About to give up

im looking at doing the same thing, buying my own truck, however im looking at a stater truck (volvo,fredightliner)then work my way UP to a kW

 

Do you use SEarch Tempest to look for trucks?

 

I would love to see anyones dreams come true of being a O/O trust me after 43 Yrs I retired from being an O/O. But don't sell your land to buy something that will have less resale value then your land. Work as a company driver for awhile before taking the plunge. Before you even think of buying a truck make sure you have the FUNDS to back up your investment just incase of PROBLEMS and when I mean that I don't mean a flat tire im talking about Major stuff... Without the money behind you your dead in the water if something goes wrong. Good Luck on your choice. RW

 

Too many think being a O/O is the answer to thier money problems,but really it's the down fall of many. Sure you have more money coming in,but you also have more going out. If you can't keep track of every penny,then you may be going broke and not realize it until it's too late.
I have seen a few start out with a old beater,they get a little ahead and think its time for a better truck. So now they have a payment hanging over thier head,some go on to make a go of it,others one break down and thier done.
Had a O/O tell me years ago,if you don't have enough in the bank to rebuild the motor on the first trip,your not ready.

 

A lot get into being an O/O and forget that the $ coming in is the TRUCKS $ and spend it like its all theirs , then when something happens no $ to take care of things

 

When I Started back in the Flintstone Days of Trucking I bought my truck after saving up the money and made sure I had a backup plan. I saved every nickel and penny I could save and didn't buy anything fancy for it. I had a Cabin over VIT Aerodyne and a 23 channel cb radio nothing fancy. no air ride back then so ya just bounced till your kidneys were about to bust but ya ran and ran... 3 funny books, current bingo stamps in the pocket and a plate full of stickers. Fuel was 28 cent a gallon and if ya washed your truck 4 times a month it was like you were rich. But I took care of it and saved and saved and I never looked back.

I have seen the new Fleese Purchace come into the industry and just kill drivers. I have seen it go from 3 yrs experience to now we will train you to be a trainer with zero training before hand. I honestly wish that if a person wanted to be an O/O They would just follow the simple rules. Bankroll just incase, Don't go fancy with all the chicken lights and millon watt cb, don't spend for fancy chrome or stuff for your dash, do put away for your business and never take out of it because when you do that's when the #### hits the fan.

Save as much as you possibly can and once your ahead and know you can afford a little treat such as some chrome or goodies for the truck without taking a hit on your back up then do so. Never sell anything you own to get into this business you will regret it if something goes wrong nothing worse than having your truck sitting in the repo lot while you out of luck and you sold your soul but forgot to have a backup plan in place. And finally remember you buy a truck you not only have the payment but insurance, highway taxes, plates, ifta, ssr, Dot authority and if you want to be a true O/O the expense of a Trailer for your own loads

It took me a min of 3 yrs when I started to even get up the guts to put Alcoa wheels on back then because I didn't want to spend the money and I bought an old 45 ft reefer trailer to boot to haul from the Midwest to Cali and back all the while why doing whats known as California turn arounds which amounts to Speed. We ran hard and in the left lane and 90% of the time we never ran legal but we made money. Today its a lot harder for everyone from New to Old Drivers with new laws and regs and csa and psp crap. Think hard before ya want to sell your life away for a truck sometimes its better to wait before ya leap. RW

 

Exactly what hat my dad told me and he was/is right. It takes 45 days for the money to start coming in, so you've got to have enough for insurance, maintenance, fuel, payments, and all your regular household expenses before taking the plunge.