New driver owns truck

I used to know a guy that started from scratch. He went to trucking school and worked for Allied Van Lines franchise for two years before going o/o. He got a 98' Freightliner Century Class' and started with a dry van. He did this for two years before adding another truck and trailer. My biggest advice for your friend; learn how to maximize profits.

He should check into MCT Transport. He could lease on his truck on and ditch the trailer.

KH

 

Man, we needa picture of that truck that you swapped a “65 VW micro-bus “ for.

 

are you suggesting there are companies that would let me bring 2 pitbulls??

 

I'm not G/MAN but if your a company driver I wouldn't know the answer to your quest. I can tell you that several/most companys will let you have a dog in the truck if you are an o/o. How many & what breed is unknown. I know that Knight for example flatout said NO! even to my border collie. Alot of people are afraid of "pits"as ya know. I start out every job interview with,,,"if the dog don't go....neither do I". You'd be surpprised how many people respect that, and if yer good,,,they'll give you a pass on the dog. Stay loyal to the dogs!
Luck!

 

well i'm imaging if i have my own truck they wont care very much considering its my truck, but who knows. maybe i'll have to take out an insurance policy or something. i know, lots of people are. i cant say i blame them either but i do love educating people about the breed. if it comes down to it i just wont go OTR, unless i can find good living arrangements for my dogs but even then i wouldnt want to do that, i want to be with my dogs. if it means i'd have to get my own truck then whatever, i wanna own a truck anyways, but that will be the final bridge i cross. one thing for sure is i'd never turn my back on my dogs, as much of a headache as they cause me i love them with all my heart. bruno is like my personal body guard, listens like you wouldnt believe, i can throw food on the ground he will drop it mid chew if i say to, when someones at the door he will stay back, and watch very carefully and once invite them in he will then walk up wagging his tail wanting to be your best friend. but until then he is on the look out, not in an aggressive way, he's just alert. mama on the other hand is like a pig, she'll steal food from your plate if you turn your back to her, she runs right up to the door, but she doesnt have a mean bone in her. i dont care how good of a trainer you are that dog will never be a guard dog. so yeah, if it came down to it, if i had to choose, i would not go OTR. never in a ice cubes chance in hell would i give my dogs up.

 

I'm trackin'.....Keep the dogs!

 

i've got a decent job now, i'm waiting for the right thing to come my way i'm only 23 i've got my whole life ahead of me.

i've considered it but then i end up stopping and re reading what i wrote and changing it, if i just type it comes straight from the heart.

 

I would not count on it. Carriers have different policies when it comes to pets. Some will allow 1 small dog. Others will allow more than one. There is much liability for a carrier to allow a driver to have dogs in the truck. If your dog bites someone, they will come after the carrier since they are the ones with the deep pockets. Some shippers will not allow dogs on their premises. While some dogs are well mannered, some will trash a truck. It is difficult for a company to recover those costs from a driver once they leave the company. Dog hair will get all over a truck, even if the driver keeps his truck clean. Hair will get into a/c filters and could clog them. Then there is the odor. No matter how clean the dog all will have an odor. Some people are allergic to dogs and cats. It is expensive to detail a truck, especially after a dog has been in the truck. After a pet, extra cleaning is always necessary. I have experienced this first hand with drivers in my own trucks who have sneaked pets into my equipment. I have a NO PETS policy for good reason.

I understand that a truck is your home away from home. But, it is also a place of business. In fact, it is first and foremost a place of business. As such, it is no place for pets. Many carriers have the same opinion as me. There are some who do allow pets. Some may require a deposit. Frankly, pet owners should need to put up a big non refundable deposit to take care of the cleanup. I am not picking on you specifically, but some drivers consider it their right to have a pet in someone else's truck. We have discussed this on this forum and others. Pets can be as much or more of a distraction as texting. They can present a danger to others on the highway. If you allow one driver to have a pet in a truck it is difficult to not allow everyone to do the same.

Even if you have your own truck and lease it to a carrier, the liability is still there for the carrier. If you own your own truck and have your own authority then you can do as you wish. There could still be a problem with some shippers. But when you own the company then you call the shots.

 

Ever think its not the MEAN OLD COMPANY that limits the DOG traveling with you , but the CUSTOMERS who do not want DOGS ( any animals ) on their property. Same as many plants make a HUMAN rider sit at the security shack for the time the truck is inside the gate getting loaded / unloaded.

As for IT'S MY TRUCK & I CAN DO AS I WANT , good luck with that attitude , I have my own trucks / trailers authority ecte and CUSTOMERS who will terminate my contract if I ( my drivers ) do not follow the rules.

If you own your own truck and have your own authority then you can do as you wish. No you CANNOT always do as you wish , you need to satisfy the CUSTOMER ( you know the people who pay the bills you send out for freight you hauled ) and if they have a NO DOG on the property rule you BETTER abide by it.

 

I can absolutely respect what's been said here. It's all true as well. My biggest problem here is that I've never driven someone elses truck for wages. I may be really lucky, but I was only turned away from a shipper 1 time because of the dog. I left and never went back. I even had a steady gig running groceries from Vegas to Albertsons whse. in FTW for 2 years and the dog was never questioned. Not by the guards at the gate, or anyone else.
I guess it depends on alot of factors. I just think that if he finds the right job, his dogs won't be a problem. In the mean time I respect his loyalty to the dogs that he has taken responsibility for. It will definately limit his options for employment but that's just how it is IMO.

Here's some food for thought....
I was "shop foreman"at The Vegas Truck Center (Freightliner) for 5 years, & have extensive dealership experience as a mechanic in other shops. I can tell you from experience seeing & smelling many trucks over the years, that the worst animals in the truck were never dogs! Gentlemen,,,you can't imagine the stench. Trash piled up level with the RHS window, petrafied sausage biscuits like hockey-pucks under the seats, human stink so vile, it would knock you out. I called them "bio-hazzards" and turned them away.
Animals (dogs, cats, a skunk one time) were never the problem.
Really good truck drivers are hard to find & if I found one that had a dog but took care of himself,,,that dog would be the least of my worries. JMO again.

BTW, I ran 4 of my own team trucks while working at dealerships for 10 years so I have some experience with "drivers" as well.
All I own/run now is one truck, & if the dog don't go,,,neither do I.