Finally got my own truck

It's was 15 iirc. Oil prices fell and truck sales probably were high in 14. New orders are about half of what they were last yeear month to month. DAT trendlines shows too much capacity with a drop in loads in the spot market year to year.

 

I’m still ahead of 2016 but sliding backwards fast. Just behind 2017 at the moment.

I also had a big shake up in dispatch so im not sure if it’s all the market or, our office?

I started tightening up my belt in the fall in preparation.

 

We are doing a little better then 15 and 16 but I’d like to think we’re a little better at our jobs and have some more contacts since then. Also, costs have gone up across the board so is it really better? Or about the same? Midwest definitely sucks.

Used truck prices are plummeting so that says a lot about the market. Also, I’m noticing quite a significant tick up on how many calls we are getting through recruiting efforts. I’m hearing quite a bit of “I’m sitting a lot” and not happy.

 

Fuel is practically half what it cost in 07 leading up to crash. I can't be the only one that remembers fuel costing over 4.50 a gallon.

 

That’s the reason they invented alcohol, so as to make the memory a little fuzzy. I would actually like to see the fuel prices rise. Maybe it would cull the ones that are already complaining.

 

Thanks for posting your experiences, BoyWander. Just finished reading entire thread. Retired military, former bank executive.

Wanted to buy own truck, run own business. Obtained awesome training, at little personal expense, through Milwaukee Area Technical College and drove one year OTR for good company, Duplainville/Quad Graphics. Now another year driving for local truck dealership. Absolutely clean driving record, all endorsements.

Found your thread while researching JRV Logistics. Don't understand how solo o/o can make money leasing on at rates I've seen posted.

Your thread convinced me to get more experience, accumulate enough capital to cover cost of vehicle plus one-year fixed costs before I jump in. Understand it's a cutthroat business to get into but love driving OTR. Appreciate comments about finding lucrative niche, running at quality rates. Best wishes for your continued success!

 

The way o/o make money leading on its leasing on to a carrier with good passing freight. I guaranty i get more per mile to the truck than the vast majority of independents relying on load boards. Sure they strike gold on occasion when a shipper or large brokerage is in dire straights, but looking at an overall average i have access to better paying freight. Case in point, Miami is the black hole of black holes for outbound own deck freight. Early last week i loaded out of Miami going to Savannah for north of 2.50 a mile to the truck. The load i brought back down that I'm delivering Monday am is over 3/mile to the truck. Both legal dimension light loads, tho i did have to use the big tarps on each. I could have had another one of the outbound loads for this Monday after i deliver but i want to be home all this week so i turned it down.

My point is that yes, you can make good money being leased (note I'm taking about leasing your truck to a carrier, not some carrier lessee purchase scam) the key is to work with the right carrier and to find your niche with in that carriers system.

 

I guess he didn't make it.
Hard money owning a truck.

 

I was wondering about this recently. Hope your still trucking @BoyWander

 

He was great to listen to. Very educated and smart. He just jumped in way too late. If he did this 3 yrs ago he would of made it.

We should change the topic... “I’ll never buy a truck in this market”!