Buying Truck and Trailer. Need advice.

I spend roughly $25 a week to fill up my Tacoma with gas. That's all you need to know. Good luck.

 

1. Read everything here on hot shot trucking. There is a wealth of information, and your questions have been answered in more than one thread.
2. Is it worth it? Depends on where you work out of. Some areas only have large loads, while others (like the rust belt) have quite a bit of work for smaller rigs. Again, research here and look at some of the load boards to get an idea of how much brokered work comes out of your area.
3. As a rule of thumb, for a diesel pickup and a flatbed you'll spend $.65 to $.75 per mile all in to keep the rig running. Insurance for a newbie will probably be around $5000 per year - most larger brokers require $1Million liability and $100K cargo coverage. Check with insurance people for quotes on that. The per-mile above includes $5K insurance.
4. Do. Not. Buy. A. New. Truck! You're going to beat it up anyway, so save the money. A good used trailer is almost an oxymoron, so you may well end up buying new there. Again, research the kind of work happening in your area and choose a trailer that will satisfy those needs. My own preference would be a flatbed with drop-down dovetail, 25 to 30 feet long. Watch your load limits and gross combined weight unless you plan on getting your cdl (commercial driver's license). The per-mile cost above does NOT include truck/trailer payments, so be careful how much you spend.
5. I think finding my own loads is definitely worth it. The caveat is that you need to make SURE that you have money in the bank to cover you during slow periods. This is not the kind of business you'd want to get into if you're operating on a shoestring. It will take 1 to 2 years to develop enough relationships with brokers or customers to be assured that you're going to be offered enough loads to keep you busy.

Good luck with your research!

 

This thread was started just for this. We will add new information to it asap.

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...g-forum/279813-so-you-want-hot-shot-will.html