Can you make money with a daycab, running local?

I've been doing it for 3 years now in the St. Louis and/or Chicago area. I work 5 days a week, averaging 7 rounds. My average takehome after fuel (even at $4/gal) is around 1000 a week. Some things to remember are:
1) union railroad employees are not pleasant people - EVER!
2) the very best rail chassis you can find is still a piece of ..... junk.
3) 10.100-20's are a pain to get repaired, nobody wants to mess with them and 99% of all chassis sport 'em.
4) after 10 or more plugs, even the newest tire won't hold air, recaps for a reason.
5) yes, we run cheap junk, wear it out, buy other cheap junk. I'm currently shopping for my third.
6) be able to make rail cuts. 1 minute late and it will not make the train. no exceptions.

All in all though, I deliver to the rail yards on a dedicated run so I know the deal and am happy with it. My route don't change. My times don't change. With the exception of wrecks, breakdowns, flats, etc, I rarely have problems and usually get it done on time.

 

few things I forgot. Never deliver a flat tire, run the goofy thing clear off the chassis or you get backcharged. Innertube problems are your fault, a decimated tire has no blame. Always stay within your chassis pool. It's painted on the chassis. Always AND I MEAN ALWAYS lock the 4 corners of the box down. If dot don't get you, the wind will. tie-wraps are your freind. Have fun riding the rails

 

Working 6 days as a company driver, I bring home $1,000/week.
Plus, free benefits, pension, vacation/sick/personal days.. etc... So, you're saying it WOULD be stupid of me to buy my own truck?....

 

ive been doing daycab local hauling shingles making on av 250 a day 10-12 hours sotimes 300 a day. but all good tings come to an end. company changed rates cut overtime and im making maybe 180 a day now. time to move on

 

a friend of mine is an o/o...where is this company at? need specs...from pa.

 

There is real good money in heavy haul, but a truck set up for heavy haul isnt cheap, even the daycabs, but if the times in your area are like the times in mine, wont be easy to get in the door, The motors on a heavy haul truck need sooner services, figure every mile you run on a heavy haul truck is like 3 miles on a normal truck, If you buy a used heavy haul truck?, I wouldnt with one more than?, maybe 100,000 miles on it?

 

I've always wanted to buy my own truck also. that way I drive the truck I like. never have and probably never will. too scared of losing my butt if things don't work out.lol. happened back in the '70s as a concrete contractor. almost lost my house. been gun shy since.

but still want my own,though.lol

 

he wants to go into heavy haul, did it before but for daly an they paid squat!!!

 

That what it sounds like to me, $1000. a week and no bennifits= $1000. a week with bennifits, A no brainer to me, If he's happy with that then?, To each there own I guess