Asking for your thoughts and guidance....

Lot of good heads on the forum here so I want to ask for some guidance. Been doing a lot of reading, but things change as the years pass and I'd rather ask those that are seasoned in the O/O world. I've put a lot of miles in over the years but mostly as an employee. I left the world of the windshield do to my wife's health (heart), Been working for my cousin here locally so I could be home. My cousin has been very successful over the last 15 years catering to longwall mining. He sells new, as well as cleans old filters for the hydraulics, also sells new control valves and rebuilds old ones that are used on the longwall miners. Well, as we all know the "war on coal" has demolished many jobs, mine included. My brother in law works for Fletchers in Huntington which is big into coal, he is barely hanging on, and may lose his job in the next few weeks. I have spoke with a local company and they are more than willing to have me lease onto them. I own the truck, 1995 W900, and yes I know it's an older truck, but I know that my 102 year old engine I have is more reliable than a new one, I like older things, and I can work on every bolt and nut myself. As the owner and the driver I will be leasing to this company pulling their freight, mostly over length with stretch trailers, and some over size. I will only have and own the truck...for now. What advice would any of you give me as far as setting myself up to go into this part of the world? By that question I mean should I have a LLC, or Corporation company of my own or...? The only thing really in my name is my pickup and my Harley, kept the house in my wife's name only for now. I'm going to be doing a lot of PM work on the truck just in case, while getting other things together. I don't want any problems on the road, and I can't stand a darn oil leak so all axle seals are being replaced needed or not as well as other things. Appreciate any thoughts or guidance.

 

Thank You.....

 

Wore Out I truly appreciate your vote of confidence. Back in the early 80's Dad was elected with 70,000+ other mechanics to go and do a text for GM consisting of 8 topics if my memory is right. Of the 70,000+ he was one of the top 10. Not bad for a Hillbilly lol! He has been retired for a number of years now, but he really has a spark in his voice just thinking about helping me on the truck. It will be good for him to feel needed. And yes I will be sharing a lot of pics on the repair or PM work, hopefully it will help the younger / newer drivers with a little "do it yourself" knowledge. Once again Thank You.

 

I have a 1977 truck and a 1980 Transtar 2 but just wanted something a little newer that I can work on myself and not be skinned alive out on the road.
Thank You.

 

Thank You Rank. I went and looked at a 88 Freightliner I found on Craigslist in eastern KY, black with blue stripes. I remembered parking beside of it when it was new, I was driving a 1984 Autocar at that time. Anyway Dad and I go look at it... Wow!! I seen $5000+ just fixing the rear suspension and putting a 5th wheel on it. Then found a 79 W900 up in PA so I go look at it, Drove it around, had no turning radius to the right...hmmm... Pitman arm is hitting the battery box under the cab not allowing the wheels to turn. Frame had been spliced with Pete air ride, big flat top. But my gut told me NO! I have looked at a few. This W900 though my gut told me it was ok. It started it's life as a glider so it actually has a big cam 400 instead of a N14, and I like that, but that's me. Thanks again.