thinking of getting my own truck

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Marky84, Oct 23, 2015.

  1. FatDaddy

    FatDaddy Road Train Member

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    Katy, TX or Swedesboro, NJ
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    Unfortunately this is the reason the failure rate is so high
     
    PeteyFixAll and Straight Stacks Thank this.
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  3. ramblingman

    ramblingman Road Train Member

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    There you go. Guarantee yourself a $3,000 truck payment every month to avoid the possibility of a couple thousand dollar repair once in a while. Seriously...*Facepalm*

    1. Your warranty is more of a curse than a blessing. On AVG your looking at 3-5 days to get into a dealer shop to get warranty work done if you don't have a relationship with them (out on the road you won't). It's nothing for a brand new truck to sit 2 weeks in a shop. Yes it's free to you, but you should average 1-2k a day. That 2-3 weeks you may sit costs you a hell of a lot more than any truck repair ever will.

    My old 3406E breaks down I call a shop, they come out and fix it and i'm up and running again the next day if that.

    2. You want to hedge your bet on your business by trying to set a fixed cost for maintenance which is reasonable, but your setting it as high as it can possibly be to avoid minor costs. No pre-emissions truck can costs you 3k a month every month for long. The parts are just too cheap.

    3. Your method to achieve your goal in point 2 is actually counter productive to your goal. If business slows as it does in the natural ebb and flow of this industry your still on the hook for that insane payment and they aren't interested in excuses or deals. If you work with a good shop they will happily carry your bill for up to 3 months or more. However, if you need this on a regular basis you probably have other problems.
     
    04 LowMax and lots of character Thank this.
  4. XCELERATIONRULES

    XCELERATIONRULES Medium Load Member

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    Dec 29, 2014
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    You guys with a bank roll,are in a total different category.
    If you have cash reserves,buy a pre emmisions truck.
    I personally know one person,able to do this.
    Everyone else lives paycheck to paycheck.
    I have no dream,of owning my own truck.
    Payments suck.
     
    G.Anthony and lots of character Thank this.
  5. ramblingman

    ramblingman Road Train Member

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    Jan 12, 2014
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    If this is your case you have no business becoming an O/O.
    I drive a 15 yr old car with 200k miles. Live in an unfurnished 1 BR APT with a mattress on the floor and ran my dick off to save up enough to be able to make this happen.

    You don't get "bankroll" through magic. Hard work and sacrifice is what it takes. If you can't work that hard or sacrifice that much to get in you won't be able to do what it takes to survive when times get hard and they will or to capitalize on opportunities when times are good which they will to.
     
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  6. lots of character

    lots of character Road Train Member

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    Don't use the pay check to paycheck statement as a cop out. My family and I lived on bare essentials so I could get running. That was paycheck to paycheck. Still got it done.
     
    scythe08, drdesl and ramblingman Thank this.
  7. Hurst

    Hurst Registered Member

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    Aug 24, 2011
    Tampa, Fl
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    Exactly.

    I did with out and saved every possible nickel and dime I could for over 3 yrs. I managed to put away $10k - 12k a year and that was with raising 2 teeneaged kids plus a disabled brother. I hustled lawn mower and weed eater door to door,.. I hustled my pick up truck and 22ft car trailer hauling anything that would fit.. from cinder blocks to golf carts and motorcycles. If you are not willing to work hard for what you want.. no one else will do it for you. Peolple live paycheck to paycheck by choice. If you dont like you paycheck, either work harder or find a better job.. or another job. Thats how you get ahead.

    If anyone thinks you can just finance a new truck and work just a few days a week and be home when you want and blow wads of cash on new toys... well.. more power to you.

    O/O make more than $1000 week. Where I think you are misinformed is what you dont realize is the expenses and costs associated with being an O/O. You dont blow everything you have coming in like a paycheck. You put that money away for repairs.. for fuel.. for tires.. for service.. for upgrades.. for bills.. for taxes.. for annual permits... for business in general. $1000 a week is peanuts in thus business. You would not stay in business long making only $1000 a week.

    Please please... do some research and find out exactly what it takes to operate and maintain your own truck just to stay in business.

    Hurst
     
  8. deglass

    deglass Bobtail Member

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    Feb 3, 2015
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  9. Marky84

    Marky84 Heavy Load Member

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    Sep 24, 2012
    Jefferson, WI
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    theres gotta be a good lease purchase place out there. right? hvh?
     
  10. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    Try Cardinal Logistics.
     
  11. BoostedTeg

    BoostedTeg Road Train Member

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    Jun 2, 2008
    Boise ID
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    Yup Bosnians sure do love them volvos. Although I've noticed that lately more and more are switching over to new cascadias at least the ones living in Idaho.
     
    lots of character Thanks this.
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