Change my mind

johnnyboyloco2500 · Aug 5, 2020

God prefers Diesels said: ↑

I've just about made up my mind to get my own authority, but I still can't figure out if it's a stupid idea or not. I'm not a "real" trucker like you guys, so let me give you some background.

I started in the oilfield about 14 years ago as a roustabout. We had a Marmon 5/4 with a flatbed. I learned how to drive on that, pulling the weirdest stuff you could think of. All offroad, though. I grew up in a mechanic shop, and was a Motor T mechanic in the Marines. So with my meager driving experience, and knowing how the tranny worked, I was able to take and pass the CDL road test. I've had my CDL with TX endorsements for around 13 or 14 years.

I quit roustabout, and moved into wireline at Halliburton. I drove wireline trucks (class 8 straight truck), and cranes on a class 8 chassis. Pretty much everything was just a 10-speed. The only combos we pulled were goosenecks with a pickup. (less than 46k GCWR)

I understand load securement rules, HOS, and HazMat rules. The entire time I was in wireline (10 years), I hauled explosives or radioactive sources. I eventually became a manager at an outfit that was recently started, but got laid off about 1.5 years later when the oilfield started to slow down hard in the Eagleford. (South Texas) I got a job as a DC manager for a company that sells products to wireline. Made it almost a year when OPEC stepped in and ruined the world, so I got laid off again.

The oilfield is still sorely depressed right now, and I'm on unemployment for the first time ever. I'm 39. I've been through several boom/busts in the oilfield, and it never fully comes back when it comes back, so I've decided I want to get as far away from it as I can. Plus in wireline, we're stuck living near that shale play, and we don't have the freedom to live in whatever state we want.

Right now I've got 39k in the bank. I've got roughly 60k in credit cards with zero balance. I have a clean MVR. (last time I got pulled over was 2001) I can handle a truck, but I'm not a trucker. I have zero interest in being a company driver, and I can't lease on with no experience, so I feel if I want to do this, I'm stuck getting my own authority. I'm aware of the startup cost. I have a wife of 16 years that has my back.

The plan is to run off load boards while building relationships and learning the industry. The end goal is to cut out my own

why not lease on with lets say mercer transportation. Pick your own loads. Find what lanes you like to run. Maybe get on letstruck we. Site and go thru some of their corses. Can’t hurt. Everyone has a opinion. That be the way i would send someone
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Gdog66223 · Aug 5, 2020

Brettj3876 said: ↑

Don't think anyone has mentioned this yet but I'd wait til after the election to pull the trigger on something
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I mentioned it the other day in another thread but, we all know who's gonna win. I mean its obvious. Sleepy Joe just can't keep up with a billionaire.

nitetride379x · Aug 7, 2020

FLtoOKBound said: ↑

Also if it's just the 2 of you. She could either go with you or get her CDL and you guys team. That way for those 2 years you're both getting the experience and banking your income.
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You do have to be careful with that, well yes some companies will pay double for double drivers, most will split the income, so not much of a financial increase.

Wasted Thyme · Aug 7, 2020

nitetride379x said: ↑

You do have to be careful with that, well yes some companies will pay double for double drivers, most will split the income, so not much of a financial increase.
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Um yeah. Not how teams work. LOL

God prefers Diesels · Feb 18, 2022

blairandgretchen said: ↑

Funny you assumed the poster was a female, assuming by the avatar picture.

I’ve thanked all the posts I agree with.

The company drivers, retired company drivers and negative Nellys should refrain from advice giving.

Before I bought my first truck , I refrained from commenting in the owner operator affairs, and instead read and learned, with my stupid mouth (fingers) sealed.

Look at the starting point people - capital, and availability of credit.

@Ridgeline correct as often - don’t start touching the credit. If you do - be prepared to exit quickly.

@God prefers Diesels - from what I’ve read, you’re on the right track - some of that comes from the questions you ask - and ego less responses given. That speaks volume.

2nd - what’s the % of people who ask a similar question and offer no capital, trashed credit, high debt, and a poor mouth mentality - vs. “Experience, Grit, Humility, Diligence and Bravery”

?

Go forth and prosper, @God prefers Diesels .
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A recent thread here got me looking at my old posts to see what the difference was, and I just want to thank every one of you that responded to this post. Sorry for getting a box truck there for a second, lol. Reading that post made me cringe. This is the thread where I still didn't know the difference between a broker and a dispatcher. There for a minute, I was running a box truck, and getting dispatched by a crew out of Jamaica. If it weren't for this forum, I might still be doing that, or already went broke and went back to the oilfield. It was you guys that said: "What's the point in running your own show, if you aren't going to dispatch yourself?"

Things are so different now. You guys are just the greatest crowd.

@blairandgretchen come this Summer, the wife is coming out with me. I'll make sure we can cross paths in Missouri.

LoneRanger · Feb 18, 2022

God prefers Diesels said: ↑

A recent thread here got me looking at my old posts to see what the difference was, and I just want to thank every one of you that responded to this post. Sorry for getting a box truck there for a second, lol. Reading that post made me cringe. This is the thread where I still didn't know the difference between a broker and a dispatcher. There for a minute, I was running a box truck, and getting dispatched by a crew out of Jamaica. If it weren't for this forum, I might still be doing that, or already went broke and went back to the oilfield. It was you guys that said: "What's the point in running your own show, if you aren't going to dispatch yourself?"

Things are so different now. You guys are just the greatest crowd.

@blairandgretchen come this Summer, the wife is coming out with me. I'll make sure we can cross paths in Missouri.
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haha put me down on that list too. I promised him BBQ and a bottle of what ever he’s drinking.

Siinman · Feb 18, 2022

God prefers Diesels said: ↑

A recent thread here got me looking at my old posts to see what the difference was, and I just want to thank every one of you that responded to this post. Sorry for getting a box truck there for a second, lol. Reading that post made me cringe. This is the thread where I still didn't know the difference between a broker and a dispatcher. There for a minute, I was running a box truck, and getting dispatched by a crew out of Jamaica. If it weren't for this forum, I might still be doing that, or already went broke and went back to the oilfield. It was you guys that said: "What's the point in running your own show, if you aren't going to dispatch yourself?"

Things are so different now. You guys are just the greatest crowd.

@blairandgretchen come this Summer, the wife is coming out with me. I'll make sure we can cross paths in Missouri.
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You have come along way since this thread. I can remember when you said you bought a box truck feeling like you really cheated yourself. Was thinking this man can do it just like I did and will do well for his family. Then you said you bought a box truck and I think I kind of lost interest. Ha Ha Glad you did change your mind as you are one that I like to interact with on the forum.

God prefers Diesels · Feb 18, 2022

Siinman said: ↑

You have come along way since this thread. I can remember when you said you bought a box truck feeling like you really cheated yourself. Was thinking this man can do it just like I did and will do well for his family. Then you said you bought a box truck and I think I kind of lost interest. Ha Ha Glad you did change your mind as you are one that I like to interact with on the forum.
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I'm really starting to feel like a "trucker". Like, this is my life now, and this is what I do. I'm a trucker.

Siinman · Feb 18, 2022

God prefers Diesels said: ↑

I'm really starting to feel like a "trucker". Like, this is my life now, and this is what I do. I'm a trucker.
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I love being a trucker. I always wanted to be a trucker when I was a kid so it ended up being perfect for me. Now if I can get my new truck I would feel like a trucker in comfort. HA HA

danny23tx · Feb 18, 2022

Hey now a success story lol we dont see a lot of those threads like that lately . I found this forum just as I was making my game plan to start in Trucking and 5 yrs later Im still here with a paid off truck with insurance paid in full every year . My wife was just showing me the pics when I first bought my truck and it brought back a lot of those fearful and uncertain feelings but we persisted and all is well . Keep Trucking!

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