Buying a Truck

Here is the link for legal length, width, and height
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/

 

Also an answer to part of your original question if you buy a out of state truck you wont have any problem registering it, you just have to pay an out of state fee.

do you already have a list of trucks your interested in?

 

So a out of state earlier model truck is OK to enter Ca. is what I gather from the document???

 

yes as long as it meets the requirements in 2014+

 

I am considering buying myself a truck. from the looks of things there are alot of good deals on used trucks. I am looking at trucks in the 150- 200000 mile range.
When the economy got started getting bad I closed up my construction company, went to one of the larger companies ( Millis), went through their training program, and gave them approximately a year of my time. While being on the road I met an o.o. out of Ontario who needed a driver for one of his trucks. I went to drive for him and shortly thereafter he went out of business. Sort of a long story but he was making quite a few bad business decisions.
In any case I am not looking to go back to driving for a big company because I like the freedom and decision making of more or less running my own show.
Now I am looking at buying my own truck. Money isnt really the issue and am willing to invest whatever I have to to run a first rate business
Obviously freight is moving and even though the jobless rate is continually on the rise the G.D.P. is also on the rise which is a good sign.
Now it seems to me that i should channel my energy into either dry van or reefer since thats the sort of freight that seems to be moving most these days.
What are the rates that i should consider reasonable in this economy just to give me a rough idea of what i should be shooting for?
On "truckpaper.com" I see listings for o.o. all the time. Are these ads looking for o.o. legitimate and do they look for long term drivers or are these fly by night companies that put in ads saying they are need of owners and that they have year round work only to leave you hanging a few months down the road.
I think it would be best for me to lease on with a company that can keep me running with a long term goal of eventually making my own contacts of companies that need a first rate driver to move their freight.
I have no problem staying out on the road for as long as it takes to make it happen and my priority isnt to run to the house.
Any advice or ideas would be very much appreciated. I am well aware of the fact that it is a tough time to get started in the business but there are also drivers who are finding success on the road. If nothing else I will be in a good position when things do turn around in the not too distant future.
Thanks
Chris

 

Sounds like you got some deep pockets since you mention money isn't an issue. Good for you!

What rates should you consider reasonable? You're putting the cart before the horse in my opinion. You mention you want to run a first rate business. If so, consult your business plan. You do have one of those don't you?

Reason I ask is because that's the first place to start. The plan will list your objectives, goals and your plan on obtaining and reaching those goals. You'll need to price (estimate) your truck, insurance, IRP, fuel, maintenance, reserves and so on. With that you'll break it down to a monthly cost of doing business and then figure out how many miles you need to run to pay the bills. While feeding the monster (your business), you'll also want to feed yourself, family and other obligations. You need to figure that in as well. Since everyone's situation is different, it's near impossible for someone to say what a "decent" rate is. Some have truck, trailer payments and some don't. That has a huge effect on your bottom line.
I completely understand where you're coming from with your post, but only you can answer, after doing your homework, what a reasonable rate FOR YOU will be!
Maybe not the answer you were looking for, but my response is the only way I know.

 

Know your costs before you open that door ,thats the only way it works no matter how deep your pockets seem to be,,maybe they have a hole in them.

 

hey thanks for replies.
I do have most of my cost estimates (ins, taxes, registrations, payments, breakdown, etc and household etc)-o already figured out.
I didnt just wake up yesterday morning with this idea
I am aware of what I need to make, it was more a question of what can be expected. In any case I do understand your answer.
For one thing its not so much deep pockets as it is having had a succesful construction company which me and a partner closed up a few years ago.
We were fortunate to have bought a store front in a not so nice neighborhood which over the years was cleaned up and other business' came along making the property worth something ( not to forget to mention that we also rebuilt the building).
I have 2 kids in college and bills like anyone else but I do have money to make another investment in another business.
Growing up on a farm I was around trucks since I was a kid, always wanted to eventually drive and when the construction business folded and kids are away at school now I finally made the move, did what it took to get my cdl with tank and hazmat and been out there now for a little over a year.
I love it and cant see myself doing anything else and going crazy at the house now for the last few weeks.
I am likely going to see this thing through and feel very positive that in the next few years things are going to turn around for the better ( there are economical signs that show this).
I dont feel like it is such a bad thing to start at this time. Another thing one of the things that arent going to get any better are interest rates. As things slowely improve the rate will go up.
Thanks again for the replies.
Chris

 

You mention dry van---everybody does that !! Therefore the rates suck.

Reefer, better rates, but still cut-throat..

Way to much capacity right now in the trucking business, so rates are suffering.

Best of Luck !!!!

 

HELLO SWISSCHRIS62: i use to post quite a bit but there is just to many experts and i dont much care for the comments so i dont anymore , but i read your post and i remember well what its like to want a truck and yout own the right track.

id like to caution you however on buying a new truck there expensive and in this econamy you need to keep that overhead down as much as possibel and you cant do that with a new truck.

also buy your own trailer that is where your money is at and it cost you less to keep. you are right about the rates except i dont think that it will take years to come back up they have already started to come up.

do i think you can make it , i no #### well you can just go for it and dont listen to all the experts in perticular the ones that come out of truck driving school that are already experts , use your own head and thoughts and the advice you get think about it before you take to much stock in it , remember there truck drivers just like you are going to be .

as far as what you want to pull , well it depends on you, your choice and whether your going to lease or branch out on your own those are decisions only you can make
if your own your own you make more money but you need a little expeirence that will make it a lot easier.

business plan well that again is up to you , ive been out here about 45 yrs and have yet to make one but not to say there bad i just think a lot of people make things more complicated then they have to be.

hope this has helped you some , again as far as you making it i have no doubt that you can id bet on it .

best of luck to you my friend.---southernpride