Purchasing trucks

I don't disagree at all that more would be better/safer. Just that it could work with 3 and still make $$$. But the likihood of disaster would be much greater should anything go south. It's a gamble I'm not willing to take but know someone that seems to be making a go of it. As for the drivers, it would almost have to be drivers you know and trust that are willing to help you get started for a fair wage of course. The thought has crossed my mind for the future but I certainly haven't even begun to do any serious homework on it other than run some basic numbers. I doubt the OP has either.

 

To be fair,.. I think he IS asking for your opinions,.. AND personally if he can find someone decent who will work out getting paid say 25%,.. then more power to him.

Its not for us to decide what someone else is willing to be paid to work. We can piss and moan here if we dont like it,.. but then you arent the one working for that,.. nor are you the one who has to deal with the driver who will work at that rate.

I do agree,.. 23% is a bit low. I think 30% would be min to get a decent driver who needs to work. A good driver is going to want to see somewhere around $1000+ a week net, depending how hard he has to run/work for it. Anything less and well,.. you get what you pay for in my opinion. Thats not to say you cant find a young guy eager to get behind the wheel and do a good job. But there in lays a whole different set of issues to deal with.

Hurst:smt111

 

If the freight pays a decent $ rate then 23% is not too bad for the driver but has to be $2.00 / mile or better

 

I agree. IF I were to do this, I would pay my drivers well and make less off those trucks myself. Even if it meant making very little off them after it was all said and done for awhile just to get established. Disgruntled drivers could ruin you in more ways than one. Happy ones could mean the difference between success and failure in the long run.
Like I said, I haven't even begun to give this the necessary thought it would require. Just something I've been thinking about for the future as I get closer to wanting to get off the road myself 10 years from now.
I was thinking more along the lines of putting someone in mine and buying 2 more tho and not being in one myself at that point.

 

I agree.

Happy driver is like a happy wife. Both can make your life miserable.

I think its the little things that make the difference. Find out what they want and do your best to make it happen. If it wont work,.. then the honey moon is over. No need to drag things out.

Hurst:smt111

 

23% of $200,000 is $46,000 gross I work local flatbed and try not to work much but I get over 30% and gross that much working five days a week. I am a hard working guy usually and I wont consider over the road for less than $60,000 with benefits.

 

23% sounds decent, unless it is only 23% of the 70% the fleet owner is getting...then it is downright crappy...kinda like ol' Boss Hogg offering Roscoe 50% of 50% of 50%.

 

23% of 70% is 16.1% of the 100%.

 

I think the hardest part is understanding the business and proper planning of your business. Finding good drivers can be a challenge but ... if you come up with some reasonable plan that can work, then finding drivers can be easier.

However an unreasonable idea that spreads your resources out too much where you spend too much money chasing problems, then you will not be in business too long and some will get tired of it quickly trying to work within your frame work.

I've got the trucks, I did a lot of planning before I did anything and went through a few drivers but now I have three drivers in the five trucks I own who I can trust (I lease out one truck to one person who does what ever he wants (I just get a monthly check) and the fifth one is for me when I get back on the road), they are contracted to run those trucks and they get a lot more than 23% (which to me 23% is less than what any one should get no matter what).

If you can't pay them at least 35%, then you shouldn't be doing this. If you can't afford 35%, then your plan is flawed.

As far as your resource planning where your trucks run, that's ... well doesn't make sense. Money is where the freight goes and if you go from say ... San Diego to New York, then what do you do to get that truck back to the west coast? I don't even worry about where mine run, I've got one that just went to Alaska and I made sure the company covered in writing the trip back before accepting the load, they did and I and the driver made good money but that's rare. If I would limit where they run, I would lose money and time chasing things to get them back to point A.