Finally got my own truck

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by BoyWander, Jan 1, 2017.

  1. Cheezy_smile

    Cheezy_smile Medium Load Member

    326
    4,424
    May 23, 2017
    0
    Drivers need to look at them first. As long you are a slob, don’t take care of yourself and wear flip flops while conducting a business you won’t be taken seriously.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Volvoisacumm

    Volvoisacumm Bobtail Member

    9
    8
    Sep 16, 2018
    Miami, Fl
    0

    Good luck and be smart, while u can the smarters thing to do is take 15% off what the truck makes and save it away.. It will ask for it sooner or later and the easiest thing to do is have ready when u needed. Drive safe and carefull and GoodSpeed to u!!!
     
    Farmerbob1 Thanks this.
  4. BoyWander

    BoyWander Road Train Member

    1,411
    2,125
    Jul 22, 2011
    Michigan
    0
    You know I've been at this for over a year and a half now, right? Don't you read a posts date?
     
    spyder7723 and Tug Toy Thank this.
  5. ReeferOhio

    ReeferOhio Medium Load Member

    596
    557
    Nov 29, 2010
    Ohio
    0
    LOL! This thread is great. Everyone complaining about cheap freight, you are your own worst enemy. You own a business start thinking like it. Nothing is easy get out of bed and win, stop playing the victim and make it work.
     
  6. BoyWander

    BoyWander Road Train Member

    1,411
    2,125
    Jul 22, 2011
    Michigan
    0
    And that's what should be said to every manufacturer who lost business to China. Suck it up and make your product cheaper. Cut pay to $3/hour. Oh they can't. China doesn't have to play by the same rules.

    Just like companies who pay drivers illegally. And don't have workers comp and don't pay any taxes. It's okay for that to happen. But when China does it on their own soil to crash US manufacturing, that's ok.

    Or if you're a Trump supporter, we need to crack down on China and make them play by the same rules. But if you're in the US, you don't have to play by the same rules as the guy down the street. And if you're a mega company, you get an even bigger advantage.

    But if you're a Chinese company, you can't do that and we need to tax your customers.

    You don't see the hypocrisy in all that?
     
    joey8686 and Bean Jr. Thank this.
  7. Good bloom

    Good bloom Light Load Member

    75
    64
    Aug 13, 2017
    Chesterfield, MO
    0
    Invisible HAND

    lets tightening up the belt
     
  8. ReeferOhio

    ReeferOhio Medium Load Member

    596
    557
    Nov 29, 2010
    Ohio
    0
    If you think there are that many companies running illegally and that is your scape goat, then I'll just sit back and enjoy the **** show. You can't fix.... Again keep playing the victim, and nothing is your fault. I've enjoyed the thread, but if you can't own your mistakes or short comings it's only a matter of time. I've been on this forum more than once criticizing business owners for their inapt ability to adapt to a market. It's nothing more than that, simple economics. Do you ever wonder why some not only succeed in the same market but grow? Take this simple advice, make better decisions. Yes the Mega's have buying power, that's it (big deal). I load next to mega carriers everyday with my small fleet, I've not brokered a load in almost two years, we share the same clients. Before that I brokered less than 10 times a year since I quit my 9-5 and started trucking full time with a 25K truck that I still have. I had a direct customer before I even bought my first truck. How?, because I picked up the phone and had a plan, I made good decisions. I adjust my plan and goals based on demand, market and the right decisions. And you can too.
     
    RaRa Thanks this.
  9. BoyWander

    BoyWander Road Train Member

    1,411
    2,125
    Jul 22, 2011
    Michigan
    0
    I'm not deflecting blame because I'm still doing fine.

    I'm just mad that I have to compete against others who take an illegal advantage which depresses rates. The rates we've seen the last year during busy times is close to what it should be when it's slow.

    Imagine if a fast food restaurant chain opened up, imported all their employees and paid the minimum wage on a 1099. And got away with it. Then sold everything for 25% below anyone else.

    You would call that "the invisible hand of the market". But that's exactly the same thing going on in the trucking industry.

    $100,000/yr NET for an owner op should be the absolute bare minimum to accept. Company drivers should be making $70,000 minimum.

    But that's just not the way it is.

    So I've done a lot of sitting. Most of the costs associated is by running the truck. Fixed yearly costs aren't that much.

    Employee costs are. I pay Rob good ##### money. And workers comp isn't cheap.
    Sad that a lot of companies do not keep workers comp on their drivers.

    I could have been complacent and went out and made the $60-80k solo but I took the risk and tried teaming to try and make $125,000+ and it's tough. Hasnt really been worth the risk. I'll either find a dedicated thing or hope the market gets better or I'll go back solo. Either way, I knew the risks and could afford to take them.

    It may still work out, who knows, because guys like Rob are hard to find and I don't want to lose him by letting him go when I might need him to take over a 2nd truck when I get one.
     
    Tug Toy, Bean Jr. and JonJon78 Thank this.
  10. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

    12,647
    25,588
    Nov 23, 2012
    Yukon, OK
    0
    I encourage EVERYONE who is a US citizen to attend a citizenship ceremony for new citizens. If you can have a dry eye after that, then you aren't human.

    I attended the citizenship ceremony for my adopted son. It was freaking amazing. Hundreds of people of all stripes absolutely ecstatic at the moment they became US citizens.

    I doubt many folks born and raised here could pass the citizenship test. If you want to try, it's online. Be prepared to be embarrassed. I helped my son study. That was a wake up call for me.

    Kudos to all new US citizens. You went through a LOT to get here and EARN it.
     
    Shardrk, WI R_Ed, LoJackDatHo and 7 others Thank this.
  11. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

    12,647
    25,588
    Nov 23, 2012
    Yukon, OK
    0
    For anyone that is bemoaning that you are competing against mega carriers...

    ...think outside the box.

    By "the box" in trucking I mean dry van or reefer. If this is what you are pulling, you are competing against the megas.

    Pull anything but a box and you quickly start separating yourself from "mega rates". Start specializing. Pull open deck (flatbed, step deck, drop deck, RGN, etc), tanker, bulk pneumatic, aggregate (straight dump truck, end dump, side dump, bottom dump), etc.

    If anyone is feeling Jonesed out because rates are low and you feel a need to ascribe those rates to megas or foreigners: GET OVER IT. Think outside the box.

    Start looking at opportunities to make good money pulling ANYTHING but a box. Boxes are basically entry level trucking that every training company pulls. Think outside entry level.
     
    Shardrk, Opendeckin, Zigzag777 and 6 others Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.