Advice For Team Thinking O/O

Rates are really low across the board right now. A truck note is going to be expensive. Truck repairs are also expensive even if its warranty work as you will have to pay for hotels and such while making nothing. These are facts.

Not to say you can't do it, Wifey and I do quite nicely but then we do own our truck. Repairs and down time are things we set aside for each week. All trucks will break, definitely the newer ones.
Just things to consider.

 

Reefer

 

Those line haul companies I listed; husband/wife teams are making anywhere from $125K - $167K per year and that's for each driver in the team.

 

We do flatbed work. Keep in mind that flatbed dock hours are typically like Mon-Fri 8-4. Renting a trailer is good for a few months, but I'd plan on purchasing or financing if you think it's going to be long term. There usually isn't a lot of team flatbed freight to hit the boards, but it can pay decent. It's not really an optimal environment for a team operation.

If you want your own authority, you'll need a physical address for the business. Insurance is probably going to be at least $20k for the first year. You need to understand IFTA, 2290, UCR, BOC3, and enroll in a drug testing program. Make sure you do your research. You might end up needing $100k just to get started between the truck, trailer, and other expenses.

If you're worried about seeing the same things over and over, you might still end up doing that as an owner. Some lanes and customers pay well, others not so much. Sure, you have the option to go where you want, but it might not be a good business move.

If you can land one of those good paying team jobs for a year or two, you'll be almost guaranteed to be in a better position to start a trucking company and pursue your art interest. It's also more time to do research and get more input.