SOMEONE said it couldn't be done...

Believe it or not, I feel like it could be a bigger risk by going the w2 route. Why? Because if the tax money that was withheld from my check never makes it to the IRS, guess who gets to cough it up? ME. Sure, they'll go after the employer but ultimately, at the end of the day, the IRS will be looking to ME to make it right.

 

Well, like I said - I have the means to get myself home from anywhere I'd end up in North America. Let's hope it doesn't come to that

Once I get all the numbers together for the week, I'll post an update. It's a little less than my first week due to some unscheduled but necessary down time for maintenance, and scheduling one lower revenue load to get me back to the yard to pick up my permanent CDL (temporary CDL expired).

All in all, I'm having a blast with this so far. I had forgotten just how much I enjoy driving.

 

Sorry, have been busy getting the truck outfitted and in shape for the enforcement blitz.

2nd week's check was $785, a bit low due to the holiday weekend and lots of cheap freight. Last week's numbers aren't in yet, but I'm expecting around the same result, $750-ish due to the short 4 day week and more cheap freight. We don't haul cheap freight, so there was a bit of waiting involved. I'll sacrifice some income for the health of the company and to prevent cheap freight from moving.

So, $1025 + 785 + 750 = $44,373 annual average. Still have 49 weeks to go to bring that back up to $50K. And it's still more than I'd be earning starting out with one of the megas.

Since I started, I've been running 100% northeast. I've made deliveries in downtown Reading PA, Lancaster PA, Kearny, NJ, etc. A bit challenging to thread a 53' van through traffic and narrow streets, but not so much that it's bothersome. I don't see why drivers have an issue with the northeast, but I may get an idea when I start running other areas.

 

Per RedForeman's comments, I've decided to set aside 35%. A lot more than my liability will end up totaling, but it's accessible to smooth out cash flow 'blips'. And what doesn't end up being paid to uncle Sam will go towards operating capital and the down payment on my truck in 1-2 years. Unless the percentage deal that I'm under now works out to make more financial sense than purchasing and operating my own truck.