My husband has been a trucker for 13 years. He just bought a used 1995 Freightliner with a CAT motor in it. He has yet to have this truck inspected so I don't even know if we will have to put money in it. He only test drove it about 1/4 of a mile up the road. He is getting ready to start working for Eagle Systems in Evandale OH hauling containers. I've heard from numerous people that there is no money in this, he has also heard this from people too, but he says that he can make at least $3000 a week. He is not under is own authority, so he is going to get a percentage of the loads & we have no idea what that is. They are also providing him with a fuel card for advance fuel. With having no money set aside for breakdowns/maintenance on the truck & barely enough money to pay our bills what can I tell him to change his mind? When I say we are broke, I mean $35 in the bank account & $60 cash on hand. I'm scared to death we are going to go further in the hole than what we already are & everything I have heard about containers is not good. Any thoughts & opinions would be greatly appreciated.
You can make money without h a lot of hard work. I eagle hauls mostly hub group freight. I think they do have some of their own freight but I dont know how much. I understand your consern. If he doesn't pass a dot inspection it could get expensive. They may lend money for repairs up to a certain amount. One thing I can tell you is that rail work is ruff on a truck. Most loads are very heavy...
I'm sorry I don't know about intermodal to give you advice either way. But I have heard from several knowing, crusty old, independent truckers that hoppers is where the money is. That's what I plan for when I go O/O.
It's money in containers but it's not... 3k is an overstatement. I used to average 3500-4k a week when I ran road right before freight dropped. Now I run local and make 1500-2k. Intermodal is rough on trucks and most of all tires. Most the loads are heavy and wear a truck out. It depends on how well the truck was taken care of and the motor. But he didn't test drive the truck?? He should have at least 5 miles in my opinion.
He could double his money hauling steel, he knows the loads & one of the dispatchers asked for him by name. If the truck is going to run for a couple weeks, hauling steel would triple the money he brings home after fuel & whatnot. My theory is if he can do that & have some set aside for breakdowns, why not? Why go & only make $1200 a week after fuel? Make the money to repair the truck just in case, THEN go take it easy.
Question is, where is the fuel money going to come from hauling the steel loads? Is he leasing onto a company and they provide the fuel card there as well? If so, then most likely the steel is the better deal. Like the others said, containers is very hard on a truck.
That might be true, but the wear and tear on the truck will be different. Loading steel is mostly pave lots with paved roads. Containers load all over the place, but mostly along the tracks and can be really hard on the truck and trailer.
