My Truck, My Choice, Out of Denver, Colorado

Good luck on your new venture! I just got out of orientation in Green Bay, and I'm loving this 680. They sent a bunch of us up to Minnesota this week to grab empties, so I booked my first load out of northern Wisconsin. It's 4500 pounds (not 45,000!) and pays $2.40/mile. I could learn to love this after years of toting 40k in the reefer box at what was effectively $1.50/mile.

BTW, if you're headed to GB and want to eat even half way healthy, pack a lunch. Word to the wise. . .

 

Kind of what I thought too, but stevep has good point as far as starting and ending at OC. I am hour and a half from either I-70 or I-80, or can run run direct between SLC and Denver on Hwy 40 through the house every couple/few weeks.

 

Yeah, but to turn someone down because it costs them an extra $100 to go home??

 

Yes, seems that would be a decision for the IC to make. In my case, I would have no problem with it. I see 3-4 SNI trucks on Hwy 40 daily. (Usually two or three tankers and a van). I ran for a hot oil company out of Commerce City a few years ago and bob-tailed home several times, part of doing business from your domicile of choice.

 

Well, with that and age restrictions on tractors, they must have enough IC's.

 

I'm sure if you talked to a different recruiter and sold yourself and your business plan you might have a chance. A lot of these recruiters speak from a script and don't deviate it seems.

 

Yeah that probably won't happen any more LOL... that and another place outside of Chesapeake... it'll be "drop the trailer where it kinda fits and let the jockey put where it needs to go"

Thanks! The age limit on their website is just like the prompt a phone recruiter reads off of. It's more of a suggestion than a limitation I guess. They really don't care about age as long as it passes DOT and they can hook a Qualcomm up to an electronic engine. Hell I was originally gonna bring a '97 truck on and they didn't care as long as the N14 it had would work with the e-logs. At the end of the day though both LS and SNI choice are so similar you really can't go wrong with either one. I may still give LS a shot at some point, but for now I am happy with SNI, if for nothing else than I've been with them for a few years so I know how it works.

You got a really good deal on your truck. I struggled to find anything under 25k in this area, whether at a big dealer, mom and pop places or private sales. This one finally came up for 30k. Little more than I wanted to pay, but it is in such good shape, and had the APU which would have cost me around 8k to get put on a truck that didn't have one anyway, so I was happy with what I got. Also got 8 new Michelin recap drive tires and a new windshield put on as part of the deal. I figure as long as you're happy with the truck, who cares what you paid, it's your truck, not theirs! I need to get my frame blasted and painted as well. It's actually not bad, but has a few spots that would look nicer if they were all cleaned up.

Well just make sure you get a cabover with an electronic engine they can hook the Qualcomm to, otherwise that's a no-go unfortunately

Thanks!!

Were you speaking to them about leasing a truck from SFI, or bringing your own truck? If you wanted to lease from SFI, I could understand their hesitation, with the big truck payment it could be difficult to make it work if you wanted to be home at somewhat regular intervals. That area is kind of a dead area for SNI unfortunately when it comes to getting out.

Yep, that's how it goes. Unfortunately those recruiters probably lose SNI a lot of business.

 

"Were you speaking to them about leasing a truck from SFI, or bringing your own truck? If you wanted to lease from SFI, I could understand their hesitation, with the big truck payment it could be difficult to make it work if you wanted to be home at somewhat regular intervals. That area is kind of a dead area for SNI unfortunately when it comes to getting out."

Thanks DFO, at that time I was looking at a lease from them, so I understand your point and theirs. Still looking at other ideas, may get a used unit or my own authority.