No CDL, buying a truck.

This is what I know. I have not even driven the thing. It's literally sitting in my front yard. I almost drove the other day but my wife talked me out of it. I have plans to get some training from a local truck driver (long time friend) when he returns from the road. Were planning to try to do some loads with THIS truck while he teaches me to drive it. Yes, I'm paying him - load income plus a "small fee" for his troubles. He's a good dude and the last thing I expect him to do is tolerate a "zillion questions tag along" while he tried to make a frickin' living - laughs.

Specs:
VNL64T, Cummins ISX, 500HP, 415k miles, 10sp, Engine Brake, 3.58 ration, 22.5 tires (don't look too good!), steel wheels, 12k / 40k lbs. Decent looking truck with a few bumps and bruises. Looks like it could use 4-5 grand worth of "love." Maybe some minor body work (rf fender, bumper all scratched up) and some non "may-pop" tires!

cheers

 

Hi Irishman, I'm kinda hard-core about giving out my personal email address. I'm not trying to sound like an ### or anything but what is it that you feel compelled to email me about? Do you not feel comfortable using this AWESOME forum?

I totally understand if there is a private type conversation you are looking to have but gimme a little info before I send you an email - you may be a "stalker" or something - KIDDING

cheers.

 

I have no idea what type of sleeper it has, not sure what the different names are - I'm a rookie with the truck vocabulary! It looks like this

 

Hi Gang, I got in trouble for posting a dead-link, not sure what this is? Guess I'll stop pasting URL's?

Irishman, thanks for the PM. I appreciate your interest but I am not at all interested in a partnership. I'm soooooo far from actually operating this thing and if/when I finally do it will be purley a "solo gig." Thanks anyway.

King, I have a condo eh' I promised my wife years ago I would NEVER buy a condo - let alone one on wheels - too funny.

Update: I guess I "did all right" on the price I paid for this thing. My brother always claimed he wasn't upside-down on his loan, I guess he knew what he was talking about. Looks like this thing could return a bit' more than I paid for it. Selling it is still an option.

Operating it: I'm so into this idea. I'm scared to death about all the warnings (other posts) about becoming somebodies "hey-boy" and being trapped into HAVING to operate it because of some contact or something. The attraction to me is to be able to operate it on an ad-hoc basis and do a load here-n-there. I guess this is threatining to some operaters. Something about a rookie grabbing some loads that seems to be offensive or whatever - not sure where this worry comes from but I do respect it none-the-less.

Question 1: If I'm able to pull of my little psuedo trucking company and get it all registered and legal, anybody have any idea what my fixed operating expenses (annually) may be to have registration, MC number, DOT number, BOT 3 process, etc. I'm only know learning all these terms. But, if I want to operate it it will need to be legal. If it's not operating there will certainly be an expense associated with the legal part. I got the insurance part figured out, just don't understand all the regs enough to know what to budget for the license, etc. I'm in Ca. but don't want to be limited to operating it ONLY in Ca. Is there a service or something I can pay for that will handle all this regulation stuff for me. LIke paying an annual fee or something that would be "all inclusive" as far as registration filings, etc. Just don't want to end up driving it illegally - I'm not at all interested in getting into trouble with the authorities.

Question 2: Are there any regulations on how many miles an engine will go before having to overhaul it? How many miles can a guy expect out of a cummins before having to do a major overhual and are overhauls based on some government body "making" you do it or is it more of a "it's worn out" kind of thing.

Thanks as usual