How long are you on the road for???

own authority

 

I would never have it any other way, my authority , truck, trailer and I do things MY way... I'm out anywhere from 3-30 days depends how lazy I'm feeling .

 

3 weeks out. 6- 10 days will make it hard to cover fuel and overhead.i recently sold my truck and flatbed and went to work for small specialized company and now home every other weekend.

 

How hard is it to get financing ? It would take a pretty good chunk for truck/trailer and etc... I know it can take anywhere's from a few weeks,to months to get paid. Lease opportunities are good for the company, not the driver ( O/O wannabe ). I might have 50k in equity on the house.

 

What kind of trailer you wanting to pull? Personally, I would save you some money before you jump into it, with the way rates are right now paying a Truck and Trailer note would be rough. Depending on what you are looking at getting into, rates arent that great right now. There is mixed opinions on how well freight rates will be this year, IMO the way it is looking we will be LUCKY to get some decent rates this year. IMO it will be next year before we see good rates again. Instead of waiting to get paid by brokers use a factoring company and get your money same day you send your bills in. They take a cut usually 2% to 5% of the linehaul. Wouldnt do a lease, IMO they are BS.

Alot of guys get excited and go out and buy more equipment than they can handle and it bites them in the #####. I say save up a big down payment so your truck note isnt as bad!

 

Can't you sign up for a load board without authority ?

I signed up for ITS once, while leased to a small company.

Some years ago so I don't remember exactly what was required.

 

A franchise really isn't that much of a different business model than a guy who owns a truck leasing onto a carrier.

 

Leave Tuesday morning, home Sunday morning

 

18-25 days out.....whenever I get home, I stay until the following Monday, then head out and do it all over. Never go home for less than 3 days (3 WHOLE days off)

I spent many years running for companies that got me home every weekend....by Saturday morning anyway...then back out Sunday afternoon or Monday morning. For me, I'd rather have quality home time. Now it feels like I get a one week vacation EVERY month. Even my wife likes this much better. Making the switch last year to Landstar gave me the flexibilty I've been wanting for years.