Doing a College Project over the Trucking Industry

Hey everyone! I'm new here. My name is Andrew & I am 21 years old.
I'm doing an Upper Level College Project over the Trucking Industry for my Business Class. I wanted to do something different. Most of the other students are focusing their projects on very generalized industries, I.E. Computer Programming or Architectural Work.
The instructions for the project: Pick an industry and map out a very detailed business plan.

That means I need to create hypothetical expense reports, find loads, find a tractor & trailer within budget, figure out how permitting works, ect.

My Hypothetical Business: Heavy Equipment Hauling with own Authority (The business is to haul 2 weeks locally and 2 weeks cross-country every month, because who wants to be away from their family all the time?)

So far I've found:
Conventional Day Cab 1996 Pete 379 EXHD with a C-15 550HP w/ 18 SPD @ 850k miles for $35,000 ($5k Down, 4 year financed with great credit)
1990's 50 Ton LowBoy with Brand New Tires for $15,000 (Paid Cash).

Here is my monthly expense report so far:
[TABLE="width: 211"]
[TR]
[TD]Cargo Insurance for $200k[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$275[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Truck & Trailer Insurance (1 Million Liability @ 21 years old)[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$1,600[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]IRP Tags for 25-30 States[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$250[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Gas Tax & DOT[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$150[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Maintenance Fund[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$1,725[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]New Truck Fund[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$1,550[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Truck Payment[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$700[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tolls[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$175[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tires & Oil Changes[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$400[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

From what I gather, the average long distance Low Boy Heavy Load revenues about $5-6 per loaded mile
Then I would have to factor in Permits, Motel Stays, Food, Diesel, & Monthly Expenses.

The average local Low Boy Heavy Load revenues about $80-100 an hour + $ show up fee?

What else do I need to know? What do I need to tweak? Any advice and/ or help would be wonderful!
Thanks guys!

 

This is great feedback!
I'll factor in 500k Cargo Insurance, and bump up the tag price another $50 a month? (I used the Celtic Calculator to estimate my Tag fee's)
I probably found 50-100 lowboys for under $20k on commercialtrucktrader.com. Can you send me a link to a used lowboy that still has lots of life left in it?
So you wouldn't suggest financing an older truck? So I should hypothetically bring more capital to the table and buy both the trailer and tractor outright?

As for the 2 weeks OTR & 2 weeks local work, I guess that could be more of a 'goal'. Your logic makes sense as I can't foresee the future.

I factored in some wiggle room for operating funds, always need capital available!
Right now I am using trulos.com to try and find "potential" loads. So far I've found a few good loads.

I found a load from IN to AZ @ 1,750 miles & the pickup was on 9/23. The broker said the rate was $8500, not overweight just slightly oversized at 9' 6".
I found another load from AZ to Iowa Called the broker and she told me the Rate was $7900 @ just a bit over $5 a loaded mile. It's a 44 ton load, @ 9' and 11" wide. I called all states from IN to AZ and asked what their prices on permits were. Most were around $25-$30 a state for oversized loads.
Found the last load from IA to IN @ $2.5 a loaded mile, I think around $1300 (Not oversized or overweight, just a load to get me back home).

So I figured roughly 4000 miles round trip and $17,700 before expenses & fuel?
I think this could be done in 7 days best case, 9 days worst case.

So that's $3000 in diesel
Motel (Because DayCab) & Food Costs = $600
Permits = $600
& Monthly Expenses Factored above?

 

If I'm understanding what I read correctly usually it's 2-4 cents per ton - per mile. 44 tons isn't overweight though, correct?

 

So anything over 40 tons GVW is considered overweight?

A daycab Pete 379 is what, 17,000lbs?
A 50 ton low boy is, 18,000lbs?

Leaving me with 20 - 22 tons of payload weight before having to pay for overweight permits?