Need help deciding, wanting to O/O again

Before you even think about a truck, a hauling contract today is much more important. Trucks are dime a dozen. In these iffy times, O/O's are failing at an alarming rate. Just can't compete with the megas. Insurance will kill ya'. If, by some miracle, you find a gig that actually pays, go with the K-Whopper. I'd take a per-emission K-Whopper with a BILLION miles over ANY Freightliner,,,but that's me.

 

You also need to think about how long you are planning on being in the business. Because for the first 5 years company driver makes more than an O/o. But after that the O/o starts to pull ahead. So if you are going to end up jumping out of it after a while like before. It's not worth it.

 

This is a video regarding their purchase of a used 2015 Freightliner & repairs. What caught my attention was her professionalism and enthusiasm during the making of the video trying to inspire other newbies who want to become O/O's. @ 6:40 she did explain truck expenses on their (her & her husband's truck) I remember her saying @4:25 their total Gross that week of $17,800. 12% to their Carrier ($2136) & rest of her expense.

Skipping forward she says that they have a truck loan for the used truck. As I'm watching this with my wife I'm saying 'Why Not just buy a New Truck..?..'

Regardless, that is the route they took.

Later in the video she says they earned $12,750 net @5:45. 1st of the year.

As I spoke to my wife while watching this video also noticing the self gratitude occurring. I thought if I go to a newer up to date video you will 'See & Note' they have a different opinion on their 5 year old Freightliner. Ironically I was correct!.. @ 10:54 to 11:56.

No one is perfect & they took a chance. However, Specking out the right truck for the job is a 1st & necessity something they didn't do.

After being around trucks more than half my life Experience does help. IMO I don't like problems on the highways and roads and if you're driving otr if someone can afford it the best scenario is New with the right warranties.

 

Then probably posted in the wrong forum. Probably needs to be in 18 wheelers. Since it is an equipment question.

 

Even with the extra cost you mentioned, if it were me, I'd go with the Freightliner. You can't go wrong with a fuel efficient vehicle. Cascadias are reliable. Over my time of driving, it's seems to have been the easiest to find someone to work on the Freightliners. You're still probably about 100k miles or so from the DPF needing to be cleaned out, and if you catch before you gotta get towed it won't be a super huge expense. Go for the freightshaker!!!!

 

I have 2 old trucks and 3 newish trucks. My vote is to get the newer one and do the unicorn repair.

The 2 older ones are very reliable engine wise but I swear the repair bills nickel and dime me to death. They are getting something fixed every weekend it seems. The repairs aren’t expensive, it’s the missed income from being unable to work that kills.