Starting a small fleet

New member here... purchased my first truck a few months ago and hired a good driver. So far so good. Years ago I acquired my AZ licence and drove for 2 years. I learned fairly quickly having hauled dry vans, refers and flat decks... I did not enjoy flat decks. I ran between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Left the industry to focus on my career and have always wanted to be an owner operator. While I do own my truck I guess you guys would say I'm a lease operator having put my truck on a dedicated lane with a carrier. My friends thought I was crazy to take time away from my career to get back into trucking. There is something about trucks... you guys get it. So having spent a considerable amount of time researching the industry and having met with various carriers and owner operators I decided that leasing to a company would be less stressful (not to mention less expensive) and will allow me to continue to learn more about trucking. Things are going good. Not making a ton of money after paying my driver and all other monthly expenses. Still making enough to keep money aside from maintenance and know have enough to put a down payment on a second truck. I think I am ready to leave my job for now and drive the second truck to save some money before hiring another driver. Guys, am I on the right track? Is anyone else leasing to a carrier? Welcome any feedback and comments.

 

I appreciate all your feedback and comments. I do wonder why people say there is no money to be made and yet they are here in the industry. Perhaps you are working smart and hard and having some bad luck. Sometimes some are lucky while others wonder how they are making money. I would suggest if you are intelligent and hard working and not making money in this industry then perhaps try another business or find a job that will pay the bills and help you build up your bank balance. All I can say is that I think I have been lucky with my truck and driver and as a result have been able to make some money. Like I said before its not a lot of money.

 

Prairie Boy,

Thanks for the feedback and while I do agree with your point, I would add that I do not want to work as a company driver. I have always been self-employed and would rather be my own boss. My current career allows me the flexibility to be independent and work whenever I want to work (usually after I see my bank balance decline). Now 8 out of 10 people have told me not to go into the industry (especially as an owner operator), thank goodness for the other two who have encouraged the idea. One of the two are very successful and by successful I mean he owns 2 houses and all of his equipment (20 tractors/trailers). Of course he didn't disclose how he did it but did say he got into the industry 12 years ago as a company driver and... well the rest is history as they say. Heck if I listened to all the people who were not making any money in my current career, I would have quit too. Instead I learned as much as I could and gave it a hundred percent and after a few years I now have the ability to take time off (to start my trucking venture) while being able to afford my mortgage and lifestyle expenses. Ultimately, I hope that trucking can bring in a decent revenue stream. I may be able to survive... I may fail and even lose my money earned from the trucking business... but at least I can say that I tried. I think life is all about experiences. And yes... I think money is everything too so we may not all agree.

 

I am always open to learn from those with experience. Kindly provide feeback that may be of positive help.