Have y’all ever gotten to this point?

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by rccarlson22, Jun 4, 2021.

  1. rccarlson22

    rccarlson22 Medium Load Member

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    Background: booked a banger load to NH (minus having to tarp it) and a banger return load. Good money, easy going brokers, friendly shipper, wow this week is turning REALLY good REALLY fast. Pick the load, tarp it, send pics to the broker, all is good in the world.

    Start my trek to the super north east coast, excited to see a new corner of the country, during summertime when I can really enjoy the coast and the fresh seafood. I’m on 10 East through Louisiana (IFYKYK this is a terrible highway) going through Sulphur, BOOM! Trailer had a blowout. Hazards on, slow roll to the next exit. Blowout was on the outside wheel, and one of the original POS tires from when I bought the trailer. Change the blowout, get new tire from Southern tire mart, all is good in the world. This may have been a 1 and half hour delay. Not bad.

    Rolling on the down road I see a scale station sign, but notice the built in bypass system (it weighs you on the is not working. It is instructing all trucks to exit. I comply and exit, Louisiana state trooper is outside the house roadside giving quicky inspections. If he sees a few items wrong on your rig he pulls you out and then they really slam you. I got pulled out, but I left with 0 violations (45 minutes later). Rolling down the road it’s all good man.

    Day 2 starts out great, delicious truck stop coffee and sausage biscuit. 100 miles or so down the road, ole girl is struggling, real bad. I decide to let it do it’s thing, coast off to the shoulder, truck stalls. I quickly cycle the key (to prime the fuel) and notice there’s no sound from the pump. Try to start the truck, no go. I’ve got my hazards and put my reflective triangles out as I realize I’m fudged for now.

    Google time. I’m googling and calling every “wrecker” “truck tow” “auto repair” “truck service” “diesel shop” I can find in middleofnowheresville, Alabama. Problem 1 arises: I cannot find a wrecker to get me off the shoulder. Problem 2 follows closely, I can’t find any shop to work on or look at my truck. At this point I’ve been on the shoulder for no less than 3 hours. Clocks ticking on these loads I have booked, do I roll the dice, wait till Monday and see if MAYBE I can get my current truck fixed? Or do I buy another truck, run it for a little while and resell after I get my current one fixed? I decide I’m gonna just buy a new truck (used but new to me).

    Here is my favorite part: used trucks with 30-50k miles ARE SELLING FOR THE SAME PRICE AS BRAND NEW TRUCKS.
    Read that again...did you ever think such a thing was possible? What?!?!?!?!

    At this point I’ve called and dealt with 15+ salesmen and dealerships. The 1 used truck I could find, was 300 miles away and kinda dogged out. So now I’ve conceded I must buy a brand new truck.

    I call Fords and Ram dealerships. Lucky if they even have one in stock. And if they do, it is not equipped to tow a gooseneck. I went through every option I had, it’s not like I wasn’t willing to convert my trailer to a fifth wheel connection or get a gooseneck hitch installed on a truck without one, I simply couldn’t get the parts.

    I finally landed on a 21 Ram 3500 C&C with a knapheide flatbed and gooseneck ball already on. The dealer is delivering it tomorrow, I’m gonna leave my old truck at a storage lot and come back for it on the return load and fix it at home. If Im lucky, I can resell the new truck at a break even or profit price after putting 15-20k miles on it. Remember how I said used truck prices are stupid?



    This business makes me feel emotions I didn’t know of before
     
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  3. 24kHotshot

    24kHotshot Heavy Load Member

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    Yup, I have been looking for a new or used truck in good condition for a couple months now. Found a 2019 Freightliner M2 tractor (not a sport chassis) with 125k miles. Asking 85k!!! I priced a new freightliner loaded with options a month earlier for 82k from the factory before the chip shortage hit.

    I am getting ready to sell my truck and trailer soon if a truck I am hoping to purchase pans out, hoping someone would buy it for a ridiculous price. Before the shortage I'd take 55k ish for combo. I plan on posting it for 70k and standing firm cause I see a bunch for sale that are disappearing for those prices.
     
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  4. baerpath

    baerpath Light Load Member

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    I bought a new 2021 F450 April 7, had a new trans put in at 7,000 miles. Seems okay now with 14,000 miles on it, The dealer offered enough to make me really think about selling it back to them. Not going to but dang
     
  5. rccarlson22

    rccarlson22 Medium Load Member

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    Is that the new 10 speed? What happened to it?
     
  6. Brandonpdx

    Brandonpdx Road Train Member

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    What kind of truck is it? The old one I mean.

    Yeah that's nightmare scenario in OTR driving. Truck quits on you long ways from home and you're at the mercy of whoever you can get to help you. Doesn't happen often but it does.

    If you can afford to I'd get the old one home and whip it back into road-worthiness and keep it as a backup. No guarantees there wont be down time with your new one. Hopefully not but it happens with these new trucks. Some major component goes cow and the stealer tells you it's going to sit for weeks waiting for the backordered part, which generally isn't a problem with old trucks. No problem I've got another gal at home I can go dance with.

    I'd run the new truck in warmer/nicer weather to keep the resale condition high and to where the DPF wont get get clogged idling over night.
     
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  7. baerpath

    baerpath Light Load Member

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    Yup new 10 speed Wouldn't shift correctly Took it in for an oil change got it back two weeks later. Thankfully I kept the 15 with 210,000 on it and also have a 17, didn't really miss it. I'd rather drive the 15 anyway
     
  8. StaceyRT50

    StaceyRT50 Bobtail Member

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    good luck..nice reading your stories
     
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  9. crocky

    crocky Road Train Member

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    I went through the same thing but I got extremely lucky on timing. I got my new truck just before the chip shortage and got a decent deal on it.

    I've been toying with selling both my truck and new trailer and just getting a semi and being done with it. I like the hotshot but the struggle gets old and it's so much easier to put together good paying loads for a semi than a 40ft flatbed. That or I'm just gonna go cars only with hotshot.. I'm kinda tired of the BS with hotshot freight TBH.

    i just really hate driving Semi's though.. Being locked to that big ### truck sucks and married to truck stops vs my hotshot I can unhook and go most places cars go.
     
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  10. Brandonpdx

    Brandonpdx Road Train Member

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    The little trucks are more fun and versatile...can be used for PC while home or off and that is not really realistic with a big truck tractor. Also many neighborhoods won't allow parking for big trucks but a 1 ton DRW is fine. On the other hand the big truck is much more comfortable to be out on the road in.
     
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  11. rccarlson22

    rccarlson22 Medium Load Member

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    I had the infamous cp4 fuel pump failure. 2019 Ram 3500 HO.

    I’ve decided to sideline her, hoping a recall for the cp4 gets issued this year, if not, I’ll fix it on my own. But I’m taking this opportunity to upgrade to a bigger truck
     
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