I have decided to explore o/o through Crete / Shaffer.

Firstly, I am a 47 year old driver with 2.75 total years of driving experience. 1.25 years with Stevens Transport and 1.5 years with Shaffer (Crete.)

The first thing I did after deciding to look closely at the idea was verify that I can stay on my current account, which is getting me 3000-3500 miles per week. The pay for an o/o on the account is between 1.04 and 1.09 per practical mile. Current fuel surcharge of .31 per loaded mile.

For a long time I was thinking about trying to get a 'better' truck than the one I am driving now, but, honestly, the 2016 Freightliner I am in has 405k miles, and still gets the same fuel economy as it did 220k miles ago when I got into it. So I have asked for Crete to price the truck for me to buy it. We shall see what number they come up with, then I will check the number against similar vehicles in a couple used truck magazines.

If the price is decent, I will take the truck to a Freightliner dealer and ask them to verify that all recall service, if any, has been performed on it. I will also have an oil analysis done, and spend a few hundred bucks on a diagnosis and inspection.

While this is happening, Crete will be enrolling me in an o/o class to explain their program. I can take the class without a commitment to becoming an o/o with Crete.

I have verified that Crete has no issues with me modifying the truck to have an APU. I keep my chains in front of my passenger seat anyway. That's for the future though, after the truck is paid off.

If I buy it, the truck will retain roughly 100k miles of factory warrantee, and there will also be a 250k mile power train warrantee added to the truck.

I have been planning to save up and pay cash for a truck, but have decided to explore financing part of it. I have no debt, over 20k in the bank, and 10k in available credit on zero-balance cards.

I will likely put 10k down in order to secure better financing, which will leave me 10k cash and 10k credit to work with while the truck is under factory warantee.

I have verified that the basic Crete o/o program requires that drivers only take company loads. This is a little worrisome, but at the same time, I won't have to deal with brokers and public load boards. Perhaps after the truck is paid off, I might consider taking more responsibility on myself.

I will post more as I learn more, and as I make discoveries or decisions.

 

I do not have all the details yet. Several things might influence my decision. For example:

Do I get fuel cheaper through Crete?

What about tires and A/B service maintenance?

What will my insurance costs be?

Who insures the loads? I am hauling them, but they are in Crete/Shaffer trailers.

That's a sample of the questions I currently know to ask.

It is entirely possible that I will go to the Crete o/o class and walk away deciding to stay a company driver.

This thread is going to start as a rough description of my decision-making process leading to a decision about becoming an o/o. If I DO choose to become an o/o then I will create a new thread.

 

I no longer own a home, but I am based out of the Atlantahell area.

I currently am on an account that runs 99% drop and hook loads between GA, IL, and PA.

 

Thanks! I had not considered the possibility of trailer pool costs, and insurance deductibles are definitely worth keeping as a separate item for consideration.