Bottom of food chain

I just started o/o a month ago leased onto an outfit running their tags/permits. I have a paid for '03 KW. I've spent $2500 the past couple of weeks fixing things I didn't know would go bad until I got out there rolling. Luckily I was able to run back home with my issues. I haven't really made anything at all. I have a cushion for just this scenario but that doesnt make it feel much better. You've been warned. I only did this for the control it gave me with regards to time off. That.. and because I love trucking.

 

When you own your own truck your still a tool, but with all the expense's, you can just take your toy elsewhere and play.

 

last year I started as an O/O, again. Made an $8000 DP on truck. Spent about 20K getting started. I pull a step deck and work my butt off to get decent loads and can barely pay my bills. And I'm single with no real debt or payments other than truck related debt. ($1138 payment, insurance, etc.) Almost any company driver is earning more than I am. There are a thousand ways to fail and only a few ways to succeed right now. I strongly recommend that you stay where you are until the economy turns upward.

 

Thats a great start for a down payment, but its only about "half" of the rest of the money you are going to need. Beyond that I would want another ten K in the bank just sitting there for WHEN the truck breaks down.

Not trying to discourage you, keep working and saving up some more money, THEN go for it!

 

Stay a company driver and laugh at all of us wanting to eat the business end of a shotgun.

 

I would recomend that as well.

From my expierence purchasing a truck last April, make sure that the brakes and tires are in good shape. I just had to put 4 drive tires on it, plus brakes on both drive axles, including replaceing 2 bad S cams ($250 a piece installed!), a broke automatic slack adjuster. Also had to replace clutch brake. AC is about to go out as well (hopefully will last, till end of summer). Fortunately I was able to spread the brake jobs out, purchased a 1 tire every couple weeks until I had a four. Still need a front alignment and 2 steer tires!!! Recaps are dirt cheap compared to new tires. I also own my trailer which I added 6 new tires over the last 6 months.

All the above stuff I had to pay for as I went along (which ment not alot in my pocket). It would have beem nice to have that $10,000 cushion!

One other thing, this is a buyers market for trucks, mine was a 97 century flatop with a 3406cat 13 speed 470HP, 72" sleeper. Full side fairings (or skirts as some call them). The interior was in excellent shape. The engine also had a partial in frame as well with 950,000 miles on it, for $10,000. It was higher priced because of the inframe, But there are 5 and 6 year old trucks going for less the $15,000. Pick one of those up and then you can spend 4 or 5 grand fixing it up and you got a #### good truck, I know I will when I fiinish fixing the "normal wear and tare items."

I would also suggest putting the truck on a dyno machine and tell the mechanic that you need to know everything you can about the truck. I had the one I bought out on it. It was considered a strong engine even with 950,000 miles on it. The cost will come out of your pocket so narrow your choices down to 2 or 3 trucks and have all of them put on the dyno.

Good Luck.

 

When you look at what a o/o brings home at the end of the year vs company driver, I know I would much rather stay company driving. :smt030:smt030

 

True, but when you get home late friday night or early saturday morning and you're force dispatched to leave back out again sunday morning it gets really old really quickly. Besides that the opportunity to make far more than any company driver does exist out there for owner operators if they're smart and a little lucky.