Average linehaul revenue, weekly expenses on choice, lease

they’ll never do that…they would get terminated for doing it

 

Here’s 2nd quarter figures from someone that’s there now

 

Deleted.

 

This is 1st and 2nd quarters as a company driver, working on average 5 days a week. Before taxes and health insurance Cat is making $8,000, after taxes and health insurance it's a wash.

And that's before we start talking about my maintenance costs.

So far this year I've had my radiator replaced (with a return visit for the hood to be remouted); steer brakes replaced, driver steer pads replaced after the new one cracked, drum and pads replaced after the 2nd new pads were installed incorrectly; 3 brake chambers; apu in the shop twice, two windshields; both hood mirror assemblies; dpf issues; cms repaired; corrosion in the brake light wiring (8 hours of shop time trying to hunt that down); passenger wiper arm mount; a set of batteries; and an air drain.

Admittedly my truck has 600k on it and this has been the first time I've had a lot of down time for repairs. Even if you average out the maintenance costs, it's a potential financial risk, one that probably won't be worth it for an extra $8-10,000 before tax/health insurance.

On the plus side, we're finally getting the back log of trucks in from Freightliner so you may be able to negotiate some nice incentives. But chose carefully.

 

This is something I wrote back in 2016, in 7 years the only thing that's changed is the wash out rate is over 50% in the 1st year.

Feel free to tell me to mind my own business, but out of curiosity who do you drive for and how much do you gross a year right now? Team drivers should be grossing at least $70,000, plus they have company paid health care (make sure you budget in health care costs, one of those "hidden" costs new ICs forget about). Is it possible to make more as a company solo driver while maintaining time at home needs with a different company?

You or someone else wondered why every time you ask for information you get told how hard it is and how bad an idea leasing a truck is.

We see so many people try and choose to leave for a variety of reasons. The first three truly active IC posters on TTR were @sadwar, @dieselfuelonly , and @chicknwing. Chicknwing left after 6 months because the money he was making wasn't worth being gone from home. He got a job running local LTL for the same money he was making as an IC - with less risk to himself. DFO ran smart as heck, but the stress of owning/running his own business took a serious mental toll (there but for the grace of god go I). Sadwar has done really well over the last (nearly) 3 years, but if I remember correctly the first 6 months were pretty rough. Sadwar had little or no debt starting out, a loving, supporting, gainfully employed fiance/wife, and a cat when he started. He moved into a great freight area that allows him to maximize TAH and Income. Sadwar's hard work is what made him successful but circumstances worked to his advantage. Even being one of the most successful ICs to post here, Sadwar was looking to get out of trucking a few months ago. That should tell you something.

The next three long term guys, @rickybobby , @TennMan , and @freightwipper all have different business models which work for them. Rickybobby plays with his truck half the year and plays with guns the other half (more than a little envious but there are reasons people don't want me playing with large caliber weaponry). In terms of trucking income he makes just above a new driver's annual income. His truck is payed off and when he needed to rebuild the engine his finances/financing was in order. TennMan has stated that he makes about what a company driver would but he went the IC route to better control his time at home. He drives his rear off Monday thru Friday to be home. Freightwipper runs months at a crack and from what I gather makes $10,000 or so more than I do as a company driver (last year $72,000 this year on track for $75,000).

All six of these drivers came in well educated, financially stable, and a supportive wife/single. They all made choices based on calculated risks and have been successful, yet 1/3 of them are no longer ICs. An oft mentioned statistic is that 40% of people who sign onto SNI Choice are no longer with the program one year later - for whatever reason. Even the guys who have been doing this successfully for a couple years have mentioned how much more they're working this year just to keep pace with last year. Buying/leasing a truck is a serious commitment and a large risk. There's a reason equipment finance companies can charge 14-18% interest. I look around at all the new IC drivers who return to being a company driver or leave the industry in a weaker financial position than when they started and have a visceral need to make sure anyone who asks me about Choice understands it's not a "turn key and money pours in" deal. It's hard work, and more importantly its SMART work. If after doing your due diligence you still want to pursue being an IC, you have my sincere best wishes. I will continue being a doomsayer to try and counteract all of the sugar coated advertising thrust in our faces.

Schneider Lease-Purchase..​

 

Thread recently posted how's there ZERO freight in AZ for Schneider and account just lost and you post here wanting to go the Schenider and live in AZ.

 

Why would you elven consider doing the leases purchase with a bottom feeder company like Schneider? There are a lot better jobs out there.