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
⌃

Opinions please. New Husband/Wife team.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by SavageSam, Aug 15, 2017.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Aug 15, 2017 #1
    SavageSam

    SavageSam Medium Load Member

    344
    123
    Feb 7, 2009
    0
    I've been a C.D.L. holder for almost 20 years and the last ten of them have been E.L.D. I have a few questions for you (If you can answer) . Me and my Wife are thinking about buying a (Brand new) truck and team driving it. We've been together since 1986 and married since 1989. We are planning to pack all our stuff (that we can't part with in a giant yard sale) into storage and not have a home to pay rent on (Saving approx. $2,000/Mo.) My thought was to drive the truck 16 hours everyday. My Wife would drive (8 hours) from (Approx.) 8 to 4. Then I would drive (8 Hrs.) from (Approx.) 4 to midnight. Shut down from midnight until 8 and start up again. Running like that, we could keep a decent sleep schedule and not feel like we're slaves to the truck/job. My plan is to put around 60K-80K down on the truck leaving around 100K financed. I feel like using an AVG. speed of 50 M.P.H. and driving 16 hours out of 24 hours in a day, gives me 800 miles/day. Using math of $1.50/Mile for EVERY odometer mile as an AVG. gives me $1,200 a day to the truck everyday. That's $36,000/Mo. if we run everyday. $24,000/Mo. if we only run 20 out of 30 days. Using $24,000/Mo. (to be safe) and assuming 50% of gross goes back to the truck business for expenses. Leaves $12,000/Mo. for us. I plan to put $6,000/Mo. to the truck payment (I want this thing paid off A.S.A.P.) leaving us $6,000/Mo. for us. @ $36,000/Mo. leaving $18,000/Mo. for us, I could put $9,000/Mo. to the payment and still have $9,000/Mo. for us. Will you please give me thoughts??? What am I missing??? I welcome all (HELPFUL) comments
     
    SavageSam, Aug 15, 2017
    SavageSam, Aug 15, 2017
    #1
    ladr Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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

  3. Aug 15, 2017 #2
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

    14,963
    29,156
    Oct 3, 2011
    Longview, TX
    0
    Finally. Somebody who has a clue. I assume you'll be leasing to someone and running under their numbers?

    Only thing left is to find someone with ample freight running your preferred lanes and who pays like they should.
     
    STexan, Aug 15, 2017
    STexan, Aug 15, 2017
    #2
    SavageSam Thanks this.
  4. Aug 15, 2017 #3
    SavageSam

    SavageSam Medium Load Member

    344
    123
    Feb 7, 2009
    0
    I'm trying to decide WHO to sign with. I was told it would be a mistake to get my own authority right away. I'm looking at LandStar and Mercer right now.
     
    SavageSam, Aug 15, 2017
    SavageSam, Aug 15, 2017
    #3
  5. Aug 15, 2017 #4
    snowman_w900

    snowman_w900 Road Train Member

    4,418
    81,025
    Nov 25, 2010
    0
    Have you thought about Southern Pride outta Las Vegas, NV?

    They have lots of big house trucks there and They prefer teams. Lots of husband and wife teams there. They mainly haul jet engines for GE and large airports.
     
    snowman_w900, Aug 15, 2017
    snowman_w900, Aug 15, 2017
    #4
    kbarttt, Midnightrider909 and SavageSam Thank this.
  7. Aug 15, 2017 #5
    SavageSam

    SavageSam Medium Load Member

    344
    123
    Feb 7, 2009
    0
    Is S.P. forced dispatch?
     
    SavageSam, Aug 15, 2017
    SavageSam, Aug 15, 2017
    #5
    snowman_w900 Thanks this.
  8. Aug 15, 2017 #6
    snowman_w900

    snowman_w900 Road Train Member

    4,418
    81,025
    Nov 25, 2010
    0
    Southern Pride Trucking, Inc. - The Aviation Transportation Experts

    I'm not sure on that. There's a GE jet engine test facility not far from me and there always alot of those trucks. Very nice equipment. Some guys have their motorcycles with them so I assume they can take time off to take a break.

    The guys that work for them that I run into seem to be happy and enjoy life. Lots over oversize loads.
     
    snowman_w900, Aug 15, 2017
    snowman_w900, Aug 15, 2017
    #6
    SavageSam Thanks this.
  9. Aug 15, 2017 #7
    x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

    34,016
    42,139
    Mar 5, 2016
    White County, Arkansas
    0
    If you are handed a load and told to go. That is generally a forced dispatch. If you are handed a load and said that you wont go, then you risk very much getting terminated and that load given to someone who knows they will go or lose their job too.

    The day that you choose your own destiny or loading is not going to happen as a mere company driver. You will have to become a motor carrier in order to have the ability to have the freedom to choose loads. And sometimes not even then. Someone has a load for you going wherever, you will run it. OR fail to stay in business.
     
    x1Heavy, Aug 15, 2017
    x1Heavy, Aug 15, 2017
    #7
    SavageSam Thanks this.
  10. Aug 15, 2017 #8
    snowman_w900

    snowman_w900 Road Train Member

    4,418
    81,025
    Nov 25, 2010
    0
    Well I'm not sure if that's how it works there. That would also depend on other trucks in the area. I imagine if you TAKE the load, then yes, you are required to finish it and not prick around, but I don't think everything they give you is forced.

    There's lots of places with no force dispatch that you can only haul 1 load in 3 months if you desire. You don't have to be a motor carrier to find that.
     
    snowman_w900, Aug 15, 2017
    snowman_w900, Aug 15, 2017
    #8
    SavageSam Thanks this.
  11. Aug 15, 2017 #9
    snowman_w900

    snowman_w900 Road Train Member

    4,418
    81,025
    Nov 25, 2010
    0
    @SavageSam , i saw this guy a while back. He said sometimes he sets for a few days between loads so he takes his bike along and enjoys it.

    20170607_115553.jpg
     
    snowman_w900, Aug 15, 2017
    snowman_w900, Aug 15, 2017
    #9
    Otr Traveler and SavageSam Thank this.
  12. Aug 15, 2017 #10
    luckystar

    luckystar Light Load Member

    113
    143
    Aug 1, 2017
    0
    If you sell the house and live soley out of the truck im not sure you can have your own Authority any way. You need a phyisical address for your back office for your audits and such. I think leasing to a carrier if you plan to be homeless is the only option. Maybe others have some insite on homeless truckers with there own authority.
     
    luckystar, Aug 15, 2017
    luckystar, Aug 15, 2017
    #10
    SavageSam and snowman_w900 Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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

    • Page 1 of 3