I need some advice!!!!

I'd get my experience at a starter company. Stay there for a year or two then go drive your brothers truck. I would personally buy a van trailer, get your own rights, and get on the broker websites and find your own loads. Don't pull anything under $2 a mile. There's lots of loads out there that pay that. Also, only haul loads the mega carriers have posted. Some of the "come and go" companies will not pay you! If you run 3000 miles in a week pulling 2$ per mile loads, you'll have 6K in that week. You'll make a pretty good living and there's no way you'll fail O/Oing that way.

 

I dont know how you are with money man but if you wanna be an o/o you HAVE to be good with it. At first i was with all the excellent advice here.. you start off in that SWEET truck youre gonna wear it out, damage it etc. Better to train at a starter co etc. Then i realised.
Newbie co pay: 600-800 a week if you work HARD and are one of the 10% who make it 6 months (something like 1% of starting drivers are still driving after 2 years).
You're someones ##### (you are LOW man on the totem pole) and you wont see home much even with Excellent companies.

Leased o/o: 1000-2000 a week or more. You arrange your hometime and decide where you go even when youre not home. Pride in truck and job. Independance. You are high man on the totem pole at every company you ever go to.

That truck is Sweet man even if it is old. You could sell it but you will not get much for a truck that old, though the buyer will be happy happy.

I'd suggest paying for your own training. ASU in arkansas used to charge 2.5k plus pocket change for the hotel (like 150 for the whole course). EXCELLENt school. 4 -6 week course. Dale is a right wing redneck idiot politically but he' loves trucking, is principled and runs an awesome school.
Then sign on somewhere like CRST Malone or any o/o company with a GOOD rep and be absolutely honest about your plan. A good company will absolutely love you coming on. Insurance is the only reason they wouldnt be happy to have you. In fact i'd ASK them to send you out with a trainer for a month at least beforer you take your first load. That way you have all the advantages and none of the disadvantages.

Good luck please let us know how it goes. and man i envy you that free truck

 

I definetly don't suggest you just let the truck sit for 12-36 mo's. I agree with others that say to start, move and keep maintained, on a regular basis.

Moving forward, a college is a great place to get your CDL. My wife went to UT of chattanooga. It cost $1950 or something close to that and, she didn't pay but $150 because of the company we were going to. Anyway, Maverick would be a good company, as well as TMC. Both take students and if FlatBedding is what you want to do than no sense in waisting time with Van, Reefer, or anything else, other thatn FlatBed. The rest is truely up to you brother.

If you are the type of man that believes he can, in time, accomplish anything possible than, it is up to you how long it takes before you feel you are experienced enough to take your truck to another company. Save as much money as you can, while you are gaining the experience to lease. CRST Malone takes contractors with as little as 6mo's exp. I don't advocate that but, just putting it out there.

Like I said, its up to you, on how, when, where, who and what.

Wish you the best and keep us updated.

 

You can make it work, only if you work my friend. Haveing a truck like you have, is a FANTASTIC piece of the pie to have, thats for sure. That being said, you could potentially loose it all in a short period of time my friend, even with a truck paid for. I don't feel that will happen to you and I certainly don't want it to happen. Research, research, reserch and more research, is the key to your survivlal and, hard old fashion work!

 

what school did you decide to go with?