Starting a small fleet

Sounds like you've already answered your own question. j/s

 

I do hope you tuck enough money away to pay for an engine and enough to keep the lights on while your truck is in the shop not earning. And three weeks later you need to do it all over again to replace the transmission.

 

I have never been a lease operator but was also told years ago when starting that trucking was no good and there was no money to be made by many who had failed. Funny how my father and grandfather made and still make a great life doing it and being good at it. Now a days with fuel prices and overall costs being high it is much harder than the past but when properly ran a business can still be profitable. I may not have millions in the bank but I do live comfortably and never need to work to live. I chose jobs that I see profit to be made and do them. The lease operator route seems like and easier route and maybe less profitable than and owner op but also comes with much less headaches.
My grand father always told me to try something for yourself if you truly believe that's what you want to do. listening to others is not always the wisest because what doesn't work for them doesn't mean it won't work for you and he started trucking in 1949 when horses were being phased out of forestry until he passed in 2006 at age of 74. Funny thing is about a year before he passed we had a good conversation one night having a couple of beers and told me that even though profits were less than 50 years prior he still truly would not have changed careers if it were at all possible looking back on it all.

 

Hmm. I use much different tires than you in my application. I run Goodyear g177 on pretty much everything but steers. I don't mind paying for quality tires because cheap Chinese tires don't last with the weights I average.

 

In my experiences if you have a good driver that respects your truck and makes you money keep him happy. Pay him good with occasional little bonuses. Make him feel valued. Drivers like that can make you money and key to growing a company

 

I say go get the second truck and immediately hire a driver. Remember by doing this you will double your Net profit. If you drive you will lose focus on the goal of growing your business. And when you look for a lease partner, remember they are not all created equal. A lot of guys just go with whoever they see first instead of doing research and getting in the right spot. Because getting $0.91 pm + FSC can sound awesome until it puts you in the poor house. But if you would have kept looking you might have found the golden company that $1.40 pm and you are profiting from day one. I say "ABS", Always Be Searching. Searching for better revenue splits, searching for cost savings, and searching for a better deal.

And remember no Millionaire has ever said "can't", they often try until they succeed. Plus, I always say why would you take advice about owning a fleet from someone who doesn't own a fleet? Or, take advice about making a fortune in trucking from someone who doesn't have a fortune and has been working for longer than you have been alive?