buying a truck. bad or good idea? please read

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by cwest, Feb 27, 2011.

  1. cwest

    cwest Bobtail Member

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    so i know i prolly look like a goober, but i am seriously in love with trucks and have been since i was a little kid. my question is, would it be a bad idea to buy a truck with an inheridance from my grandmother? i have never driven before. but i am really passonate about trucking. i would pay cash for the truck. i know alot of companys want experience and i planned on going to school and driving for a bit before doin my own thing. i dont even care about making alot of money doing it........i just wanna be able to own my truck.
    thanks in advance!!!!!!!
     
  2. rickybobby

    rickybobby Road Train Member

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    With no plan....bad idea!! just my .02
     
  3. cwest

    cwest Bobtail Member

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    i guess a better question may be what should i consider before doin this
     
  4. cwest

    cwest Bobtail Member

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    my grandam always told me never let go of my dream of bein a trucker and ownin my own truck. she left me 375k so ive ot the funds to buy one i just kinda dont know witch way to approach doin it.
     
  5. sharpshooter

    sharpshooter Medium Load Member

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    I would go to a driving school first. A good one!! Then see how you feel about it. Good luck
     
  6. misterG

    misterG Road Train Member

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    Get a few YEARS of experience first.
    Then, when you've figured out that the best way to make a small amount of money trucking. Is to start with a large amount of it.
    You might get the idea.
     
  7. cwest

    cwest Bobtail Member

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    ya i hear ya. any suggestions on schools in phoenix az that are good ones?
     
  8. Pfuse

    Pfuse Light Load Member

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    Go to school and drive someone else's truck for at least a year. You don't need the all the distractions of ownership while you are learning.

    Invest your money.

    Don't buy the truck outright. Keep that money invested with the possible exception of a down payment on the truck that you want.

    Since you won't have the financial pressures that a "normal" owner operator would have, there will be great temptation for you to just take whatever loads that you want at whatever rate is offered. Please, for the sake of the rest of us who do have to run under the "normal" economic pressures, don't haul ###### freight for bad rates. You will have the luxury of being picky, please do!
     
    Hanadarko, Brickman and uptownkid Thank this.
  9. ‘Olhand

    ‘Olhand Cantankerous Crusty

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    Find yourself a good TRUSTWORTHY investment counselor--At your age--properly done--your inheritance can start a very healthy life for you--(assuming you don't need to live like a Saudi Prince)--then get yourself a job--(of any kind)--find somewhere local to go to driving school--then decide if you still want to drive--if so--spend a couple of years on the road as a company driver--see if you still want to do it(for the right reasons--not just because you want a fancier faster truck!)spend as much time talking with true owner/ops and small business owners. After all this if you feel you still want to do it--the spend another year or so--doing your homework--what do YOU want to do--that YOU can make a living at! IE:running local for someone in your area--getting your own authority and soliciting customers&everything in between--once you think you have it figured out--go back to the investment counselor(banker--accountant-whoever you found and trust) Explain too them what you want to do--let THEM help you set up a BUSINESS PLAN--then take a small amount of the INTEREST you have already earned from your investment and get started.
    I know this may be a lot compared to your young dream--of just going truckin!--but like has been said here before--(and paraphrasing Darrell Waltrip) The best way to make a small fortune="Take a big fortune and go Truckin"
    Best of LUCK to YOU!
    Just my $.02!
     
  10. Eagle_Eye

    Eagle_Eye Medium Load Member

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    Well my questions are:

    Do you have a family to care for?

    Do you have any intentions of starting a family?

    Are you sure you know what your getting into?

    Do you have any other dreams that you wish to follow?