In need of some solid advice from experienced O/O

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by visionarygvp, Sep 25, 2021.

  1. feldsforever

    feldsforever Road Train Member

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    I've never done it on a diesel. But on gasoline you can taste a intake leak.
     
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  3. LoneRanger

    LoneRanger Road Train Member

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    Not sure if we are talking about the same thing or not, but a Def truck also has the cost of Def as well. So one needs to take the increased mpg on a Def truck and compare it to a non Def truck and see if it’s really worth having Def.

    as of right now, for me Def really sucks.


    Cost of repair, cost of maintenance, cost of Def, down time = true cost.

    When all of these are calculated I just don’t see it comparing to a non Def truck.
     
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  4. Dave_in_AZ

    Dave_in_AZ Road Train Member

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    Aye. That truck was 7.2 mpg lifetime on 750K miles.

    The one I have now is 7.8 lifetime. This was The OM's last Master Trip-

    20210914_062330.jpg

    20210914_062314.jpg
     
  5. Short Fuse EOD

    Short Fuse EOD Road Train Member

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    So, at 500k cat engine is 60k more in fuel over x15 in 389 doing what I do. I doubt emissions cost is 60k in 500k even when adding the def.hmmm wondering what a fixed x15 would do..
     
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  6. LoneRanger

    LoneRanger Road Train Member

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    He’s doing it in a FL Cascadia. Take into account the costs of maintaining a def system for 500k miles not just the Def itself. The weight difference between trucks. So far if my truck wasn’t under warranty when we first got it, My brother would have been out 30k and that was at 481k miles. A new Def system was installed right before factory warranty went out.

    so add everything together a a non Def truck looks better and better.
     
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  7. Siinman

    Siinman Road Train Member

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    It doesn't count if it has the warranty. That is the point of buying new and getting the 500K warranty.
     
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  8. visionarygvp

    visionarygvp Light Load Member

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    The tanker company I am with is small, we have about 130 drivers total, including O/O across the NE, SE, Central region. Pay is good, I just got a $3 raise two weeks ago. I’m hourly $28/hr Monday - Friday start in the morning end in the evening, home every night and weekends off. I can’t really complain at all, benefits are good as well.

    What made me want to take the next step was one of my buddies who’s with the company. He’s a O/O but brought his truck that he was leasing from another company and was able to take it with him when he left. He encouraged me to go for it, and was very open and honest about everything even as far as pay is concerned. Our O/O’s loads pay between $3-$8 per load, and his average weekly settlement has been $5-$6.5k after all deductions were taken out.
    I did want part of it, but I’m not struggling as a company driver either so I’m ok. A little butt hurt after my reality check on here today, but I will be ok.

    I’m single, no kids and all my monthly expenses currently including the loan payment comes to about $1900 total. That figure will be increasing by about $600 or so because I am going to be moving into a different apartment, but I know I will still be ok.

    As far as the Mack truck, I got back in it yesterday after being out of it about 3 weeks. When management told me they were finalizing everything the first thing I did was write up everything that needed to be looked at, got everything replaced and fixed that needed to be fixed as they would have before I bought it.
    I’ll continue to run it, but of course the purchase portion of it is on hold.

    Everything happens for a reason, so like you and a lot of others have already said: Keep saving and create a solid business plan.
     
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  9. visionarygvp

    visionarygvp Light Load Member

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    Thats good man, it sounds like you’re doing pretty good for yourself even when it’s looking bad. I wish I had some background in mechanics, aside from taking on projects on my personal vehicle. I feel like you guys have one up on many of us out here, being able to diagnose and fix your own equipment most times.
     
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  10. visionarygvp

    visionarygvp Light Load Member

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    Congratulations! It’s stuff like this that keeps my hope alive, I just need to come up with a better business plan.
     
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  11. visionarygvp

    visionarygvp Light Load Member

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    The tanker company I wanted to lease purchase with, I am already a local driver with. $28/hour Monday - Friday, start in the morning end in the evening, off weekends and good benefits. I can’t complain, I just wanted to take it a step further and take part in these $3-$8 loads my buddy with the company is bringing in.

    To me that was unheard of. I didn’t believe it at first but I seen those settlements with my own eyes. Part of it is that our company doesn’t pull for anyone who contracts the mega tanker carriers since they tend to drive down the price per load.
     
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