May Purchase Truck, Trailer & Route

Make the run first, at least once, 2 times would be better,

to see what you're getting into.....

 

Please inform us of the route you're buying so we'll know who to beatch at for road conditions onnit. J/K... my odd sense of humor.

Seriously tho, this is a big step for a newbie. Don't know your background,etc prior to trucking but for the average newbie this could be disaster. Be very careful.

 

well neighbor, you've alot to learn just starting out, you'll even have ALOT more to learn as a o/o, that's gonna be alot on your plate, not saying it can't be done, however you can "learn" from a co for a few years on thier dime, than make your decision, believe me............theres ALWAYS somebody out there selling a truck, and a 02, most won't finance it, so hope he will, or you have cash. keep us posted of what you do

 

Maybe ask the O/O to keep driving it for a year so you can get some experience?

You'll have better driving experience by then, can spend the year learning more about maintenance needs and the prices of that maintenance, and maybe learn a little about securing new accounts so that if/when the account(s) on that route go out of business or pick another carrier, you won't be sitting around with nothing.

Just a suggestion.

 

I would mention to the seller can you obtain a contract from his customers, cause he can sell you a pretty picture to a newbie but when its all done, how long do you think his customers will keep you around ? All im saying is to cover your behind in an investment, make sure you keep the customers. Not to mention you have no experience in mantaining a truck and refer, I would run more than a few times with him and ask so many questions till he wants to throw you out of the truck.

 

While the other posts were correct in the maintenance warnings....this is the one that covers the "back end" of the whole scenario....will the customers accept a rookie with no experience with the contract?

 

Another thought came to mind...while sitting in my "office" inside the T/A, it's a generic office, name on the door says "MEN"....

Anyway...most refer runs are time sensitive, and in my experience as a trainer/Mentor, I found that most, and I mean MOST new drivers out of truck school take some time to get a full 9-11 hour run mastered. Not to mention the "personal schedule" a driver "learns" while taking up this career. The stresses we incur on a daily basis are more intense than any truck school project, or can project to the new driver taking the beginning course.

The traffic, the construction delays, the highway closures (for various reasons), the schedule of sleep/drive/sleep, the inspections, the paperwork, the billing and getting paid, the maintenance, the cash on hand for any minor breakdown let alone a major...

check out the thread by BlackW900; http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...ut-everything/142752-update-on-my-engine.html

Will you be ready for all of this with this "OFFER"?

Where is your fuel money coming from? How much reserve do you have on hand for any "issue"?

There is so much to know about this industry that truck schools don't come close to mentioning let alone covering.

 

we don't ever recommend a newbie becoming an o/o right out of the box.

i personally never recommend either when i got the student at my side as he/she is waiting for his turn in the yard.

too many things to learn as others here have mentioned.

the o/p "might be" in a very good financial situation though, we do not know.

but the best advice is always to "learn the business on a company truck, then be an o/o later on if you are STILL IN trucking".....

then too, as i think mentioned, there are NO Guarantee's the customers will WANT to do business with a new owner.........

if the o/p still decides to do this, then i wish you the very best of luck and prosperity.....

 

I agree.....(thought we discussed this issue a few days ago....you're scaring me Rerun...)

As you (Rerun) and Diesel Dave and I ...along with the other posters here...have mentioned, we have some experience and time under our "tuckasses"....yet I recall how much "knowledge" the rookies seem to believe they have as they step the first foot into the trainers truck....about 7 days later, begging for home time, they realize this isn't just driving that big machine down the highway!

Common sense says to learn something well before taking it on solo head-on! I can't remember common sense being taught...although it is mentioned a few times...in truck school! Many schools just show the 50K "earning potential" in the first year as a solo driver! So much for common sense!!!!!