Monthly maintenance budget

That's if you can get the engine work done. Peterbilt or better known Rush truck center told me they couldn't even look at truck to diagnose for at least a WEEK. INLAND KW same thing. Less than a mile away.

 

I prefer to think there is a repower tractor availible somewhere, similar to getting a loaner car to those whose main tractor just went down for the shop count. We are accustomed to picking up a loaner and keeping on going with the daily commute to work etc until the vehicle is fixed and the loaner turned back in.

What with all the truck tractors sitting around nose into parking far corners by the dozen I myself think there could be a coop created in which Truck Power is rented by the horsepower-hour. There is a specific fee on that engine meter and fuel burned plus 10% So that when the repairs are completed to the main tractor trailer, the rental horsepower-hour unit tractor can be turned back in.

There should be a coop power side establish in trucking, just like railroads toss a engine or three at another railroad when the 30 day FRA inspection comes up. Now you can toss stuff like liability, fines, violations, all of that good stuff... it's no different than actually sending a driver out with a given truck. And tractors will be availible wherever there are salvage yards, dealerships, trucking companies etc. That have them.

Maybe I come along and need 50 tractors and 50 drivers (Uber time.. hire hire hire x50 total CDL) and suddenly I am a temporary trucking company moving 50 containers in support of the war effort, with almost no waiting around or hassling with the banks to raise capitol. When the job is over the trucks get turned back in to be put away, the drivers go bye bye back to the cars (They already have CDL, so there is no problem...) Policies canceled and fuel bills plus repairs if any paid. What's left should be a pretty pile of proceeds.

 

We spend an average of $2500 per month this year (Jan to April) on two trucks, 100% of work done on our own.

 

An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2016 Update

Lots of info for you here...just fill out that little form and you will get the whole report for
2016.. Legit..

 

Thanks for that link lone star, makes for very interesting reading.

 

I don't have exact figure, but it would say we do 8000-10000 per truck. So 16-20k per month
EDIT: We have 2009 Volvo VNL and 2004 Mack Vision. We own both trucks and trailers we use

 

Generally this is correct, but not always. Some operations were very low mileage but high hour time in dusty environments.