So you want to "own " your own company

I have noticed a push for lower rates for steps and flats. The problem is the same with all aspects of this business. There are still too many who are too willing to cut rates just to keep their truck moving. Apparently, some have no clue as to what they should be charging. I checked some rates over the weekend and some are as low as $1.30/mile. There are some that are 3 times that rate or more, but they will never make a loadboard.

I don't know much about furniture, but did speak with an owner operator a few days ago who told me that he is not getting the rates that he did a few years ago.

While we are at the mercy of economic conditions to some degree, getting better rates is more a matter of negotiation and your reputation. If you demand better rates, you could do a little more sitting when the economy gets soft, but could do better on those loads that you do take.

Before making a decision I would suggest that you take your time and do some research. Talk to others who haul similar freight and see what they are getting. And don't just rely on a trucking forum. Go to a truck stop or two and talk to those who are running your type of freight. If you plan on running your own authority then you may want to talk with some brokers or shippers to see what they are paying on specific freight lanes. If you want to restrict where you run then you may not get the better rates. I follow the rates in my business. I will go to bad freight areas, but will get enough going in that I can afford to deadhead out. There are some who will take a cheaper rate going in and take whatever they can find to get them out. That is not sound business as far as I am concerned.

 

Yes they do get pricey. However, you can find some good deals on used equipment if you know what you are looking for. I jumped into this earlier than expected when I stumpled upon a great deal on my trailer. Not the perfect trailer but solid and have no doubts I will be able to get my money out of it in a year or rent it to an O/O that leases to me.
And if I wanted to go new I found a lot of '09's that have been sitting. And yet a lot of dealers have waiting lists for '12 that are selling at list.

 

I will have to start looking into that just to see what the prices are. What kind of flat do you prefer? I pull a Benson all aluminum right now and I like them. They seem to be strong and they are really problem free except for a tire here and there. I would really like a 11 top 42 lower 102 tri-axle on either 17.5s or 19.5s all out with container locks for 20s and 40s and quad cons. Those like we said though are up there in price but having that equipment makes you able to make a good bit more money on those specialized loads.

 

can u tell me like how much should i had save in order to had on the first 6 moths

 

Have a check on a few of the pre owned truck web sites they usually have trailers for sale too, Repo's and auctions are also good places to check for good deals, you just window shop first, get a feel for the market .

 

Use the search function of this forum and your questions will be answered. They've been asked many many many many many times before.

Guys are getting tired of responding to the same stuff over and over and over and over again...

 

So I are a owner operator now (sorta, running under my company's authority, plates insurance etc). So's I go down to my local DMV to get the title changed to my name from the lien holder, she starts telling me all these dang fees I now owe. I balked, she got her supervisor then the supervisor found even more fees due, totaled up and said $4900 + bucks. They let me pay just $1400 and change pending a weight certificate (which the IRP states is 17,400 pounds) but they want me to go weigh out a loaded trailer with it so they can charge me the 'right' rate lol. So I went back to the truck stop anyway to pick up the truck and bring back to DMV (they needed to verify the VIN and engine numbers etc), got a new number to wait in a new line for an hour, anyway got a different clerk and told her I'm just trying to get my name on the title. She talked to her supervisor who approved a refund of my $1400 minus an $18 dollar fee to changing the name etc (yay) will be seeing my refund and new title in the mail in 6 weeks.

 

It was an "honest" mistake. They really just wanted to borrow $1,400 bucks

 

TThey sending you the 1400 plus interest? That's ridiculous!

 

Yes I think they were trying to get it registered in my name in my home state (California) plus charge me for the base plates. The first clerk even gave me a temporary operating permit lol. I didn't really want to tell her that I had been using the truck for the month and a half since I bought it because I'm sure that would have opened up a whole nother can of worms.

Their main thing is working with 4 wheelers not commercial vehicles. They didn't even have the forms for verifying the odometer.
What really threw them for a loop was that the title is in Arizona and the plates are Indiana (Swift).

As far as I know I can legally continue to operate like this, Swift's plates, Swift's registration correct? I mean until such time as Swift and I part ways of course then I'd have to quickly get plates, register it, insure it or sign it on to another company under their authority, plates etc like it is operating now.

On the other hand there might be advantages to getting it registered in my name, paying the plates and IRP etc, I suppose, in case I was several states away from home and Swift out of the blue rang me up and canceled my contract, at least I would be able to move the truck legally.

It's stuff like this that make owning a truck so complicated lol. Even the professionals down at your local DMV have no clue.