new driver needs a lot of help!

Welcome to the Site!
Myself I think you are rushing it. Four months holding a CDL is not long enough to take the leap as an O/O. I always tell people I would drive for a company 3-5 years to learn the ropes. Some will tell you otherwise, but look at it this way with the questions you are asking if you don't have the answers how do you plan on running your O/O Biz? Something to think about. Best advice I can give; learn before you invest.

 

You would only need a two state IRP plate for that run. It's good money, so I'm not going to tell you not to. If you are absolutely certain that this will be a dedicated run contracted to you, then it's worth the jump-even being somewhat inexperienced.

I would join OOIDA, and ask for their booklet on getting your own authority. It will give you all the information you need, and they have counselors who will discuss it all with you.

Get a truck less than 5 years old, with less than 500k miles on it. Make sure to get a warranty from NTP, and pay for the extra coverage for fuel injectors and turbo. It should run about $2000 for a year, but is worth it.

The run from LA to Phoenix isn't terribly hilly, so you won't need a rig with a lot of power unless you are hauling heavy loads.

The one thing you might have trouble with is insurance. I would check into how hard it will be for you to get coverage-or how expensive. Do this before you do anything! Most big truck insurance companies frown on young drivers with less than 2-5 years experience.

 

this is really hard to say when anyone should "become" an owner-operator, but my opinion about you and your current experience tells me NO.

try the online web site of Lew Grill (http://www.lewgrill.com/)
this man has published many articles/books on the subject.

i would say "save up"....?? no one can tell you how much to "save up", except if you buy used, you had darned well better have enough money "saved up" to cover major repairs, so i would say, "save up to" the amount of money equal to your down payment at least. also, by you saying "you don't know", something now, you are heading for financial disaster later. we can only give opnions, not actual numbers for YOU and what YOU need. the numbers for one owner-operator will always be different from another.

again, its ok to be here asking questions to us about what you need, but we can only be so specific right now. there may be a time when you will need to travel elsewhere and you will need additional legal rights.

ok again, if you haven't any money now, how can you buy NEW...?? just how good is your credit...?? did you run a credit report on yourself..?? have you even applied for any type of business loan..? do you have a real workable business plan..?? if you have to save up your money to buy something, then you will be broke later. like the old saying, "if you have to save your money to buy a mercedes, then don't buy a mercedes", meaning, you will NEVER have the money for repairs. your best bet would to be buy used, but then again, can you buy cash, or do you need a loan for a used truck/trailer...??

and why should you have to buy a trailer..? pay them a rental fee or lease fee. already, that company seems to be preparing you for a fall, but read on...........i'll say "when"..........

BULL..........nothing is "consistant"...........these days. the "first" run is $1,000, 3 times a week, but the return is 1, maybe 2 runs...?? why isn't it "guaranteed" 3 return runs at the $800 each....?? and why sometimes 1 run, not 2....?? red flag.......payments due, maintenance due, insurance due, fuel due, etc due, etc due...........but no money to cover those expenses...?? (here's where you head downhill)..........oh and by the way, that run you are "planning to get" can vanish in a heartbeat, either by a more experienced o/o or the company dropping that "plan" for you.........no guarantee's..........did you get that in writting....?? i think not.............

good run for a "company driver"..............

basically, as i said in the begining, NO..........you are both too young, and in-experienced right now. you even don't really have ALL your ducks in a row regarding the job itself, like what do they offer in vehicle insurance discounts, fuel surcharges, steady work ALL YEAR LONG, etc,etc..........

i think someone is "pumping you" with ideas, and young as you are, you are "taking the bait" to disaster...............