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The journey begins - purchased a truck.

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by blairandgretchen, Dec 10, 2014.

Page 46 of 622
  1. Mar 16, 2015 #451
    nikmirbre

    nikmirbre Road Train Member

    5,558
    10,243
    Jul 27, 2011
    High Point NC
    0
    Ive picked up for that same agent in Hickman,Ky......haven't been back there in 2 years!!!
     
    nikmirbre, Mar 16, 2015
    nikmirbre, Mar 16, 2015
    #451
    Itsbrokeagain and blairandgretchen Thank this.
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  3. Mar 19, 2015 #452
    Old Man

    Old Man Road Train Member

    4,597
    13,471
    Apr 3, 2009
    Oklahoma City, OK
    0
    Blair forgot the USA ends at I 35 and went into the abyss, should be back in the real world soon. Lesson learned.
     
    Old Man, Mar 19, 2015
    Old Man, Mar 19, 2015
    #452
    stwik and blairandgretchen Thank this.
  4. Mar 20, 2015 #453
    blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

    13,708
    74,585
    Dec 9, 2011
    South west Missouri
    0
    WEEK TWO

    Sunday -

    Off. Took the pool cover off, started the pump, pressure washed the pool, some of the truck, concrete outside the shop. Drank copious amounts. Cooked dinner

    Monday -

    Off. Went to town, bought 2 pear trees, a peach tree, raspberry and blackberry bushes. Planted all of these. Filled pool with water. Dug out leaky water hydrant and replaced. Dynamo ran out, passed out early.

    Tuesday -

    Off . Actively started looking at the load board, gave up in disgust about 1pm. Was just putting the base plate on the truck when the phone rang - the agent with the boats. $3300 to go to Phoenix. Sounds like REVENUE to me (ignoring the little voices saying "don't go west!")

    Wednesday -

    Started at 5am, picked up boats, set off, parked in Meade, KS - out of my 14 hours.

    Thursday -

    Up at the break of my 10, stopped in Moriarty, NM for shower and a sammie, parked Holbrook, AZ - out of my 11. Despondent at the lack of loads coming out of Phoenix - disgusted when SOMEBODY I called told me of HIS ridiculously good load, I persevered and called on one from Las Vegas to Omaha, NE.

    Friday -

    Up at the break of my 10 - drove to Phoenix, off with boats - drove to Kingman, AZ, lunch and scan in bills, continue to Las Vegas, stuck in traffic for an hour, parked at Petro - out of my 14. 10 miles from pickup (Saturday am pickup), nice easy light load to Omaha, NE for Monday - 1279 miles. $2700 incl FSC, and $100 tarp (there's no tarp) - but the 300 mile D/H killed it for my "All miles" target - never mind.

    I'm sitting next to another LS guy who says he's been sitting here for a week . . .

    LESSONS LEARNED

    Don't get too antsy on Tuesday to go to work. Chill out. Look east. Be persistent. Politely turn down the boats going west. Study oversize book.

    Milestone this week - first settlement. 3 loads on there, minus the LS charges that had started racking up the day I left orientation - Feb 19th - over $600 , but the cash got divided into tax fund, maintenance funds, and equipment costs (trailer payment to make next week, and paying ourselves back for the truck), some cash to the house, and the rest left in the bank.

    The weeks and pay periods are crossing over, so I'll have to nail down an average on the 31st of this month for the month so far - $1.56 TTT appears to be my miserable average ALL MILES - (dead head killed it) - this week.
    I reassessed my running costs with the reduced fuel expense in there ( I had originally shot at $3.70/gallon at 6.5mpg ) and came out to 86 cpm - this includes -


    • Tractor repayment (to us)
    • Trailer Payment
    • Oil and filters
    • Tires
    • All Landstar charges
    • Insurances (all)
    • Maintenance (oh ###### fund)

    So - first week brought $1.08 for all miles - this week brings $0.70 for all miles, to the house, before personal taxes/payroll. I like to break it down like this, as it's an even comparison to the gross wages I earned as a company driver - 32 cpm 10 years ago, 68 cpm when we quit.

    I know - I'm over analyzing the figures way too early, but I need them to be clear and honest - no point kidding myself, let alone anybody else who reads this. So, I'm making more than I was at a top 5% company job, and having boatloads more fun while I'm at it.

    That's all folks !!
     
    blairandgretchen, Mar 20, 2015
    blairandgretchen, Mar 20, 2015
    #453
    Blue jeans, Itsbrokeagain, stwik and 18 others Thank this.
  5. Mar 21, 2015 #454
    Stormdriven

    Stormdriven Medium Load Member

    331
    217
    Mar 11, 2014
    south, central, US.
    0
    Operative word.

    "FUN".

    As in, boatloads thereof.
     
    Stormdriven, Mar 21, 2015
    Stormdriven, Mar 21, 2015
    #454
    OONewbie and blairandgretchen Thank this.
  7. Mar 21, 2015 #455
    ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

    17,502
    12,015
    Sep 23, 2007
    Ask my GPS...
    0
    Way to be Mr Blair! This O/O stuff beats the holy crud outta any day in cube hell, workin' fer some Richard in someone else's truck, an' all of that other junk, don't it?
     
    ironpony, Mar 21, 2015
    ironpony, Mar 21, 2015
    #455
    stwik, OONewbie and blairandgretchen Thank this.
  8. Mar 22, 2015 #456
    double yellow

    double yellow Road Train Member

    5,946
    10,066
    Aug 28, 2011
    State of Jefferson
    0
    Great job so far Blair -- there's tons to learn and fast, but it seems you're already over the hump!

    $3/mile on a longer run is good money even into a black hole like Phoenix, but I am curious how the conversation went (and whether, given the agent was calling you unsolicited, you could have negotiated for even more).
     
    double yellow, Mar 22, 2015
    double yellow, Mar 22, 2015
    #456
    stwik, Oxbow, spectacle13 and 1 other person Thank this.
  9. Mar 22, 2015 #457
    stranger

    stranger Road Train Member

    3,640
    4,959
    Oct 10, 2006
    NC
    0
    If you continue to compare your per mile wages now compared to OD, you will drive yourself insane. There will be many weeks, even on a yearly basis, that you could have made more with OD if you take in to account insurance, taxes, paid vacation, sick days, bonuses, retirement, and general lack of headaches of dealing with the truck. At the rate you were at with OD you will have a hard time beating what you had as far a money goes on a long term basis. You may for a year or so, until you have a major breakdown, lots or small repairs, need to replace your truck, have an accident, ect.

    Constantly comparing will drive you nuts. You will second guess all the time. It all boils down to what makes you happy. Is it having the independence to drive when you want, and stay where you want as long as you want, or have a guaranteed income per mile driven. Sometimes that independence makes more money, sometimes less, or maybe much less. You have to decide where you fall in these two categories.

    If having a secure long term retirement plan with a set income when you get old is your main concern, I would have stayed at OD and fought the good fight. If freedom now with no guarantee of how things will turn out later is what you like, then the O/O route is the way to go. Only you can make that decision. If you are second guessing, give it a while, then decide which is more important to you.

    Been there, done that......
     
    stranger, Mar 22, 2015
    stranger, Mar 22, 2015
    #457
    stwik, Pieter78, barnmonkey and 11 others Thank this.
  10. Mar 23, 2015 #458
    OONewbie

    OONewbie Light Load Member

    245
    134
    Dec 2, 2014
    Charlotte,NC
    0
    Good job m8.. look forward to meeting you out there for coffee soon enough. Be safe
     
    OONewbie, Mar 23, 2015
    OONewbie, Mar 23, 2015
    #458
    blairandgretchen Thanks this.
  11. Mar 24, 2015 #459
    Al. Roper

    Al. Roper Road Train Member

    1,512
    10,727
    Apr 21, 2013
    Bakersville NC
    0
    Blair, you got a good lookin combo there. I passed you today up on 29, bout the 30 yard stick. Recognized the name on the side and hollered at ya on the radio. Anyway, congrats on the new venture.
     
    Al. Roper, Mar 24, 2015
    Al. Roper, Mar 24, 2015
    #459
    stwik, blairandgretchen and double yellow Thank this.
  12. Mar 24, 2015 #460
    OONewbie

    OONewbie Light Load Member

    245
    134
    Dec 2, 2014
    Charlotte,NC
    0
    OH Snap Blair !!! Busted , all flatbeds should have their radios on when going down the road, loose straps, tarps etc... :p
     
    OONewbie, Mar 24, 2015
    OONewbie, Mar 24, 2015
    #460
    stwik, blairandgretchen, Lepton1 and 4 others Thank this.
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