Let’s say you buy a $50,000 truck for cash....

One thing for sure, the OPs got some good ideas, from a lot of different angles. It’s all good advice. Everyone’s situation is different. Different income needs, family needs, responsibilities. Finding a Carrier to lease onto, that will allow time off, would probably be best. Not just because of the insurance cost. For that matter, you could possibly find a Carrier that charges back the cost, at a decent price. So they wouldn’t care how much time off you take. The main reason is, less headache. Since the goal is time off, why have the extra headache of your own Authority. Just more work to do during your time off.

 

Just my two cents, glider Pete’s 386 and KW’s 660 are starting to look attractive. Same truck as their HOOD siblings and substantially less. Somebody correct me if I’m wrong,

 

Oops made a mistake... same trucks as their Hood siblings from behind the firewall

 

I don’t understand your math, most clean 379s and w900s will always sell for at least 40k if kept in good shape.

 

I didn't study the entire thread, maybe this was mentioned.
What is your personal financial situation? If you are debt free and minimum monthly expenses to be responsible for, you have numerous choices regarding the trucking(income) side of it. If you don't mind being a non or little profit at times because of your desired schedule.
I will make this suggestion. From an O-O of 45 years. For the last 15 years I have been leased to a genuine power only company. Not the term that is thrown around lately, we don't haul freight, they are empty trailers, equipment, or time sensitive show loads. We don't load or unload anything. Might wait for it but that is all.
It is largely a seasonal business, busy in the summer( lets you take time off, but you must do it when they don't need you) and we have many drivers who are approaching retirement, don't need or want to work too hard, take frequent 1-2 week periods off (again working with operations)
Revenue averages are on the low side, I know many operators here that would not put up with it. But our fleet has less than 25% turnover rate, that tells you something. . You will wind up in cool places at times, if the professional tourist angle is appealing to you. PM me if you want more information.
At the moment because of all the hullabaloo in progress, the business is down, but I don't think it will stay that way.

 

There’s always exceptions, I paid $21k for my Classic, 12 yrs ago. I could maybe get $30k for it now. Even Pete’s, and KWs depreciate though. Once a Truck gets 8+ yrs old, it all depends on condition, keep any vehicle long enough, 25+ yrs. and it may start to increase, as an Antique. I’m referring to a typical 3-5 yr old $50k Working Truck. So how much is a 4 yr old 379, or W9? $80k? How much is a 8 yr old 379, or W9? 40k? VS. a 4 yr. old Freightliner at $50k and 8 yrs. at $15k. In that example, the Freightliner has a lower cost of Ownership. Add ins. and interest charges. Can’t always count on resale either. Markets change.

 

Go for it a dude out of the Midwest works 2 weeks off 2 weeks. He's an independent hauling between the Midwest and Florida doing LTL. If you look through here https://www.youtube.com/c/BigRigVideos/videos you'll find his video talking about it.

 

From my experience and observations, It rarely works out when someone tries to mimick someone else's ways of doing business.
I've seen failed bakers, satellite dish installers, banquettes room owners, rental property owners, etc. Here is no different. Everybody has to tread their own path to success or failure.

OK. Enough of these platitudes.
LOL

 

Dutch Maid Logistics | Trucks For Sale - 9 Listings ...
https://www.truckpaper.com/dealer-directory/dutch...
Dutch Maid Logistics. Willard, Ohio 44089.

 

Anybody starting out should only be worried about maximizing their ROA and building cash reserve. Dumping all the money you saved into this venture up front is why so many fail.

If you have $50K, I would lease a truck and rent a trailer. At worse, you're putting 10% down, so $5,000 into a truck. Get a cheap truck, not a brand new one with low miles. Your insurance will kill you being a new MC so keep your first truck affordable. You're going to lose all of your revenue to insurance that's going to cost more than maintenance on a well maintained fleet truck for $30K. Also warranties aren't free. Your repair times are going to be double and that's a whole day of lost revenue when you could have just spent $200 on that air dryer and replaced it yourself in 30 minutes. A trailer rental may go for $500-600 a month. Get your insurance and authority and start working. If you can't make ends meet, you're not broke. And if you do figure out how to survive a year or two and your insurance premiums drop, then start thinking about owning.

Whether you have a $250K custom Peterbilt and a $70K custom reefer trailer or a $17K Volvo and rental trailer, the rates pay the same.