Where or How to find a Truck?

Hi everyone,

Now that I've been back in the truck for a while now, I'm very seriously considering of looking into buying my own truck & then Leasing it on with one like, Panther Expidited, Landstar, or fed Ex etc.

Unlike most O/O out there, I'm leaning more towards what I've been seeing, those 26' to 30' straight trucks with built in condos as with those, one can get into far more places than a big rig and are far more flexable in regards to loads.

I've been trying to look at a few dealerships, however, none of them around where I live even caries them. Hopefully, some of you can help to point me out on as to where to look, the features to have included in the truck, the costs, the leasing on process, Insurance costs, tags, etc. I want to know the full nuts & bolts from those of you that are actually living it, not from one of those companies that will try to blow you a bunch of smoke, just to get you in the door so as to rape you.

What I am looking for in a truck: KW, Pete, Volvo, Autocar, International. Full walk in condo with two beds, The ability to have virtually own kitchen (Microwave, fridge, Coffee pot) an Area to sit and do paperwork or just sit back & relax. Pleanty of storage spaces so as to be able to actually Hang close up, not roll them into bunches.

One that has actually has the power to pull itself out of a wet paper bag, not bog down when fully loaded and force one to be in the low side just trying to chug up a hill. (Like schneiders 60 mph trucks) God i hate Freight shakers.

Really good Fuel Mileage is a huge plus. (10mpg+) no higher than 13'6'', although I have seen a few of them out there that has a convertable bed, where you can take town the framing on the bed & convert it into a flat bed, (Interesting, a possible option to consider)

Dual Axle, Stacks, and actual chrome / metal front end, not that cheesey fiberglass hood crap.

Would be nice if it were already equiped with something like Vue cube, attennas etc so that I I had to do was move in, however, I know that with reality, I may have to sacrafice a few things and slowly upgrade as time goes on.



I spoke with a landstar driver the other day & he stated that they were paying him around $1.70 / mile and none of his loads were forced. If they shot him a load & he felt that it wasn't enough to pay for the truck, he could pass it up without penalties or negotiate a better rate. He got 100% of the fule surcharge. However, he said something about having his own private accountant firm hadeling all of his finaces (income from the company), they would divy up and make sure that all of his truck payments, insurances, perits, tags, ezpass, prepass etc costs were taken out before he got paid. He also said something about he had it set up where so much money every week was going into a repair / truck maint account, that way, if & when he had problems out on the road, he could get it fixed without any worries.

Guys, I know that by becomming my "own Boss" is not going to make me a millionair, nor is it going to make me rich, I know that!! My main reasons for looking into this is so that If & when "I" want to go home & spend a few days with the family, "I CAN" not to mention, I can not afford to work for these little pennies that SNBC and short miles they keep giving me. I've got to have the miles, I've got to be making more than .33/mi, & I've got to be taking home more than $300-$500 / week.

I look forward to your inputs & advise. However, Please!! Facts, Not driver BS or Horor stories. I need to try I make an inteligent decision....Thanks