The trucking business

Southern Pride,

Thanks so much for responding back. I am paying very close attention to every thing you say! How are you feeling? Stronger everyday I sincerely pray and hope.

 

I am new to this board but have been reading it alot in free time. So far Souther Pride has had a ton of good info and ideas. Just wanted to say thanks for that. Probably never get to meet you but hope to one day. We all should take a lesson from the real truckers and theres a bunch on here. These are the guys that have been trucking for many years and have seen alot.
Although I didnt use this board when I bought my truck I did use the same logic as these guys. I bought a very clean and fresh overhauled 1984 Peterbilt 359. Payed it off very quick not huge payments and I make good money with it. Now I am still some what new to trucking so hopefully I will keep learning and find more business but in the main time without $1500 a month payments I make it fine. Also one these older trucks $1500 bucks fixes alot of stuff.

Hope you feel better Southern Pride

 

I hope you continue to provide useful threads like this for o/ops! While I am one that believes you are better off in the first 6 years of a trucks life, it is music to my ears to hear an o/op use the word overhead. Recognizing that your payment is due no matter the miles or the rate is one of the first keys to success in this business. Buy a truck that you can afford. Trade up as success allows. Pay 'em off quick, and sock away money for the next down payment.

 

here the thing people, Southern Pride is very correct in what he is saying, keep your over head low as possible,buy your own trailer,buy a older truck, here a peace of advice, older trucks are easyer to work on due to the dont have all the crap the new ones have, They all have diesel engines,they all have 5 th wheels and 10 tires and 2 rear end,,,remember if it moves ,turns, swiviels or has a dip stick it needs to be checked or greased,, then you turn your hat around ,take a shower get the grease off yah and do the buisness end, iv had several chats with Southern pride and have learned a ton, haveing a truck thats shinny and pretty comes from alot of hard work and not being home much,,,being a o/o is almost a 24/7 job that takes a lot of commitment !!! The question you need to ask youself ,is are you willing to give it all you got, you might not be home for 3 -4 weeks at a time, if you have a family this might not be the thing for you,,,,,,these are just some of the choices you have to make thanks dino

 

If you buy an older truck, do they still make parts for it? They get ya comin or goin...is my point. Then have a shop/place to do the work, then have the equipment(not cheap) to do the self repairs. It is like farming I swear, if your not born into it......good luck starting out! It isn't impossible but I think even the most motivated person would say....you have one hell of a uphill climb just to start the race!

 

We run new trucks because our contract requires newer equipment and our drivers don't like being broken down on the side of the road, or spending their time in the shop.

My first truck was brand new, but when I bought that first truck things in the trucking industry were much more stable than they are today and I was able to pay that truck off in 4 years with no problems and still make money.
Today I would suggest a used truck but not one that is too old, especially for a starter truck, you don't want to be starting out in a ten year old truck that is going to cost more in repairs than it is worth. You can pick up a five year old truck for a reasonable price that will give you several years of service before you will need to trade it in for something newer.

If you are smart about things you can do well, just don't try to live to large. I was at the truck dealer a couple weeks ago and there were several big fancy trucks that had just been brought to the lot, all repos.

 

That's the best way to buy that fancy "large car"...Let some fool make payments for a year or two and work all the "new truck" bugs out of it and then get repo'd and then I can buy it used for way less than a new one with lots fewer headaches.

 

I hope I can find one like that! That would be nice!

 

My thought exactly.

 

okay southern pride and blackw900, heres my question to you fella's. Remember I'm a local boy, came out of CDL school straight into local driving. I can afford a decent older fld120 and my own flatbed trailer, but could I find local and reigonal hauls. I don't mind reigonal but I'm not the type of guy to want to be out on the road weeks at a time. It may be a stupid question but im just spitballing.