1st week almost over on my own numbers as a hotshot

Its progressive through coastal trucking ins

 

Well once you get 100k on any truck they all become less trustworthy. This one took a bit to get there, I did a ton of work on it, from new heads, studs ect to rebuilding the front end, all the brakes, replacing the entire engine wiring harness ect..

The thing is, if something breaks I can fix it and if I cant figure it out, google can then I can fix it.. Meaning short of blowing the motor, trans or rear end it's all fairly fixable on the road.

Newer trucks and DPF issues I'm not a fan because once they get miles on them those dogs will cost lots in repair and now the e pop a has mostly shut down deletes by handing out big fines.. it's only a matter of time before a truck cant pass a yearly inspection if its deleted..

 

Well it's mainly the DPF that they are after so pre-2008. I mean maybe they will look at EGRs as well but worst case there are stealth kits for those..

I think with ford pre 03 gets you around both pre 08 for the dpf.

The reason I'd build a 99 is because Ford made the super duty same cab since 98 I think it was.. Most body, interior, chassis items are interchangeable.

So by going 98-00 on the title it gives me the added bonus of running paper logs if I choose or I could run eld. Meaning if I was gonna go through the trouble of building a truck from ground up I'd build it to get all the advantages..

Essentially a hotshot glider but not a current year title.

I like projects like this, so building it isn't a worry to me and it's not hard to find parts so long as you aren't buying lots of aftermarket junk but sticking to OEM.

The thing is with fords the cabs are the same all the way through aside from a few changes they did on the front core support. Meaning I can buy a blown up 6 4 truck with all the bells and whistles then swap cabs for the older title and drop a Cummins in it.. Stick to OEM parts aside from the obvious things it's not hard to find parts.

The biggest thing is are you capable of working on it yourself which I am.. If you need a mechanic then buy new.

 

Yeah, I traveled around the country for 4 years in 2 vw Van's. I've slept in the woods and in Walmart parking lots.. Hell I've taken baths in mountain streams..lol

I did my share of roughing it, I don't need to prove anything on that front.. lol spending 2 winters in CO in a van is rough as it gets, but I wouldnt trade it I'd just get a diesel heater next time.. lol.

-10 when it's so cold your heater cant keep up is cold..lol

Anyway, I dont have a lot of expenses due to my set up so I do need to spend money, so I rather get a hotel room once a week if I choose than pay it to the tax man.. My thing is I dont just waste it, if I get a hotel its because its early in the day and I dont have another load or it doesn't pick up till late..

I'm not gonna roll up at 10pm at night and leave at 8am.. I'm getting my money's worth.

 

Well to be fair as a new MC# you do have to take the cheap loads. I've gotten lucky so far, I managed to run loads with 2 broker that normally only take 90 day or older MCs.

Only reason I got on with those brokers is both loads needed to be there ASAP and had been posted for a while. Meaning I kinda had a upper hand even as a new MC.

Granted they wernt horrible pay for hotshot partials one was $2/mile ($900)the one I'm on now is $1.60 ($2,2k) but its taking me home and actually the best paying load I found to go home on. Although I did leave FL on a $1/mile($400) but that was after days of trying to leave and that's the best I could get.

With that said, when I ran at Prime I did many $1.60 or lower loads. People need to be pissed at the MEGAs for cheap freight not hotshot guys..

I have however been turned down and bullshited by brokers a lot already. Meaning yeah a new MC.. I'm gonna be running cheap unfortunately but with my set up I can afford it.