Not looking to get into the money part or the old/new discussions etc, but those of you who have gone from a single truck to 3-5, was it worth it? Customer is starting to pester me to buy another truck, and I do know what the right business answer is to this, but I honestly don’t know if I want to deal with it. So anyone thats done it, was it worth the couple extra grand at the end of the year or do you wish you just stayed single truck o/o really not expecting much from this thread but I’m bored and have been surprised before
If you know a good driver that you can depend on to take the job as seriously as you do, and service the customer the way you do, and take care of the truck the way you do, then it might be worth the chance. I had 8 trucks at one time but I started with a plan, and that was to eventually get out of the truck, which I did, then I cut the fleet down to 6 trucks with one spare should one go into the shop. Found it to be alot more manageable for me. I have my personal truck that I will go out and do a load with once in awhile. Surround yourself with the right people/person and it just might be worth it.
It really depends if you can find a good driver. A bad guy can wreck your whole business. I hired a good guy back in September. I bought a truck and a trailer. Now he quits, because other people have been telling him how great the market is and he is buying his own truck. Now I gotta figure out if I need another driver or sell the equipment. Just a pain the butt
Can you trust a driver with your business? A single violation such as texting and driving can cost you, the carrier a fine of over $10,000. Violations on your carrier's records are also seen by insurance companies and your premium can skyrocket. Historically the most common driver related violation is operation without wearing a seat belt, has a 7 severity weight rating on your CSA score. In general every violation a driver may get caught doing comes back tenfold on the carrier's record.
Have you considered getting your brokerage license and brokering out the excess work to companies that you trust.
Ya don’t say... where were you eight years ago I had a guy that I was going to put in a truck and about two weeks before sealing the deal he ran into the back of a truck and totaled truck and trailer.
Do you like to baby sit adults and listen to complaints, and have them tell you how to do things because they know better?
Best ones are those that used to have their own but ran it into the ground. And tell you how you're not doing it the right way like they did. Or the ones that complain before they even start. Reality expect nothing more than a steering wheel holder and be happy when you get more.
