Crunching The Numbers, Am I Missing Something?? (newb)

The Navy or the Air Force (or the Marines, either) doesn't take fresh recruits, with no training or experience...& put them in the latest & greatest fighter jets, or helicopter gunships.

That's basically what you're trying to do here.

All while business & market conditions for being/becoming an independent are the worst they've been in a long, long time.

Also-since you haven't even done any of it--you really don't know for sure (yet) if you will even like it--or not.

Get your CDL(s), drive as a company driver for 2 years (& also--until business conditions/costs come back down to sane levels), & make sure that CDL driving/lifestyle is in fact a good "fit" for you--first.

Recall that in an above reply--it is pointed out that getting insurance is impossible or extremely difficult without at least a year of experience, anyway.

During that time--learn all you can about the business.

One good option to gain experience & get you feet wet might be the "Drive Your Plan" load board program at USA Truck:

USA Truck Introduces Self-Dispatch Program

This pgm gives you load board experience while you build up time (& avoid all those risks & outrageous current high O/O costs) instead as a company driver.

You can qualify for this pgm after you've been there driving for 12 months.

To my knowledge--no one else offers a similar program anywhere else in the industry (as of this writing, anyway).

Yes, USA Truck takes newly-minted CDL holders.

And no, I'm not a recruiter or driver (or other agent) for USA Truck.

Nor have I worked for them, before.

Actually, I haul fuel (hazmat tanker) in FL & GA.

-- Lual

 

If you want a big sleeper truck, you should look into for FEDEX custom critical box truck.

Expedite Owner Operators, Expedited Transportation, Independent Contractors

there are fleets who take husband/wife teams as company drivers.

they require 1 year experience and class B CDL atleast.

 

Why do you have to ruin the dream man?

 

Landstarve has had some pretty huge concert tours pop lately that pay pretty well with not a whole lot of driving.

BUT

You mostly need your own trailer, and nust be willing to accept the mark of the beast.

 

Depending on what company you find I do know that some of the NYC type theater shows that travel having a big bunk will or can get you in some pretty tight locations as you are going from the major downtown cities

I run a big bunk and time flies much faster and makes life much easier but your time off might need to be increased
Whether you take 3 days off a month OUT OF THE TRUCK (not yelling just making sure you can read it) or several week trips off throughout the year
You just need to get out. Can’t live going from the front seats to the back

I take off around 3 - 4ish months throughout the year and it will make a difference on whether you have a JOB you hate or CAREER you enjoy

Also. Make sure whatever you decide that the extra weigh that bunk weighs will work with whatever loads you want to haul
With my truck and trailer I can hit 43-44k but 80% of what I do seems to be under that and usually under 30k
Some of your numbers seem high and you should be able to work on those but I do the same. Figure the low on income and high on expense for that worst case thing but even with my time off my numbers on the income side are better but again yours or anyone else’s expenses won’t match the next guys but it’s a starting point

I would think that any company taking the percentage you posted would cover the cargo insurance and you cover your truck but check into that and they should have a fuel discount card or you can look into one like NASTC if they don’t

 

You guys should just go for it and be a company team before anything else. If you go with the right company, then most o/o gigs don't be enough extra for the trouble to lure you away. My wife and I work at a company that requires 2 years experience, and we have made $108k combined so far this year, and we have taken 4 weeks off.

 

Yup took me almost 3 months to get my truck in just for some leaking seals and an overhead. And most of that was waiting for the new diff rings and gaskets.

 

I’m going to take my CDL training with CR England, going to be bussed to Salt Lake City the whole shabang.
I have no money I’ve taken my DOT physical and my CDL permit test is set for next week.
So I’m as green as they come.
I understand you have to crawl before you walk and learn with a company.
I’ve read a few reviews here and I’m on the fence about it now.
My main concern is the money, I have several obligations and need to have them payed, the recruiter told me in my first week after graduating school with a mentor I’ll make 708.00$ then when I go solo it will be 1,020.00.
Are these actual numbers or is the recruiter blowing smoke up my ### and telling me it’s raining?
Pardon my language.
Any and all insight will be greatly appreciated.