How likely can I find a dedicated route from Nashville TN to Dallas TX?

Ok, thanks for the explanation. I'm telling you man $2,000 a week is thin, really thin.

 

Well, it's true we do a couple of vacations a year. And maybe a couple of nice weekends a year somewhere. Never did that on employee pay. But overall the spending is pretty thrifty.

When I was a new o/o and learning we couldn't even think of even a weekend getaway somewhere. I mean things went wrong and there was a learning curve. The truck ate a lot of money in the beginning until I got things under control. I just wasn't one of those guys that got a truck that was awesome right out the gates. Lucky me. I screwed that up and own it. But that happens more often than not when guys buy a used truck.

Back then that $2,000 went nowhere back then. In the here and now, if I was making $2,000 weekly we would survive. We would slowly bank some. But money would be tight. And a couple of bad weeks in the mix, well, there it goes again. I started picking up wrenches and all sorts of craziness out of necessity, to survive a few years ago. I had to. Because $2,000 a week won't pay many shop bills lol.

I don't know how to put it any plainer. I was hoping some other guys would back me up on this. $2,000 a week is nothing. $2,000 a week is what guys pulling containers net. Or garbage wagons. Successful guys banking good cash, driving nice equipment, replacing it when needed, with a paid for house/farm whatever, that don't have an independently wealthy wife - those guys are not doing that on anything near $2,000 a week....

 

I netted $2,250 this week so far on 14.25 logged hours. Not a good week, got a bunch of other #### to take care of.
@OOwannaBE take a good look at what @rollin coal has to say. For van guys, he is one of the few I see here actually doing it well.

You can make up imaginary scenarios in your mind how you can operate cheaper and have a good life. That is imaginary. You need to make a lot more as an OO to justify it in and of itself, for take home pay. $$$$$$ gets spent every time you turn your head. You have no paid days off, costs go way up- listen to some fella telling you how it costs $0.xx a mile to run and. You met yourself a broke mother####er that has no money.

"I'll give fair rates"
"I'll run more miles for less and be successful"
"It's only this one time I'll ##### myself"
"I can do that cheaper and be successful long term"


You catch yourself saying things like that and you may as well quit: you already failed.

 

If I don't make at least $3500 after fuel, I consider it a bad week

 

Pretty sage advice above.

I look at it through accounting software goggles, on real miles and expenses.

So far, after the company gig - I've failed to self congratulate until the last 2 months, 18 months in.

Over $2/mile TTT ( as I refer to it), for the last 2 months, and . . .

Through the goggles - which, currently is 60/40, I spend 40% in expense - $1.20+/mile away profit to pay tax on.

I'm told if you're pulling over 50% it's good, so I should be impressed, but that's per mile.

So - the fishing story of the week is that I've stayed loaded for 11 days, spent 2 at the house loaded, will return about $4500 to where it SHOULD , if properly accounted for - that is, $500 cash per working day after EVERYTHING is accounted for from gas cap to beer top.

Harder than I normally work - but nothing for some younger kids.

And way harder than some seasoned connected folks.

I digress. And ramble. But sage advice from previous posters that take the time.

 

OOWANNABE are you a W2 or 1099 employee? If W2 and you net $1,000-$1600 a week, I'd stay there. 2k a week isn't much for an O/O. Sure, sometimes you might go weeks without any repairs or issues, but when they hit, that bank account drains fast. It might sound like a lot but as a company driver, you drive and you get paid. If the truck breaks down, worst thing that happens is you're out of work. When you're an O/O and your rig breaks down, you're out of work AND you have huge repairs and maybe also towing bills to cover.

 

I'll back up @rollin coal, $2k/wk and you're better off being a company driver for a good company.

 

Maybe a mail hauler dedicated route.
Does Sadler Bros. Trucking use owner-operators?