How did you get started

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by hannafarms, Apr 10, 2020.

  1. hannafarms

    hannafarms Light Load Member

    203
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    Jan 4, 2009
    Minnesota
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    Hello,
    I am curious how everyone got started? Iv been trucking 12 years basically pulled everything there is. How did you buy your own truck where did you get the money? And who did you lease on with
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
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  3. Swift09

    Swift09 Light Load Member

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    106
    Jul 4, 2019
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    I got my CDL when I worked for the county. Did everything on my own in 3 weeks film getting a test book, permit, exam. That was about 10 years ago.

    Few years later I got my first real trucking job running flatbed with a local company. Did that for almost 2 years 15 and 16.

    This past fall I contacted a local agent for O&I Transport. He was very helpful and honest. I took the plunge. My local bank financed my entire operation. They are very good to me and my family.

    Now we just pray the freight gates get opened soon!
     
  4. HoneyBadger67

    HoneyBadger67 Road Train Member

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    Dec 15, 2018
    Savannah, TN
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    I started where so many start, at a mega. I got my CDL at the local community college and then signed on with the big blue tard company. Three years and three companies later, I landed a flatbed gig and stayed there for four years. Had another flatbed stint for about a year and then a 'deal' dropped into my lap on a truck that was already leased on with a grocery company. Delivered vittles to supermarkets for about 18mos then took my truck back to flatbedding. Here I sit with a flatbed....
     
  5. wore out

    wore out Numbered Classic

    14,322
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    Jun 5, 2013
    CHASIN THE DEVIL'S HERD
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    Silver spoon here. My folks had a small outfit I grew up in. Got my CDL at an early age bought my first truck at 21.....seems like a lifetime ago
     
  6. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    42,098
    Mar 5, 2016
    White County, Arkansas
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    I bought a tractor once in my lifetime.

    There was a facility in PA where if you were accepted, you were given 4 years to do the work with the tractor you choose to buy and after a successful completion of that payoff the title will be transferred to you. They provided instruction on plates, fuel, etc everything else so that in 4 years you knew everything to become truly independent.

    That was the general idea. Anyway for about a week I owned a midroof 120 with a 425 Cat, rockwell short 9 and good rears for hauling. (40,000 and around 3.26 or so I think) Not particularly fast above 90 but its not meant to be not in those hills.

    The facility owner for a long story short decided that DOT qualified and medical Cert Holding deaf people with hearing aids do not get to be independant. Not while he was alive. Essentially discrimination. Instead of taking him to court and fight it there, I let him have the tractor back even zero without any further loss against my credit etc. 41000 dollars was involved that month with the first payment due in weeks. So thats out.

    Its water under the bridge for a very long time. Its something that I am happy that I did not see it through. Not against that kind of attitude of the people there. Yankees can be pretty obstinate and thats a shame. Ive had many more oppertunities here in the south and that's why I made a home here.
     
    TallJoe, 650cat425 and Rideandrepair Thank this.
  7. heyns57

    heyns57 Road Train Member

    2,209
    1,011
    Dec 30, 2006
    near Kalamazoo Speedway
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    I attended North Carolina Truck Driver Training School at NC State in 1964. Served in the U.S. Army stateside 1964-67. Drove company equipment for six years, and bought a new IH 4070A in 1973. Leased it to Key Line truckload van division until they sold out to Roadway. Leased it to R-W Service System until they laid off 45 single unit brokers after deregulation. Sold the 4070A in 1982 and continued driving company equipment until retirement in 2008. Have a Teamsters "Contribution" pension. Had eleven employers in almost 41 years. Pulled flatbeds, vans, tankers, dumps, and crucibles. Never hauled coiled steel or livestock.
     
  8. hannafarms

    hannafarms Light Load Member

    203
    90
    Jan 4, 2009
    Minnesota
    0
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  9. hannafarms

    hannafarms Light Load Member

    203
    90
    Jan 4, 2009
    Minnesota
    0
    Thank you for your service....
     
    Wasted Thyme and Rideandrepair Thank this.
  10. hannafarms

    hannafarms Light Load Member

    203
    90
    Jan 4, 2009
    Minnesota
    0
    Nice and lucky!!! Lol I’d give anything to own my own truck it’s been my career goal since I was 21
     
  11. Wespipes

    Wespipes Road Train Member

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    Jul 14, 2019
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    I started cutting trees down at 15. At 19 my boss sent me to trucking school in fontana, CA. In case a logging truck neded to be covered. Few year later I moved to northern California. Drove locally for Sysco foods in Fremont and Stockton, CA for around 14 years. 6 months ago I sold my home im Stockton, bought my truck trailer and house in Tennessee cash.
     
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