The journey begins - purchased a truck.

I had to have her explain it to me like I was a 4 year old - but , yes - You can USE the trailer, but you only get 65%. B Y O trailer - get 73%. At least right now . . . Brenda - (or Glenda) Trailer Utilisation.

 

Well, our company truck was ready to go, but the freight was not. So - another day at the house. I noticed something VERY important.

When I woke up, I was all ready for company work. There is a sense of dread that goes with it. As soon as I made the call and they said they had no freight - it was like a weight had lifted, and my brain buzzed with all the things I could do instead. I'm positive now that this is a good move - she hates it, and I dread it. So . . .

Down with 2 cups of coffee. Load up the house with firewood. Put on 4 layers and snowsuit. Chop ice in the pond so the cows can drink. Off to the machine shop down the road.

The machine shop. 2 guys, in partnership, one does machining for several local accounts, employs 3 guys. The other does EVERYTHING. All less than 2 miles from the house.

Thursday we cleared the back of the cab from upright muffler, and extinguisher mount. Friday we mounted the headache rack, repositioned air lines and pig tail, fitted muffler and done. Had to run to Joplin for 2 muffler brackets, and down to the auto parts shop for 2 45 degree streets (learned what a 'street' was), a fellow lime spreader picked up an additional U Bolt for the headache rack, and delivered . . . And it all came together. When I say 'we' - I helped the machine shop do the work - partly to ensure it was done to my satisfaction, partly to make it a little cheaper, act as gofer for tools and parts, and partly because I actually like to crawl around under dirty stuff.

Total shop - $288. Parts $210 + $40 + $15 + $12. So for $570 ish, We've converted a muffler to a weedburner (replaced muffler with simple flow through), and mounted the headache rack, and shifted the 5th wheel back one more position. It now sits the kingpin dead center between the drive axles. Should be OK, right?!

Trailer financing

Local dealer has a 53' spread combo, out the door for $30k - Delivery late Feb. Hitachi and ENGS came back with HORRENDOUS rates - 14-22%. Dealer is asking why. I think they may have run the EIN, not my SSN, new llc, therefore high rates. Back to local bank for 8% unsecured finance, and we'll have to make up the other $5k. Somehow. More on Monday.

Back to work for the weekend.

 

Yes - that one threw a wrench into my spinning gears. Not willing to let that percentage go for very long . . . if at all.
Recruiter clueless to the change. Not that I expected anything else.

 

Have a look at Double Yellow's thread of transition from Company driver to O/O - I've just got finished with the whole 24 pages, lots of good resources there too. He's gone full blown with his own authority, I'm doing the 'in between' , for now at least.

Good luck and thanks!