New guy - wants to buy truck, split profits with driver

If you had a friend that was a pilot, would you buy a plane for him to fly?

This question has been asked on this forum scores of times, spend some time reading on here using the search function. If you don't want to spend the time, here's a synopsis-you have absolutely no idea what you're getting into, you will lose all of your money, you will fail, hiding the money under your mattress would be a better investment.

 

First off how much experience does your friend have ?... Is he gonna drive full time or just when he wants to ? Have you checked into Insurance, permitting, authority ? As far as the truck and trailer you mentioned cash talksso try and negotiate them down... The truck is probably an old fleet truck. Being a volvo there's plenty ofgood and bad with that said the volvo support network across country is the smallest of the main truck manufacturers. The trailer you didn'tmention type or manufacturer so it's tough to say. Good Luck

 

Brief and to the point, but not arrogant. In fact it's probably more on point than most would realize (buying a plane for someone else). The types of questions you've asked indicate that you really haven't researched this idea past shopping for equipment. Seriously spend some time reading the sticky posts in this section at least before asking questions who's answers won't get you anywhere unless you understood the context.

Besides that, your friend doing commercial driving in your equipment isn't like loaning him your car when he needs a ride. There's a whole different set of rules for that and they are not flexible or accommodating at all. In the easiest case, you would be a lease-owner. Your friend would be your driver employee. The carrier would have no risk at all loading you and your friend would just get paid by the mile or something. You would be the guy with all the risk - it's your money in the equipment and funding it's operation. And ultimately paying for anything that goes wrong, with very little upside to look forward to.

 

So would you like for me to sugar-coat it for you? People that actually know what they're doing fail in this industry all the time. It's pretty arrogant of you to come on here and solicit advice without doing some of your own research first. Answers to all of the questions you are asking are already on here.

Some freight does pay by the ton or CWT, but you'll be loading closer to 50,000 lbs with that kind of stuff, which you won't be doing with a lead-sled Volvo. Weight is always a consideration, but most OTR freight, especially flatbed freight, isn't paid based on weight.

That trailer might be a good deal, depending on its condition, dimensions, and what brand it is, and what brand of tires they put on it. I would pass on the truck.

 

Try 1.5k to 2k if you can get that much off a broker board

 

50/50 Split w/ driver? Might want to rethink that.