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Am I nuts?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by tony97905, Oct 11, 2015.

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  1. Oct 11, 2015 #1
    tony97905

    tony97905 Road Train Member

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    I've recently staryed driving for a living (Nov 2014) after having been a technician all my life. I'm currently working local flatbed, outstanding insurance and decent pay but I've always wanted to become an O/O. I've been looking at pre-emission trucks and nearly new trailers...but then I am quite particular and the idea of a new glider seems better. Harrison has CAT and DDEC trucks, and although I don't hate Detroit I know CAT very well, but they are about $14k more for the same truck. Anyway, I am leaning heavily towards making this happen....either leasing to Landstar or going full O/O and I am just head-strong enough to be successful I believe. I'm sure the first year will be a major learning curve and I'll take some lumps but not impossible. What do you veterans of the higbway think....stay put or chase the dream?
     
    tony97905, Oct 11, 2015
    tony97905, Oct 11, 2015
    #1
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  3. Oct 11, 2015 #2
    AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    You're one step ahead of me so far. Still currently a heavy equipment tech but I'm looking in to a career change in the next year or 2. Did being a tech count for anything while job hunting? I would guess that having a strong mechanical background would be an asset.
     
    AModelCat, Oct 11, 2015
    AModelCat, Oct 11, 2015
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  4. Oct 11, 2015 #3
    CanadianVaquero

    CanadianVaquero Light Load Member

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    You are nuts! Haha. I would say if you figure the numbers check out, chase your dreams.
    Northern, I get asked all the time if I'm mechanical at all (they see the rsnch experience on my resume) and it sure seems to help a lot. Guys seem to like that I can do an.alternator, etc on the road if need be.
     
    CanadianVaquero, Oct 11, 2015
    CanadianVaquero, Oct 11, 2015
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  5. Oct 11, 2015 #4
    fargonaz

    fargonaz Road Train Member

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    Pretty cool that a spare alternator is part of your normal equipment; what else are you driving around with?
     
    fargonaz, Oct 11, 2015
    fargonaz, Oct 11, 2015
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  7. Oct 11, 2015 #5
    tnevin225

    tnevin225 Road Train Member

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    Yep I agree your nuts. But if you can work the numbers and can afford a Glider I'd go for it? In fact I am going for one next year at Fitzgeralds. And I'm going for the cat also, only in a T660. Good Luck
     
    tnevin225, Oct 11, 2015
    tnevin225, Oct 11, 2015
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  8. Oct 11, 2015 #6
    CanadianVaquero

    CanadianVaquero Light Load Member

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    I was working for a guy that had parts in his shop. I asked if I could grab some for the truck, I had a starter, alt, bunch of belts, plugs, hoses, lines, etc. Alternator ended up grenading on me in the middle of nowhere in the winter on one of the (in my opinion) worst roads in Canada. Took me a bit but I got rolling again.
     
    CanadianVaquero, Oct 11, 2015
    CanadianVaquero, Oct 11, 2015
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    fargonaz Thanks this.
  9. Oct 11, 2015 #7
    fargonaz

    fargonaz Road Train Member

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    I had to ask :/ LOL
     
    fargonaz, Oct 11, 2015
    fargonaz, Oct 11, 2015
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    CanadianVaquero Thanks this.
  10. Oct 11, 2015 #8
    lots of character

    lots of character Road Train Member

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    Chase the dream!
     
    lots of character, Oct 11, 2015
    lots of character, Oct 11, 2015
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  11. Oct 11, 2015 #9
    realdesertkickin

    realdesertkickin Heavy Load Member

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    theek serapy!!!
     
    realdesertkickin, Oct 11, 2015
    realdesertkickin, Oct 11, 2015
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    Canned Spam and tony97905 Thank this.
  12. Oct 11, 2015 #10
    tony97905

    tony97905 Road Train Member

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    Northern it helped me....we're a private fleet so trucking is a necessary evil where I'm at and the Maintenance Dept really does nothing on the equipment. My truck is a full service lease but I have put a lot of sweat equity into our trailers and that has been much appreciated by management.
     
    tony97905, Oct 11, 2015
    tony97905, Oct 11, 2015
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    CanadianVaquero Thanks this.
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