How to start out? In my case that is.

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by FordWindsorLife, Sep 8, 2025 at 7:53 PM.

  1. FordWindsorLife

    FordWindsorLife Bobtail Member

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    Honestly, I was trying to avoid all of that. In case the business would go belly up. The bank can't take what I don't own lol.

    Seriously though, I would rather risk it all now when I have hardly anything to risk other than my credit score.
     
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  3. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    Have you priced insurance, or are you looking to lease on to a company?

    What is the revenue vs expenses looking like for both avenues?
     
  4. OldeSkool

    OldeSkool Road Train Member

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    I think too you should stay where you are. I was an owner operator for around 5 years now just a company driver. Don’t plan to do it again. You won’t pay yourself any better, way more headache, and no benefits. You won’t have any depreciation with the old ford, so you’ll pay taxes out the nose unless it breaks down a lot. Insurance will be high. It’s just hardly worth it. But hey I understand the dream. It was mine at one point too. I just realized it wasn’t actually that great.

    Just an idea on taxes, I paid around $15,000 a year for taxes making around $150,000 yearly. That was with fairly good depreciation. Brand new trailer, fairly new truck. Insurance will probably be around $15-20,000 a year.
     
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  5. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    And - $5-$6k a month as a company hand isn’t bad.
     
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  6. FordWindsorLife

    FordWindsorLife Bobtail Member

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    I have not gone that far into it yet, still just baby steps. I was trying to figure out the truck part of it first.
     
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  7. FordWindsorLife

    FordWindsorLife Bobtail Member

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    Its kind of hard to explain, but I am not necessarily doing this for money. Its more of a need in my gut. Look, I am going to die someday, same thing for all of us. I do not want to look back on my life with regret thinking "I wish I would of gone out and get done what I needed to get done". Money's nice, sure. But when I am keeling over in my dying days, my last thoughts are not going to care about the 4k check from Bob, I want to be able to think about all that I had done with my life. Not in a monetary sort of way.

    My Grandpa has farmed his entire life, he is 81 now. Still moves better than most 50 years olds, because he refuses to stop moving. And what he lacks in money, he makes up for it in real to life stories.

    If all it goes belly up I'll get back on top again. Im not just going to wither and die. I may have to be a company man again, but I can at least say I tried.

    If we could shift further discussion to be more about the truck/trailer setup I might end up having to use, I would appreciate that.

    I do appreciate your response by the way, and it has made me think......I am just a hard headed stubborn soul.
     
  8. Star Rider

    Star Rider Road Train Member

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    I say, go for it! (what you wanted to hear)
    Check back in with us in a year.
     
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  9. FordWindsorLife

    FordWindsorLife Bobtail Member

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    That is not at all what I am trying to look for, why the thread went down the spiral of why I shouldn't do it...I honestly have no idea. The entire point of the thread is if I can get into with what I have to try and save some money for newer equipment. It is everybody's else's voices that make it seem like I was asking there opinion if I should get into it at all.

    Im not knocking them, I did appreciate their concern. But now it seems like people are assuming that I am asking if I should try to hotshot at all. And I apologize if I made any notion to have others assume as such. But that is not the case.
    [I did try and edit the original post to hopefully avoid any confusion it may of caused].

    -Cheers!
     
  10. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    I can explain it to you - I just can’t understand it for you.

    Confirmation bias is a wall I can’t break with a thousand sledgehammer blows from my side of the wall.

    Good luck in your endeavors.
     
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  11. OldeSkool

    OldeSkool Road Train Member

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    There’s a hotshot forum on here somewhere that might have more what you’re looking for.

    Nevermind I guess you’re on it. You’re probably better off finding old threads on here from other people. Most of these questions have been answered many times before on here. I found most of my answers by checking out old threads when I was starting out.
     
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