Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Has any one done this ???

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by dennisroc, Jul 10, 2017.

Page 2 of 7
  1. Jul 10, 2017 #11
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

    14,962
    29,144
    Oct 3, 2011
    Longview, TX
    0
    I don't doubt you can perhaps find a few who have done this successfully. However I'm sure for every one of those you can find, you can find 10 more who tried the same and failed miserably and ended in bankruptcy or otherwise much worse off financially then before.

    If you inherited a bunch of money or hit the lottery for about $150k, then that changes the dynamics considerably as you have a lot of room for error in the beginning not having a $2-3k month note to deal with and have a worry free, dependable truck to rely on for 4+ years.
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2017
    STexan, Jul 10, 2017
    STexan, Jul 10, 2017
    #11
    MarkH129, HaulIt and dennisroc Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Jul 10, 2017 #12
    pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

    22,474
    20,134
    Jul 19, 2008
    Sioux City,ia
    0
    I would suggest getting a yr or two exp as a company driver first then ask owner operators .
     
    pattyj, Jul 10, 2017
    pattyj, Jul 10, 2017
    #12
    Florida Playboy and dennisroc Thank this.
  4. Jul 10, 2017 #13
    kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,009
    41,489
    Jan 13, 2013
    SW Arkansas
    0
    With you just starting out with no driving experience, getting insurance is doubtful. If you can get it you likely won't be able to afford it. Brokers won't want to work with you. Get a job as a company driver. Try to track the trucks expenses as much as you can. Fuel,any maintainance or repairs, tolls etc. so you can see how much things really cost. Learn as much as you can. Then after a year or two, if you still are wanting your own truck, go for it.
     
    kemosabi49, Jul 10, 2017
    kemosabi49, Jul 10, 2017
    #13
    dennisroc and G13Tomcat Thank this.
  5. Jul 10, 2017 #14
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

    14,962
    29,144
    Oct 3, 2011
    Longview, TX
    0
    Worst thing that can happen is, you discover after several months you

    • Don't like the work
    • Can't master the work
    • Family hates you for the work
    • Can't afford the work
    • Can't find consistent work along lanes that meets your needs
    • Can't do the work due to loss of license or insurability
    • Etc
     
    STexan, Jul 10, 2017
    STexan, Jul 10, 2017
    #14
    Airborne, tscottme, Mr biggs and 1 other person Thank this.
  7. Jul 10, 2017 #15
    kw550cat

    kw550cat Medium Load Member

    663
    596
    May 22, 2012
    brooklyn, new york
    0
    I did it...





    In the 90s. Bought a truck and trailer cash and set up my own authority. But prior to that I had experience overseas and was a diesel mechanic stateside.
    Can you do it? Yes. But with the change in times insurance will kill you before anything else.
     
    kw550cat, Jul 10, 2017
    kw550cat, Jul 10, 2017
    #15
    Airborne, not4hire, dennisroc and 2 others Thank this.
  8. Jul 10, 2017 #16
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

    20,732
    101,022
    Dec 18, 2011
    Michigan
    0
    I know people have done this but this ain't the 90's and the costs are a lot more with a lot more competition who is willing to take cheap freight just to keep the bills paid.
     
    Ridgeline, Jul 10, 2017
    Ridgeline, Jul 10, 2017
    #16
  9. Jul 10, 2017 #17
    dennisroc

    dennisroc Road Train Member

    1,753
    1,257
    Oct 9, 2013
    Anjung-Ri, South Korea
    0
    This is the type of info I expected and it is all good.
    I am 63 and wanted to get into trucking for a few years and retire. I have been reading on this site and others plus a ton of youtube videos and really hoped I could get into driving a truck but seems like a lot to do to get experience and get a good company and home time.

    I have been working on airplanes for 20 plus years and just wanted to do something different. I have been living and working in South Korea for the last 11 years and just bought a house in Indiana.
    Have been talking with Sage school and job placement that they have and most places want you to go out with a trainer for 4-6 weeks and then otr until something local comes open after you get a few years exp.
    Before I was ready to go otr and take my wife along , she is from the Philippines and would enjoy traveling around the states but now we bought a house and have 2 dogs so would not be practical for all of us to go.

    I might be willing to do regional or a dedicated out and back maybe be gone a few days at a time would be okay.
    I know driving a truck will take some training but seems like weeks of training is a little much.
    I am a pilot and did my solo after 8 hours training , flew to 3 different airports over 100 mile apart each.
    I know this is different than driving a truck but I drove big straight trucks and moved aircraft around with a tug in tight places :)
     
    dennisroc, Jul 10, 2017
    dennisroc, Jul 10, 2017
    #17
    MarkH129 and tscottme Thank this.
  10. Jul 10, 2017 #18
    RedRover

    RedRover Road Train Member

    1,791
    2,609
    Sep 10, 2016
    Corsicana, TX
    0
    Yea seems pretty high to me. Better shoot for 10%
     
    RedRover, Jul 10, 2017
    RedRover, Jul 10, 2017
    #18
    Airborne Thanks this.
  11. Jul 10, 2017 #19
    HaulIt

    HaulIt Bobtail Member

    44
    39
    Jul 31, 2013
    South West Florida
    0
    That would mean if you could be in the top 10% you will succeed.

    I bet it is closer to every one who is successful there are over a hundred who failed miserably. You gotta be on your game...probably in the top 1% or better.

    It can most definitely be done as many on here have, but the odds are not in your favor.
     
    HaulIt, Jul 10, 2017
    HaulIt, Jul 10, 2017
    #19
    dennisroc and x1Heavy Thank this.
  12. Jul 10, 2017 #20
    x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

    34,017
    42,104
    Mar 5, 2016
    White County, Arkansas
    0
    Don't buy that truck just yet.

    100 people wanna license to drive a big truck. 6 months later half are no longer around big trucks for a variety of reasons. You need some seasoning that comes with actual experience over some years time period before you try getting a truck.

    It's like telling a kid he has to stay n finish 6th grade before he gets to chase the girls in 7th during middle school... they don't wanna hear it. They want it NAOW.
     
    x1Heavy, Jul 10, 2017
    x1Heavy, Jul 10, 2017
    #20
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 2 of 7