Expedite Truck Owners

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by Criminey Jade, Apr 3, 2015.

  1. Criminey Jade

    Criminey Jade Road Train Member

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    I wanted to ask how much revenue a fully-owned expedite truck brings in for an owner. Is the difference really huge between teams and a hard-running solo? Set this hypothetical in a perfect world. Things are going well mechanically, you're facing no heavy fines, fuel isn't killing you, you're getting decent paying runs (running at least 4 or 5 days in the week) and the company you're getting your dispatches from isn't gouging. How much are you putting out in insurance, wear and tear and just general mileage versus what's coming in?

    Is it just as expensive to launch an expedite truck compared to a tractor? Thinking registration, inspections, IFTA registration... Everything you have to do to legally set up and operate your truck.
     
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  3. SlowPoke44magnum

    SlowPoke44magnum Medium Load Member

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    We never looked further than the cost of the truck, that alone told us that without mucho $ for a down payment and about the same in reserve for oh ##### moments it wouldn't be a good idea for... The truck we were looking at was a freightliner M102 with a Bolt 102" sleeper. That was over $150,000 by itself. I'm too scared of a used business class type of truck with no warranty.

    Currently we're seriously looking at going to work as a husband and wife team for a Tri-State Expedited Fleet owner.. It's not huge money but the fleet owner pays for everything related to the truck and pays mileage and percentage on back hauls on a W-2.... We'd be in a brand new Cascadia Automatic (not a huge fan of that) with fridge, microwave, TV, prepass/ezpass, APU, e-logs and GPS. The owner claims we can get as many miles as we can handle legally, over 6,000/week.... My wife talked to the boss lady there yesterday and I'm going to call her Monday with questions my wife didn't think of or forgot to ask.
     
  4. Criminey Jade

    Criminey Jade Road Train Member

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    I am looking at a 10-speed 2011 FTL Cascadia with a 96" sleeper, TK APU and fixed tag axle. I can get into it with reasonable payments if I come in with 30K down. I am considering taking it over to Express-One but I do not want to run team.
     
  5. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    I'll cut to the chase.

    No it is not as expensive.

    Plates and IRP are less. You don't pay sales/use tax on the truck because it is used for interstate work.

    IFTA taxes are dependent on both fuel mileage of the truck and the state you buy fuel in but so insignificant that they occupy a small part of the overall ledger.

    Insurance is cheaper depending on how you set it up. people think that insurance covers the laptop/gps and personal stuff - it don't.

    The problem with expediting is that people buy too big and have too much overhead starting with the truck payment. then the second problem is that they don't set up the business end of it right or worse yet they set it up but then fail to be disciplined enough to keep it up.

    You have to keep things paid for and there are times when you won't roll with a load. You have to figure out your bottom line to make a profit or loss and then work around that figure in order to accept a load or not. Many companies, especially XPO (Express-1) have their special customers which they still deeply discount as does others so they won't give consistent rates in many cases.

    I wouldn't buy the truck you are looking at, I would but something else with a standard sleeper (being solo you don't need a 96 inch sleeper) and a large box that is cheaper, especially if you need $30k as a down payment. You will need at least three months operating capital to bank just in case so that $30k is really important to put away.

    Remember that there are far more trucks that are chasing owners out there then there are potential owners chasing trucks.

    Hope that helps.
     
  6. Criminey Jade

    Criminey Jade Road Train Member

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    Thank you very much for your help.
     
  7. D33RHUNT3R

    D33RHUNT3R Medium Load Member

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    Good luck trying to do expedite solo.. you wont get any long runs because you can't get it there fast enough..
     
  8. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Why say that?

    I got a lot of long runs out west and from my home state to texas and back many many times.
     
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  9. D33RHUNT3R

    D33RHUNT3R Medium Load Member

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    Well if your running legal and you have to stop the truck for 10hrs a day, I wouldn't call that expedited freight..IMHO..
     
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  10. Criminey Jade

    Criminey Jade Road Train Member

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    I don't need a lot of long runs if I am working the golden triangle. Detroit, NY, Toronto + South. That's more than enough manufacturers to keep me fed. Add, I had enough runs to Nashville, Laredo and Los Angeles to drive me batty last year (truck AC was busted).
     
  11. rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

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    It's not about miles in expedite anyways. Revenue, always. Unless you're in some small van non-niche segment of expediting.
     
    wulfman75 Thanks this.
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