Realistic Fuel and Mechanical expectations?

Absolutely.

I'm the kind of guy who would do just that if I have a truck I liked and its working for me.

Back in the day (Late 80's early 90's) when I first got into driving for someone else, Pete and KW were always favorites to have, but MAC and International Harvester had the best reputations for being the toughest (working) company trucks to have.

I started in towing and graduated to heavy towing and hauled heavy equipment. 1978 IH single axle, 2 stroke Detroit with the GMC 671 huffer (Back when GM owned Detroit), Spicer 21 speed and how many remember the old Holmes 750 twin boom wreckers? How many remember to shut down your truck you had to pull the pedal back to kill the fuel? I loved that old truck. I'd crack the jake every chance I got. Sounded like a city fire truck coming down the street. People took notice and got out of the way LOL. Used make jokes how the old Detroit used more oil than diesel on each trip.

Thats the era I grew up in. $8 cash and as long as you could read and write, got you a chauffeurs license to drive anything. Road test? Hah,.. a 2 minute crash course on how to shift the twin stick and how to drop the deck on the lowboy and I was off. The boss told me to go and pick up and deliver a CAT 235 excavator 40 miles. Got to the site after hours, no one was there, boss forgot to tell me how to move and load this dang machine!!! Not like we had cell phones back then. Payphone was your friend back then. I made $6.50 an hr and that was pretty good money back then.

But yeah,.. I like to hear how O/O are handling over hauls, rebuilds, whether they are rebuilding or replacing equipment/parts. Back in the day you drove a truck till the floors rotted out from under you,.. and even then you might still be required to drive it. 10 degrees out,.. windshield icing over? No heat? Oh yeah,.. they forgot to mention the heater core crapped out yrs ago and by-passed it. So yeah,.. no heat. Take a hammer and knock a hole in the floor the boss says. To which I replied,.. Already have 2 holes in the floor sir. I keep getting splashed everytime I hit a pot hole. Cant feel my finger tips. Boss chuckled,.. said "your doing a fine job boy. Keep up the good work". Then hung up on me.


Hurst

 

I do not plan to use my home equity if I dont have to. I can borrow $100k tomorrow on just my signature. My mother inlaw has also offered to loan me money as well. So I have options.

The only financing I'll be doing is for the truck and reefer. The $30k cash is not for that at all. I only stated that if need be,. I could borrow against my equity. Not that I plan to do that.

Dont see anything ruthless with your comments at all. A little pessimistic perhaps. I plan to be ruthless when I finally pull the trigger. You almost have to be in order to succeed. And I dont plan to fail. If it means being a prick in order to do well for my family then pucker up folks... cuzz there will be a new sheriff in town. Thats my attitude.

I've worked too hard and come too far to quit now. Watching how, where and why others fail will only cause me to work that much harder. I believe I will stumble,.. perhaps struggle at first. But failure is not an option for me.

 

I'm not sure how to interpret that comment. I can only hope you are sincere.

Anyway,. listen please.

I'm 45 and this will not be my first business venture. I've had 2 others that I started and did fairly well. Wasnt rich,.. but did ok. Sold my first one to get into the second one. Second one I grew bored and saw an opportunity to make more money else where and shut it down.

I am approaching this with the same fervor and intensity as with anything I do. I never start something with 1 arm tied behind my back. As I already stated,.. I already have some business contacts and have things set in motion that at the very least, my financing is covered. Worst case scenario I have to use some factoring in the beginning to make sure my liquid capitol doesnt get low while covering fuel costs.

All I am trying to accomplish with this thread is to get an idea of which truck would be easier to get into for an initial start up. I know what 80 - 90% of the operating costs of this truck are. As much as I love this truck,.. I am slightly apprehensive to buy one due to the break downs that have occurred. But if this truck is the norm of whats out there, then thats what I am trying to find out.

That and I am curious of the little secrets and success tips that other O/O's can pass on to me. Thats all I am looking for. Not trying to get into a debate on how to start a business. I already know how to do that.

Hurst