Want to get into trucking...looking for advice

You are not going to like what people tell you.

 

You know very little about the industry...you want to buy a new truck...you don't want to work for a company.

Hey I ain't saying it can't be done...but the odds are not in your favor.

Would suck to do all that and realize trucking isn't for you...like the majority of people that start it.

Keep researching on the forum.

 

Beware. I have been a load planner and a broker for the past 32 years. This business isn't for everyone. You can lease a trailer but if you haven't been in business for more than 5 years you will find it hard to get a trailer lease. I suggest Premier Trailer lease. They don't charge for miles. Start with a new truck. Don't buy a used truck. You will only end up spending too much money on maintenance and you will need to establish a good service record with customers.
Apply for DOT authority. Find a good accountant. Insurance will be expensive for a beginner. You will need a computer. Get Internet Truck Stop and DAT 360 to search for loads. Your cost will be about 1.50 per mile. You will need to get 1.80 to 2,50 per mile to make money. You will need to be available 24/7. Put the rest of your life on hold while you are building the company and your reputation. Be careful with hiring drivers. Some like to run and others are useless. Make sure you pay attention to safety and rules compliance. The DOT will be watching. You will get a DOT audit within the first year. Make sure all the logs and driver qualification files are in order. You might want to use a factoring company to keep the cash flow coming in.Many choices when it comes to factoring. Let the nighmare begin if you are not a patient person. This business is a killer for most people. Remember, this is a government regulated business, Everything depends on customer service and rules compliance. If you have a conditional safety rating most brokers will not tender freight to you. Good luck.

 

I would drive for a company for 6-12 months and learn as much as possible about driving first. Then if you still want to make a life out of it then see applejack85's post and be safe. It is a life style not a job, it is a life changing event when you start a driving career. I would like to own a truck but I want at least 5 yrs behind the wheel b4 I take that step. Good luck brother which ever way you choose, and be safe.

 

1) Is there a difference between owner/operator and independent?

Yes there is in my book, an owner operator is someone who is leased on with a company while an independent is someone who finds their own loads. People here will disagree but hey, it is not always what it seems to be.

2) Should I buy a trailer as well?

NO.

3) What is the best truck to buy?

Any one that runs and any one that you like. they are in truth pretty much the same. the differences is are personal preference, and that's about it. Example, until I got other trucks to have people drive, I was a freightliner guy, I had a couple (still do sitting and doing little) and then I bought Macks, when I picked up the last Mack I bought (I had other shipped to me) I liked it, it was built well and ran really good. Then I started to work for a company where I drove different trucks all the time and drove a bunch of Western Stars which I really like because they feel solid - while my co-workers hate them because of the blind spots and the lack of other nicy things. Next truck will be a WS IF I go back on the road but my drivers will get what ever I get for them.

4) How do I find my loads?

Don't know, it is up to you to learn how to run your own company, one reason why I just lease the trucks to companies and let them deal with that part. Sure I'm not making the "big buck" on every load but on the other hand I don't have to chase money, I don't have to play stupid games and best of all we all make a crap load of money with the companies the trucks are leased to. I did the money chasing thing before, stopped doing that because it took too much time.

So here is my advice, forget the buying of the truck stuff, get your cdl, be serious about it, do the best you can and take to the road. WATCH everything that happens, even if you can get into the company every once in a while, ask questions about how things work while being the best driver you can and do this for more than a couple years (time flies), then start thinking about getting your own truck.

 

Do you want to play 'Truck Driver' or do you want to be a driver? If you want to play truck driver, take your financial means and buy a truck and use the truck to get your CDL. No need to pay for school. Then you can get insurance and your own authority and drive around and park at the truckstop, go get breakfast and sit with drivers. I've found that quite a few of the 'locals' that sit at the lunch counters that BS and tell stories aren't actually drivers...they just repeat things they've heard or thought they heard. Nothing wrong with it. I ride a motorcycle, hang out at the shops, talk to real bikers. I don't wear patches or anything and I sure as hell don't pretend to be a 1%er or anything that would make people think I am trying to be in a motorcycle MC. I love to ride, and I like the people. But I don't call myself a biker.

Now if you want to be a driver, you need to learn the whole business. I would recommend that you learn and make absolutely sure that's what you want to do BEFORE dropping money for a truck, trailer and operating authority. Your financial means won't mean squat when you goof.

What is there to learn? You just back up to a dock and they load and unload you, right? It's not rocket science.

You are absolutely right. It's NOT rocket science. Neither is boxing. Sure you can hang around, and even train with them, but when the time comes for you to step up in the big dance, you're just going to get your A double S handed to you. You become a fighter because you like to fight. You like the tough, grueling fights. You become a trucker because you love to truck. Many come in to make money and think they like to drive. But they hate the grueling days, the tough schedules, the load to and from Hell and battling Mother Nature. Not a trucker.

Now if you have financial means, that cool. If you want to blow some money, there are much more pleasurable ways to do that. You'd better make absolutely sure you want to truck, and you do that by driving truck for someone else. Otherwise, your driving career will look like Mickey Rourke's boxing career. He had a big name. He had the money. He thought he wanted to be a fighter. He trained, did everything, got in the ring with a real fighter, and took a Hebrew slave arse whuppin.

The safest thing to do is play truck driver.

 

I am a new driver myself and I am working on becoming independent. I have spoken with banks and truck dealers and if you want a good deal on financing and insurance you need to have two years. Once you hit two years the rates drop and I was told by two dealers anyone with less than two years is a big red flag even if you have great credit. Once I have my ducks in a row I am jumping in with both feet with my own authority. By the time that happens I would have been working on this for over a year while building my two years of experience. Take it slow and do it right; don't rush into it. Before you do it make sure you have some customers in your area that you can get freight from direct. For instance, in my area there is a lot of poultry business and they are easy to become an approved carrier with; you just have to meet their requirements. My next big obstacle is obtaining collateral. Banks or dealers don't want to loan to someone that has no collateral to back the loan. As you can see it is a long process. I am taking it slow and will make the leap when it makes sense.