O/O Day-Cab question

I may be wrong but I think if you did your research you would find your assumptions wrong. Used daycabs tend to bring a higher price than used sleepers for some reason. At least that is true in and around the Memphis area. I had the same assumptions as you did and tried to find a used daycab to do our shorthaul stuff a few years ago. I ended up just keeping one of the road tractors that I would have traded in to use for this purpose. I may be 100% wrong but that was my experience when daycab shopping.

 

That's only true because all the big OTR cos (Swift,etc) keep trading in their trucks, and have flooded the market with sleeper trucks, so hence their cost goes down. You can still find inexpesive daycabs in decent shape, you just really have to look.
And as for growing a fleet, you may be able to (thru the means you're describing) however, remember, that first truck (that runs non stop) always will make you more money than the others, and you will have to pass almost all of the profit made by the other trucks along to their respective drivers, or risk being left with empty trucks. A firend of mine does exactly what you have described with his daycab, except that he's leased with FedEx Ground: he spots trlrs during the day, his driver does the same thing at night. He passes most of what the truck makes on second shift back to his employee, and everyone is happy. Except, that he is only making slightly more than O/Os whose trucks only run ONE shift a day, and most of that extra goes to pay his increased tax burden (as an O/O, you pay both halves of your Social sec, the half you normally pay plus your employer's half- if you are self employed as paying taxes as such).

Whew, sorry for the loooooong post, but just had to get that out there.
-Bob

 

My husband and I are O/O with one day cab. We bought it just over 2 years ago. It was a challange to find a day cab, but once we did, and it checked out fine with our mechanic/friend it has not stopped working other then when it has been down for repairs. We are in southern california, there seems to be more then enough work for day cabs. We are leased on to a pheumatic company, he drives in the day and I drive at night. It is working well for us. We dont have any interest in hiring drivers and dealing with more trucks so far, but I dont know what the future will bring.
Good luck

 

Me and my wife are also looking into buying a day cab and we live in centralcalifornia any suggestions whos the best to take ourinvestment to

 

Used sleepers are far LESS expensive than used day cabs. At least where I am from.

 

True, true. Daycabs are at least equal in price if not higher than a sleeper in Houston. Trucks are high right now anyway....and probably going higher....

 

Its true in Kalifornia too, Day cabs bring more more money when they are up for sale
and you can always pull the sleeper off if you wanted too kepp that in mind when truck shopping

 

I've got a day cab. If I'm not driving it, it doesn't move. I don't do "slip-seating"...especially not in my own truck.