So you want to "own " your own company

Your wrong about flatbed rates. They are higher then van. I loaded up yesterday morning in less then an hour for a 47,000 pound load. I unloaded in less then an hour.

I got paid a little more then $7.00 per mile but it was a short run. I have to dead head to get the load then come back home to unload. I could not do 2 loads in one day. It's all apples and oranges and hard to compare. Depends on what your doing and how much of it.

If your not rolling your not making money.

 

How many trucks should you start out with?

 

Oh, about 500.

Seriously, I'd start out with one. And seeing as how you're just getting into the business, I'd drive for someone else for a little while before you buy any.

 

I drove for a O/O that told me out of four trucks only one is guaranteed to make any money and thats the one he drove. To make a long story short he had two trucks running and making payments on 4 plus he had to pay me add it up he made nothing. He said the biggest mistake he made was getting more then one truck!! He was a good guy 30+ years driven I did not drive for him very long he ended up counting his loses and going back to one truck and thats the one he drove. Good drivers are hard to come by He had drivers come and go in the other trucks. He let me go and gave a great reference for me since he could not afford to pay me 3 days later I was working for a great small company.

 

How many miles was it that you got $7.00 a mile for, it shurly did not come from a broker.

 

I just checked and have found loads from $3.50 to $10.15 in different states. The highest rate was for under 75 miles, and the lowest was around 150 miles.

 

Seven, Nebraska, and No. Those are "The Answers"

How much capital do you have for this venture? Do you have any expertise? Lined up any investors? Assembled a business plan? Completed a feasibility study? Read any of the various Owner Operator threads on this or any other forum? Talked to any local owner operators or small companies? Considered an "apprenticeship" type arrangement with one of said outfits? Can you hand letter any of the trucks? Can you change oil? What would you do if you experienced catastrophic failure of a major component while on the road?

There are many questions besides "how many". Good luck and good reading.

 

you will awake from that dream shortly . . . .

 

It's 147 miles one way. We all have to deadhead to get the load due to it being in the middle of nowhere. In my case it's 147 both ways since it delivers in my home town.

I'm hauling directly for the shipper but brokers have the loads also. I called and they offered $50 less then the shipper. They do have there own trucks but this is their busy time. Besides all their regular people they have at least 50 loads per week they need to find trucks for.