6 months experience next month (looking to lease on)...

Well sir I did not fail! Had 56 drivers under me in at the time a very nice nich. People saw my trucks running and figured out what it was. Was undercut by a fool who bid for a LOSS of hoping to get a increase the 2 nd year. Did not happen, but I had sold out and moved on. My fleet ran 25000 miles a day at over 1.50 25 years ago. So don't talk down to people. You have been called ####y already! If not ready this industry will chew you up and spit you out! My advise is to take your time, total of 2 years min to learn this industry. Then if comfortable pull the trigger! Yes money is in the niches but every one eles is looking for that opening! Best of luck! I want you to reach your goals. When you are ready!

 

Here is big tip ,keep in mind the huge gap in gross and net! My brother hauls cars (4 car set up) grosses 12 k every 2 weeks. Is getting 8 mpg so good fuel milage. But net before tax is only 2700 for the two weeks. A good company job will almost match that if not beat it! And not worry what will happen to the truck when!
The man that underbid me (government work) lost every thing he ever had! When he shut out they pointed out we have a contract saying you will do this job for. 64 cpm. The next highest bidder got the call. They sued for the extra 30 cpm. 1/3 of 26000 a day for 3 years. Like I said he was working at a loss to begin with. He was hoping for a feul cost adjustment to bring him back into the black.

 

Cheap will vary by scale. Running that may miles a day one could have a thin pm per truck and be ok. A single o/o needs a much bigger pm on his truck. Old man Snider used to say if each truck made a penny a mile, he would make 5000 a day! His company has grown much more since then!
That scale difference is what makes it hard on independented o/o! The better nich you crave out the more attractive it is to be flooded! Watch overhead, find a small nich . But always watch out! Like in my case someone was willing to do it for less than half,, just to get their foot in the door.he ruined that nich! Now its going for 99 cpm no fsc! Put in bid few years back to see about getting back in. My best was going to be 1.19

 

It went for 99 cpm no fsc.. he could have leased to almost any carrier and did better. 4 dollar a gal fuel, 4 truck payments. And in contract have to pay labor well ober 20 a hr.