Looking for advice to get started

Hello I am in my mid 20's looking to get an older truck and start hauling locally. I have my eye on a clean older international day cab. I am in the north east where there is alot of agriculture and construction. We have custom harvesters that hire truck driver owner operators to haul feed. Alot of guys have 10 wheelers, but its getting more common for guys to have tractor trailers to switch to haul feed then hook on to manure tankers.

My experience is driving in the midwest hauling hopper bottoms and some oversize loads. I also do plenty of 10 wheeler trucking on the farm I am on, but not enough to make me happy. I am unsure of how to pick up work. I would want to pick up that truck and find an end dump. The ag stuff here I'm sure is competitive since farmers are loyal to who they hire. There is tons of work summer/fall, but no work in winter.

We have guys here that haul wood chips to plants for electricity. Lots of construction hauling dirt and gravel. I guess I am just unsure how to find work. I have a good job good benefits, but dont like working for someone else and want to truck more. I have never had a loan, always paid cash for things I own. Always had a steady paycheck. so the thought of jumping in being in dept freaks me out and not knowing what my cash flow is. This would be an adjustment for me, but I think I would be happier.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I just thought of something else too.

When we are in the fields we always have to hire more truck and manure equipment to help us out. We have one 10 wheeler but need 2-3 at a time. Is there a way I could word it correctly to maybe buy a truck and trailer with my current employeer, have them pay me half of what they would pay someone to come in since they own half of it. We have a good working and non working relationship. I have been with them for 5 years.

I know in the past they had a full time employee that had his own tractor and they did something similar with him. Then we could get more business working with other farmers in the area.

Does this sound doable or am I dreaming? This way I could keep a paycheck and benefits and own a truck and maybe to on my own later on