As a grocery truck driver I know relatively well east WI and northeast IL, which has me thinking about doing one to two runs a week as an owner operator going back in forth from the Chicago area to as far north as Green Bay.

If I bought a day cab for 15,000 to 20,000, what would be my typical upkeep?

By pulling Vans/Reefers how much can I expect per mile on average?


I'll have to be careful about getting my reset squeezed in, but if my schedule permits I wouldn't mind the extra hours.

Is this idea not worthwhile?

Maintaining a truck like that will cost you between .08-.12 per mile. Can't answer the rate to expect, only you could answer that based on your operating costs.

My question to you is; Where do you plan to get said frieght??? It is veryeasy to say that you are going to just run from Shitcago to Green Bay, but getting the frieght to do it is another story(And may be very difficult in fact).

I'm not exactly sure where I would get the freight. As of now I'm just looking at freight boards; and the loads are there, especially in flatbeds. I'm figuring out that if the pay is less than $2.75 per mile, then it's a lost cause.

One of the reasons why I want to be owner operator part time is to get a better idea on how the freight industry operates. I can easily go onto a 4 day work week at my regular job, thus leaving a day and half for a run. To offset the insurance and plates, I think I would have to have the truck go out at least 2 times a week, so finding a coworker/relative to help drive probably would be a good idea.

Is there anywhere where I can get information on the pay per mile, at least ballpark range?

you don't want to run flatbed from CHicago to WI. they say chicago but it's usually gary IN or south side chicago which means you run right through chicago all day long. it's HARD to make a living sitting in traffic all day. I did those runs for a few weeks on percentage and never could make it work out. beside if you get it off a load board it's cheap

A problem that I'm noticing is the lack of information on rates. It's actually nonexistent on the boards. And from looking at the webpages such as getloaded, I can't help but notice that they seem to be sort of shady; and by this I mean no real person on the other end of the line, generic photos...etc. I've been trying for a few days now just to see if the rates will pay at least $2.00 a mile for runs going back in forth from Chicagland and the east side of WI, yet no luck. Do I actually have to call the shippers myself to get estimates on rates? Would they even give out this information?

I wouldn't touch such short runs for $2 mile.

Me neither chicago to green bay is what 250 miles? 3.50/mile atleast, and you wont get that out of a broker.

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LOAD EM LIKE RAIL CARS, DRIVE EM LIKE RACE CARS!!!!

I was thinking runs from Plymouth, WI to Chicago, which always seem to be available; and for the backhaul, anywhere in a 50 mile radius of Sheboygan, WI.

Are these figures accurate if the rate were $2.00 per mile?

Average 150 miles each way gives $600, then take away $300 for fuel, tolls, and maintenance. After counting in the plates, insurance, and the gov, the pay per hour would be less than I'm making now. Nevertheless, I'm still willing to go for it, if the rates were guaranteed to be at least $2.00 per mile.

I'm pretty sure on enrolling at the local tech school for diesel tech classes this fall(I figure knowledge in the PMI is integral for being an owner operator of an older truck), but knowing more about the ins and outs on local runs is intriguing.

With everyone on this thread recommending not to go ahead with this plan, I probably shouldn't waste the 15-25 grand on a tractor and reefer.

You wont make much with $2/mile doing short hauls, it needs to pay 3.50+, first thing you need to do is call some of the loads posted and see what they actually pay. Call the broker and ask him what it pays, if he advances, and how long it takes to pay, or if hes got quick pay. If he offers you $600 for a 200 mile run and you can do it everyday then you CAN make a living doing it 5-6 days a week, fuel wont run you more than a 1000.

Remember 99% of brokers will low ball the living crap out of you, if you tell him you will give him a truck everyday he might want to work with you and ask what you can do it for, then you say 3.50 per mile if not then move on to the next guy.

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LOAD EM LIKE RAIL CARS, DRIVE EM LIKE RACE CARS!!!!

Hello
I am interested in similiar scenario. I already have a full time job (not trucking) had 5-6 years of experience with commercial straight trucks and am looking to upgrade my license from B to A class to buy a truck and do local hauls. I only got the idea when a coworker of mines said he bought a truck with 500K miles and hired a driver (he pays 700-900 week) and he gets loads off of some board and makes some money at it.
Where are these load boards located? The .08 to .12 cent a mile quoted above for maintainance is that a good number for a used truck? What type of fuel useage does the avg loaded truck get so that I can approximate fuel costs?

For training my construction union (previous job) offers on site training and a trip to the DMV in their vehicle for testing. For experience building I was either going to drive for (or with, he was looking to get a A license also) my coworker or work part time with the union transporting crane equipment. The only reason I can't count on part time employment with the construction union is that they go by a out of work list so things can be cyclic.

The only experience I have pulling trailers is 30-33 foot trailers I have pulled with my SUV, but I have never had a problem driving through Chicago's busy streets.

What do you think of my ideas?
Joe