying see you later. Next day your boss shows up with a country ham and bottle of Jim Beam. Then you get the call from pig farmer they have worked things out and won't need your truck, then your boss calls and fires you. Now you got a truck payment and no job. It's a risky and dangerous situation sounds to me. Like wore out said it's bad to be committed to one customer alone. I am sure me and him both have played that card and it works for a while, then they know you depend on them so favors start coming into play, then it gets slow and you starve while they don't care. Like my one customer you can't take a day off, they don't care if you are burying your mama they need that pig feed, your truck breaks down better have a backup they won't wait. Not telling you not to do it, just be careful on the choices and how you do things.
     
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  6. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    If you're going to become an o/o don't do it using your current boss's contacts. It will come back to haunt you and it won't end well. How many trucks does your boss have now? Even if he only has a few the chances are he could lose money on the pig feed haul and cover his expenses with his other trucks for no other reason than to put you out of business.
     
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  7. Troutkiller

    Troutkiller Bobtail Member

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    Apr 14, 2015
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    Shady shady shady! So this is what small companies mean when they say it's hard to find decent people. You came to the man looking for a job, a chance. He gave you an opportunity to provide for yourself and for your family. And then comes along a chance to screw him over and make it harder to support himself and his family and you might do that to him just for a chance at a few extra dollars!!! Nowadays "relative morality" may tell you that sort of thing is okay but it ain't. It's betrayal. If your boss were to find out and bring a few of his guys and throw you a beating just for thinking about it... I ain't saying that would be right either. But I ain't saying it would be wrong. Just my two cents
     
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  8. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

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    It's business, plain and simple. Customers come and go. It's not like he's asking about trying to take the guys wife or something.
     
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  9. heavyhaulerss

    heavyhaulerss Road Train Member

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    I thought about responding, but after reading all the post, there is nothing I can add.
     
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  10. TaylorMade407

    TaylorMade407 Road Train Member

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    Only thing I can add is are you ready to be a owner op. And do you have a plan B,C,D, and E. Don't put all your eggs in this basket. Snakes love eggs.
     
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  11. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    Youre right, Oscar. It's business. Happens every day and twice on Sundays. But we are men. That would be a scummy move. Guy gives you a job and pays you an agreeable wage. His customer offers you the business, because they recognize that you are a good driver. So you shoot down the boss and take his customer. It's betrayal. It's shooting someone who trusts you in the back.

    its like your best friend sleeping with your wife because you were on the road. Business comes and goes. You only get one shot to be a Man. Yeah, I know that real men are an endangered species, and when we are gone, the human race will die out, but while we are here, let's live as men and not Beyotches.

    Betrayers NEVER advance. Usually, in history, if someone betrayed one King for another, the new king realizes that although the Betrayers deeds allowed him to take power, he can never be trusted since his past MO is to betray his lord. Thus, the new king has the betrayer executed.
     
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  12. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

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    You're confusing business with morality.

    That's like saying you wouldn't be a man if you didn't stay at the company that gave you the keys to the very first truck you drove. Most people never stay where they start, most all of us take the experience we have gained and use it to better ourselves, not stay stuck under some preconceived notion that it would be betrayal.
     
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