How did you get started

First trucking job and first truck, just fell into both. Different decades though.
1987 moved to Alberta, stopped in my brother's work to visit. Walked in office, owner of trucking company saw me. Says "you must be the new guy", threw me a set of keys, said go grab that truck and off you go. I said sure thing. Worked there a year.
2003 friends of mine co-signed a truck lease through Freightliner for a cousin that was falling behind, then had a heart attack. Offered me the truck, just took over the payments. Only had six months left on lease then the buy out.

 

There isn't nearly enough of that going around any more. Every now and then I throw a road block right in front of my 17 year old son and say "figure it out". He'll appreciate it one day.


I went to work for a shipping company at 19 and ran every machine there. Started on a tug, spent lots of time working aircraft loaders, forklifts, all the aircraft support equipment. Loved it. Eventually got in to a 15 or so year stretch in a delivery van. I got burnt out on being a number. I was ready to quit and decided to take a part time night gig in a big truck that opened up just to try it out before I quit. I loved it.

I drove that company day cab for about 8 years and then got burnt out again so here I am on my own now.

 

I have no idea what 'easy' would even look like..I've been fortunate, or lucky, a few times but nothing has ever been easy. One thing I CAN tell you is, anytime you see a gift horse in this business you'd better #### sure look it in the mouth. What you dont know and what you cant see may very well break you out here.

 

Does anyone know the reason why truck sale location do not accept credit card or debit card as a form of payment to buy a truck but you can a car?

 

Why would you want to pay a high interest loan with a higher interest loan?

 

Ohhhh, how did I buy my own truck?

I saw a truck I liked back when the economy was bad in 2008, gave the guy my number and told him if he ever wanted to sell, to call me. Well, he was way behind on payments and he called me. He wanted $3000 down and take over everything. However, in order to take over, I had to pay $4000 that he was behind. The driver wanted $3000 to walk away. The truck dealer said screw him, $4000 down and $800/month no balloon. $800 a month? No balloon payment? G-R-A-V-Y.

"Why THAT truck, Six?"

I was working in Canada at the time. The truck was Canadian spec'd. Had the sleeper I wanted, the engine I wanted, the transmission, and the rears and gear ratio. So, it was old, so what? I didn't buy a truck for resale value, I bought the truck that could do the job I needed it to do. If you are working in Canada, you buy a Canadian spec'd truck.

Things change, however. By the beginning of 2009, the job in Canada ended and I started pulling superloads. Popped the engine. Built the engine, went from 475 to a 625 tune, boosting 40 psi barefoot. Got a boost controller on board that has, so far boosted to 60 psi (stage 2 and there are 4 more stages), but I don't like doing that. She had the tendency to pop boost hoses or even the intercooler. Had to upgrade radiator and clutch. Went from the big 13 speed to a small 18 speed and the 18 grenaded underneath a superload. $$$$$$ Had to buy the strongest transmission made and a custom clutch. Then you will start flying up hills and grades and burn up your rears.

THEREFORE, may I recommend that whatever truck you buy, make sure that it has the full gauge package. pay close attention to your gauges while you drive. Those axle temp and transmission temp gauges can save you tens of thousands of dollars.

 

Been driving a truck and trailer combo since I was 15 . Worked for my Uncle pulling a 3/4 ton and 20 ft trailer hauling pallets. By 18 I had a CdL and was driving a 1 ton and 40 ft goose. I lost my CDL but continued to drive truck trailer combos and box trucks for the next 18yrs . By than I had 2 straight trucks and 3 dually and Various cargo trailers , I had a Moving Company for 5 yrs than decided to get my CDL again . Sold all my equipment and sold my company , worked for a mega for 3 months than decided to get my own truck and my Authority. Took a chunk of money from the sale of my previous company and now I'm full time one man operation , trailer got paid off now the trucks almost paid off going into year 4 .

 

Debit card should be fine, that’s cash directly from your account. If they feel something is shady or not adding up, then just go and pull the cash out of your account. Once you show up with cash that tends to fast track everything and put all their concerns in the rear view.
As for credit cards, most dealers won’t sell on unsecured debt. They are on the hook if card is stolen.

 

Got my CDL in my late late 20’s to try and get into the oilfield, which was booming at the time. Having no experience, I quickly found out no one would hire me. Wife put a post on FB and a friend of hers from high school reached out to her and ended up helping me get a job flat-bedding and rigging for a crane company. Stayed there for about a year before getting me certs and becoming a crane operator. Fast forward about 7 years, and many companies, industries, and business relationships later, I got the opportunity to start my own crane business with guaranteed work and took it. Got a couple cranes billing 24/7 for the last year and business has been great.

My main focus is smaller crawler cranes and I got tired of paying other trucking companies to move them, so I started looking for trucks figuring it’s a win/win if I am essentially paying myself to move them instead. Found a truck and put a deposit on it and scheduled a flight to go get it. The day I fly up to get it the stock market crashes and oil prices go to ####...I pulled the trigger anyways as it was a unicorn of a truck and would have been super hard to find another like it. Drove it back and put it in the shop For a straight truck to 5th wheel conversion and paint.

With the oil crash we had to drop one crane but are fortunate enough to still have one running 24/7 until at least mid June. Needless to say my business partner and I are pinching pennies, but we will be fine. May have to take a break, but will come back when the oil does...likely with even more cranes. We fired up another business a couple months ago and the a MC authority is already in the works.

Partner is re-entering the wind business so I will be moving all his loads, may expand our business into wind as well, but still not sure. Worst case I know enough people locally to stay busy a few days a week with the truck once it’s done, so all in all I’m not too worried and would be nice to be home every night for a while at least.

 

It is because the credit card holder can dispute the charges and that holds the money for weeks if not months.

Not only that it is stupid to buy a truck on a credit card without having an established business behind it, talk about a way to fly into a failure.