Buying a Truck

The best part of dry van is there's no reefer lmao!!!

What I mean is if you have a problem with the reefer/fuel/costs. Rates may be better, but that's the reason. And obviously that's just my opinion. Good luck to ya Chris! I'm waiting in the corner for my number to be called...

 

I'm still doing some construction but interested in driving. I drove last year for six months, 3 months OTR. Money wasn't very good though for the amount of hassle the work entails. It'll be interesting to see what this year brings. I'm looking for another co. driver job. I'd say that owning your own truck is getting the cart before the horse. The first thing to do is find a market for your service.

 

Southern Pride I must say Thank you. For what I seen so much on here and other sites with so much gloom and doom You really give encouragement along with advise. That is what so many need and not so much Do not do it type of Grips we see. So thank you.....


swisschris62

As for what type of trailer, here is one way of looking at it. I want to get a reefer when I can for the 1 reason of your not stuck on one type of cargo. If no Refrigerated cargo you can haul most of dry freight. Dry Van your limited to just dry Freight. Second reason is a self protection. If you end up with dead batteries on your Truck, you can jump start your self. Dry Van you have to gt Road service or another Driver to help out. Flatbed to much work for so little pay.

Good Luck and maybe see ya back out here soon..

 

thanks for your words of wisdom
its guys like you that one can learn so much from
do you think that this year trucking will be any less of a "hassle" or less work and more money?

if your willing to work your ### off you will make money
i for one am not here to spew negativity or sarcasm so in your case i wish you luck in finding your next company job although it may not be easier for you this year since the last tiem you went out to drive you quit 3 months later
last tiem i checked companies werent thrilled about hiring job hoppers

 

Here is what you do. Buy TWO trucks, and let me drive the other one for you!!!

But seriously, it sounds like you have a great head on your shoulders and seem more prepared to take on something like this then many out there.

You did say something that really stuck out when I read it.

Thats exactly right, being an O&O is you running a business. It's not just driving a truck around from warehouse to warehouse. There is an incredible amount of planning that needs to be done to be successful.

I wish nothing but the best for you, but like I said, from the sounds of it we should be seeing 'Swiss Chris Trucking Company' trucks on the roads all over the place!!

 

I am sure others can agree... it seems more and more of the classics are coming out of being "mothballed" and hitting the roads. I have been seeing quite a few cabovers. My guess, they are paid for and the engines are cheap and easy to work on.

My advice, hold off on the new truck. Find one that has a fresh in-frame and trans, put a little TLC into her and hit the road.

Best of luck.

 

i thank everyone for their replies
although i did title the thread buying a new truck in my first post i did say that i was looking at trucks with 150000 - 200000 miles
i guess what i should have said was " new for me"
i am really going to take iinto consideration what everyone has said though and do my best to keep costs low
on the other hand i want to try and also get a truck that i wont be able to bring into the ports in a couple more years when all sorts of restrictions are put in place as far as clean air goes
theres alot of things to consider and think about but in the end i am confident ill make the right choices
thanks again to everyone who has replied

 

Last time you checked, heh? Is that supposed to be a critical remark in my direction? No good deed goes unpunished in this asylum as in all the others, take note. Circumstances were such that if I didn't quit I might have wound up dead but that's a story I've told elsewhere and don't care to repeat here except to say that there are carriers out there that will kill you and are a danger to the driving public. I'm not a job hopper. I've worked for myself for the past quarter century and don't look at work as anything other than that--done for my personal gain. It's the capitalist ideal and I accept that although I know it has a negative side as there are winners and losers in that competitive process. I got what I wanted out of the deal--a little taste of OTR and experience operating the equipment. To answer your question about the prospects for profit in freight hauling business this coming year that's impossible to answer as a generality. There are many segments in that huge industry and some will do better than others. Have fun working you hash marks off.

 

My buddy is probably going to be buying a truck, i am asking yall where to find a deasent economical truck. He is going to be leasing it to Schneider, and puting me in the truck. My question is where to get a good used truck, probably going with a FL, for price and fuel eco. He is out of OR and is looking to go outside of SNI for the truck(he been driving with them for 10years, and going to use me as ginny pig, but i dont care, if it works out he plans on buying more and better trucks) Ill drive just about anything along as it passes DOT and is not ratting to bad, or is in the shop every week. He wants me to find him(and me) a good truck for this. I am thinking a O/O truck verse a big company fleet truck, I know how some big companys care for there truck, 40-60k miles between oil changes, 10+ driver per truck all beating them to death.

Thanks for your input in advance
G

 

Probably going to be accused of spreading more "gloom and doom", but so be it, here goes...
I would urge any noob not to buy new. Huge money and the new trucks have problems too. There are alot of used trucks out there. Look around and hopefully find a good one. I wouldnt want a new truck with all the crap they have on them now.
If you have some money ahead(and i hope you do), set it aside for unexpected breakdowns and expenses. They will happen.
Dont be afraid of flatbedding. I dont have much experience flatbedding, but it wasnt bad work. The best thing i liked about skateboards is usually getting loaded/unloaded fairly fast. Beats sitting at some grocery warehouse for many hours, then paying lumper good money to pull pallets off truck. Sometimes pallets have to be broken down(more time).
This is easy to say and hard to accomplish, but if possible,find a niche where few others are.Provide exceptional service in that niche. That will make you the best money.
Enough for now......