ADVICE!!!!!!

OP, make sure you check with an accountant on any potential tax liability on that inherited truck.

 

An average is 100 applicants for one good driver. My standards are not about getting the load there the fastest but using the idea of working smarter. Road tests are done because before I used to hire people who were smart and quick learners but they suck driving, and after I even had a few who took out some things in the yard while moving a trailer around. The worst was a guy out of the military, was a driver in the army and had his cdl through some program, he took out the neighbors pickup, hit a snap on truck at the end of the block delivering and ignored the no truck sign on the access road to the freeway after he was told and shown it in my drive to have a sit down lunch.

See I know this is hard to beleive but most drivers suck driving that hold cdls, a lot who think they are good drivers are marginal and many of those are plain lucky they haven't killed anyone.

And greenpete is absolutely right, we can thank megas for the creation of these drivers but I also have to include ourselves to accept crap drivers on the road.

 

Back when I was a company driver I road tested probably 100 people. Maybe 5 were good, none were great, 15 acceptable, majority would be a major liability, and let’s say 10 didn’t even know the basics (hooking airlines, sliding tandems).

Financially speaking, sell the w9, pay off the freightliner, have a large chunk of money left over. The w9 has a better resale value, and an increase in fuel and insurance cost.

However me personally I would sell the cascadia and keep the w9.

 

Yes it’s easy to hire a good driver when you don’t offer paid vacation, 401k with a match, medical insurance, paid holidays and top pay.
Let’s get real. Owner operator with two trucks can’t offer you the benefits you’ll get at a good company.

 

The industry standard used to be 17.5(how they figured the .5 is a mystery to me), that was 15yrs ago, I bet it's double that. Ridgeline is right, that truck could be in the ditch a half-dozen times before he finds a good driver. No matter what he has to do,
drive the W9 and do whatever with the Freightshaker. Sorry for your loss Driver, I think you would do your brother proud to drive his ride.JMO.

 

My condolences on the loss of your brother. Can you think in a business mind. You bought the cascadia to make money. Your brother’s truck is paid for. Finish what you started as if he was still alive and after your cascadia is paid off go take off in the hood. You can put a non op on your hood and start it up and get everything warm a couple times a month and when you have your own truck paid for as well, you have more options. If you were happy with your truck purchase and are making money then stick with your plan! But my best advice would be really think about long term goals and know the cascadia is cheaper to repair always. That hood is a classic now and will still be after the cascadia is paid off. Then make money on both!! Good luck!!