Taking the plunge. My journey as an O/O.

The worst part of it was that they charged me a couple extra hours extra labor to remove all the cab markers above the windshields.

That bothered me at the time, but I couldn't figure out why.

Then I realized two days later that if the retaining hardware was damaged, and the screws had ANY thread remaining, removing the screws would simply require using a flat head screwdriver to put under the lip of the screw, with outward pressure, while backing the screw out like normal. Did it thousands of times when I worked in the steel mill as a mechanic.

One minute per screw, tops.

 

Taking a few days home time, and looking at my numbers from my P&L statements.

February:
Total of all Miles Driven: 12,054
Net Income before taxes: $4624

March:
Total of all Miles Driven: 13,394
Net Income before taxes: $4781

My prior full year income with Crete Carrier was 66k. If I do not improve these numbers, the averages have me heading towards a bit over 56k for this year's income, (pro-rated for the year based on starting partly through January.)

Clearly that's not where I want to be. However there is a very substantial reason why my net income has been low. Crete deferred maintenance on the truck, leaving me holding the bag on a lot of things that an owner operator would have done if they were going to keep the truck.

My repair expenses for the first quarter were $6811. Some of that was service which was not due to deferred maintenance, but a lot of the service was due to deferred maintenance.

Transmission oil change.
Differential oil change x2.
4-battery replacement.
Both serpentine belts replaced.
Radiator flush and fill.
Replacement of all above-windshield cab marker lights.

All told, (off the top of my head) those repairs cost me roughly $3500.

My real cost was not too much higher than that, since all of that work was done either when I was taking a required 34 hour break, or when I was on home time.

Currently the truck is in the shop while I am on home time.

1) B-service.
2) Oil sample.
3) Valve adjustment.
4) ABS module replacement (Acting weird. Being replaced under warrantee)

This home time will not be cheap, but I am not aware of any more obvious deferred maintenance, so hopefully my maintenance expenses will fall back to the $1500-2000 per month range, or even less, if I am lucky.

If that is the case, I should end the 2019 tax year at roughly the same income level as I managed in the 2018 tax year. I will be satisfied with that, in my first year, If I can manage it.

There are a few things I am looking at doing to the truck which might set be back quite a bit though.

In order of likelihood:

1) Replace internal overhead cab lights with LED lights to reduce battery draw and hopefully last longer.
2) Install a passenger side underbunk storage access door. I have room on that side under the bunk but no access to it except through the bunk itself. I need this before the APU so I will have a place for tire chains when I remove the chain rack to install the APU.
3) An APU. Reduce my primary engine runtime and save my DEF system from excess use.
4) An adjustable position 5th wheel because not having one is annoying.
5) An APU fuel tank so I don't pay taxes on APU fuel.

 

Good point. I will try to get an APU with an hour meter. If I can deduct tax expenses that way it would be much easier. I was not aware they tracked hours like that, or that the dealers would not simply reset them after every service if they did.