The journey begins - purchased a truck.

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by blairandgretchen, Dec 10, 2014.

  1. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    Yes it did. I opted for the strobe only version - without controller, no real need to change the pattern on the fly.

    If you pass a magnet across the end cap it will change patterns, about 10 of them. I just selected a generic pattern and left it like that. It remembers the pattern regardless of power being applied or not.

    $1850 for the 57” bar and 4 mini blocks for the grille. Kinda pricey, but USA made and lifetime warranty.
     
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  3. TallJoe

    TallJoe Road Train Member

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    @blairandgretchen thank you again for sharing your numbers. That's good for us all to be able to see what a potential is in various segments of this industry. Especially, being on the opposite side of a specialties spectrum than yours, I always find it interesting what the potential is in other areas. Not even in a sense that I would want to follow you steps and copy your achievements but more in general terms, about what the ultimate niche in this industry is. For a solo owner operator it is hard to imagine that it can get better than what you do...is it not?
    Still, do you think there is room for more? For instance, if you wanted...would you have been able to squeeze more work - generate even more revenue, are there some limitation as to how many assignments you could fulfill? Would it be even possible to do what you do with own authority? Perhaps, being assisted by Landstar in various business aspects: customer finding and taking care of Backoffice staff would outweigh the potential income increase by reducing LS cut, would it not?
    Perhaps some would be curious how much on the job training this type of specialty requires...the know how. I remember from this thread that your securement training at Landstar was rather brief, do you think that skipping the exposure to general open deck character of work would compromise too much? Do you think there is an age factor - physical stamina and such?
     
  4. baha

    baha Road Train Member

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    Be happy that you wired the light bar like you did, we put one on and the driver got a fairly large fine at ga. scales for not having them working on ft. side, he said he was not sure how he had the switch set?
     
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  5. tommymonza

    tommymonza Road Train Member

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    Does the light bar come with a soundtrack?

    I Was thinking’s



    MACHO MACHO Man. Blair got to be a MACHO MAN.
     
  6. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    Great questions - I’ll be back for a good answer sir.
     
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  7. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    South west Missouri
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    @TallJoe

    You're welcome. I'm not as closed shop with the figures as others tend to be - I think it helps others.

    I also constantly ponder what other niche areas of the industry pay/offer - across all equipment types. What does blanket wrap furniture pay? RGN work? Pharmaceuticals? Explosives? Van and reefer can have areas and times that pay handsomely, for a lot less outlay and involvement than the platform specialized involves. It's good to constantly ask, seek, and keep an open mind.

    I'm not special - anybody could have followed the same path or thereabouts. If you think about it, I followed loosely in the steps of @Old Man - different trailer/customers/agents, but similar approach.

    I'm almost at the end of the year for number collection, and my DOT days out on the road this year total 122.5. So there was obviously more room for more work in there. The timing of the jobs encouraged me to be prudent on my availability - Snatching an easy $3k can have you missing out on $10k if the timing is wrong. That's the only form of limitation.

    I'll still entertain the idea of my own authority, but at the moment - I think it's best I stay put.

    I think it's best to get practiced on general open deck work. There's so many different challenges in different product to be learned before jumping off the deep end. Common sense prevails in most securement, and there's so many tricks and tips to be picked up on this forum and in the real world. The planning/permits/organization part just requires forethought. After a few times ordering permits and arranging escorts, it gets a lot easier - like anything else I guess.

    Age factor - at 45 I can handle the physical side, but I can see why guys tend toward RGN, and throw the tarps in the dumpster - after a period of time.
     
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  8. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    South west Missouri
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    December - End of the year.

    I think I'll call it for the year. Unless something pops up, it's probably safe to say that's it until 2021.

    So - YTD -

    $238,300 total revenue after LS's cut.

    53,030 miles

    $4.49/mile (all miles TTT)

    122 and a half days worked.

    68.5% Profit to pay taxes on, 31.5% Expenses.

    Fixed costs - .22 cpm

    Variable costs $1.20 per mile, the largest 2 being fuel @.34cpm, and Maintenance @.69 cpm.

    So I beat last year by about $4k in revenue, but rate per mile and profitability is up. Now, time to gather firewood before it snows tomorrow.
     
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  9. tommymonza

    tommymonza Road Train Member

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    Gotta get his Night Moves in.
    Don’t know if the wife is going to like that bar on the bed headboard though.

     
  10. Ruthless

    Ruthless Road Train Member

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    your maintenance budget would make for a pretty sweet new truck.
     
  11. tommymonza

    tommymonza Road Train Member

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    $35,000 in maintenance is a Killer.
     
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