Time for Prime.....

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Steve & Lo, Jun 7, 2007.

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  1. sano

    sano Bobtail Member

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    Sep 24, 2006
    Indiana
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    Came in to this thread expecting an Optimus Prime Peterbilt. :(
     
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  3. buck and a half

    buck and a half Mr. Miles & Miles with Many Smiles

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    Aug 11, 2006
    madison,me
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    Word to the wise,if you need to be home weekends,leasing is not the answer,instant examples,no sick days,no holidays,no parking when the roads are bad,no extra naps,allot more responsibility is on you and your family,if your wife works and unforseen things happen,you get hurt ,on the job or off,you still have payments to lease that truck,money stops coming in,your credit suffers if you let it go back to company,your wife gets mad or disgusted with trying to keep things going at home by herself,the only efficient way to operate a lease truck or your own is to run all out for 4 weeks and get all your monthly payments made,then come home for less than a week like 3.5 days,and next 4 weeeks out again,that is the kind of dedication you need,are you fully prepared for that?,unless you have your wife and kids with you on the road it gets really lonely for all of you,even three weeks seems like a month out. You have nothing to fall back on,the truck stops and you are behind,you can't afford the insurance it would take to pay your truck expenses and other regular family bills like groceries,utilities,taxes,house and car payments,unless you are both prepared to team up together or one drive and both live in that truck until it is paid for,A lease completion is worse than that,you have nothin in the end and back to square one like tyou started with 3200 savings,which is nothin compared to a company driver making 35 to 45 cts a mile,home weekends and all the free bennies,holidays,health insurance,days off every week,paid sick days,insurance that you can pay for that pays your car and house payments,all the cleaning supplies that your company reimburses you for,tolls and other expenses,401 that you can afford to be part of.THINK<THINK<THINK> before you fall,its a long way back if you lose.
     
  4. Steve & Lo

    Steve & Lo Medium Load Member

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    May 22, 2007
    Tennessee
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    I agree....Leasing is not for everyone. Driving is not for everyone either. Like I've said before, I was here in the early 90's when my kids were small and I didn't want to stay out.....and had problems.....and eventually left. Spent the next 13 years at home working local....and loved being able to go to soccer games and basketball games. But, we're empty nesters now, and my wife is coming on the truck with me and we will be teaming real soon. So, we will have the best of both worlds.....spend all that time together....and make a good living too. So far I've been averaging right @ $1.49 mi for ALL miles......LOADED & EMPTY. Not too bad for a company that everyone says runs cheap freight. I've had loads out of WI paying in excess of $1.80 and pulled a load out of FL that only paid $.98.....but, who of you can say you can get good freight out of FL.....NOT MANY. I know that some of you guys think that leasing the truck is never good for the driver.....well, I beg to differ. We're happy. Not all the loads pay top dollar....but, at the end of the week when I bank my $1300 and I've enjoyed what I've done.......I think that means it's a good deal. Sure, they are making money off of me......just like the companies other drivers work for are making money off of them. The only person that doesn't make someone else money is the guy that runs his own freight...never goes through a broker....and sets his own rates. And once again....That's not very many people out here.
     
  5. norespect

    norespect Bobtail Member

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    Apr 28, 2007
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    Sorry but the .98 cent a mile is a crime or at lest should be. Rates will never go up as long as trucks keep hauling cheap freight. At .50 cents a mile for fuel how do you make any money on .98 a mile freight? Sorry if this sounds snobby. We have been O/O for 15 years and there is no way I could haul .98 a mile freight and make a dime. And my truck is paid for.
     
  6. Steve & Lo

    Steve & Lo Medium Load Member

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    May 22, 2007
    Tennessee
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    So.....what do you do go get out of an area like FL? Or NYC for that matter.....some areas just have way too many trucks for the amount of freight coming out. And when an area is saturated you just need to get out......Cause running 600 mi for .98 beats sitting for a day....waiting for a "better" load.....and then the next day....guess what? All they got is the same thing......sooooo......not only have you lost the revenue from the other load....you also have to figure in all the money you spent while you were waiting. And the cheap load just took you to where the next load is paying you $1.49 for 1500 miles. Sorry, but I'll take one bad load for 2 good ones......remember.....the load that took me to FL paid over $1.80 mi. for 1300 mi. Lets see.....that's a little over $5100 for 3400 mi....that works out to....$1.51 mi for the 3 loads.....Hmmmmmm
     
  7. knighton5

    knighton5 Heavy Load Member

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    Nov 19, 2006
    Rose City
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    OH, company driving isnt for everyone, and leasing is the same!!!! I know alot of lease operator's making alot of money and it works for them!!!! You need to determine what your requirements are, then make your own decision! Good Luck and drive safe!
     
  8. knighton5

    knighton5 Heavy Load Member

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    Nov 19, 2006
    Rose City
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    Sorry but the .98 cent a mile is a crime or at lest should be. Rates will never go up as long as trucks keep hauling cheap freight. At .50 cents a mile for fuel how do you make any money on .98 a mile freight? Sorry if this sounds snobby. We have been O/O for 15 years and there is no way I could haul .98 a mile freight and make a dime. And my truck is paid for.

    .98 cents a mile is cheap, but if you lease to CR or Central or Swift etc.... you would be making 85-90 cents per mile..
     
  9. Steve & Lo

    Steve & Lo Medium Load Member

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    May 22, 2007
    Tennessee
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    And, that's the only load that I've had like that. Trust me, if they were all like that I wouldn't stick around. There's no way you could afford to work for that kind of money....unless they paid for everything except the truck....then you might be able to squeak by on it. But, you know none of the companies are gonna do anything like that.
     
  10. knighton5

    knighton5 Heavy Load Member

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    Nov 19, 2006
    Rose City
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    I met a Prime driver who drive's Portland to Vacaville back and forth (for now) one way loaded with flowers, and deadhead the other way... He still averages 1.50 mile!!! Basicaly 600 miles loaded then 600 miles empty.... Thats awesome, compared to making 80 or 85 or 90 cents per mile! Just info I came across! I'm still thinking about going with Prime in a month or so!!! I have to keep my medical insurance a few more weeks.
     
  11. Steve & Lo

    Steve & Lo Medium Load Member

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    May 22, 2007
    Tennessee
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    Yeah....those flower loads pay good.....Hoping that when the wife gets out here with me we will be able to hook up on some of those. Plus you get stop pay and unloading pay....they really add up quick. I'm still averaging right in the $1.50 range myself.
     
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