I need some serious advice on what steps after I buy my truck

hootiehoo..... Where are you?

OK! Tell me about your truck. Engine? Horsepower? transmission? rear gear ratio? year? make? model? & tire size?

 

And your going to pay for this truck with your IRA/retirement fund ?

 

Good. You haven't bought a truck yet. Are you still driving for Swift? Your limited experience will hurt you. So I'm hoping your still doing the Swift thing while your looking & learning about trucks... If nothing else, but to build more experience.

Right now, try to stay away from a new truck. Nothing really wrong with them... But don't waste your money on that kind of investment until you have a good grasp on what you are doing.

Look at older trucks. 2003 & newer... 4 to 5 hundred thousand miles as a max. If you buy from a dealer... Request an ecm printout. This will tell you the lifetime fuel mileage & idle time. High idle time & low fuel mileage is a big indicator to walk away.

Now after you bought the truck, you will have to pay the 2290 (heavy highway use tax) to the IRS. It is $550 a year. Due every year in July/August. And can be prorated.

Companies I would recommend

Mercer ---- I'm biased on that one since they are who I'm leased to. They operate on a more or less "Dispatch yourself" program. We are primarily a flatbed/stepdeck company. 10% of our fleet are dry vans. I do not think you will be profitable on the dry van side UNLESS you are capable & willing to run all 48 states. They also require 12 months mininum experience & you will have to have your own trailer. They can lease you a trailer though if needed. Hazmat is not needed.... But a Twic card is required. And I would recommend a doubles endorsment if you want to get onto the UPS & FedEx contracts.


LandStar ---- LandStar & Mercer are very similiar. LandStar is a larger company, so the opportunity to get freight out in the middle of no where may be better. I think they are split 50/50 when it comes to the freight market.... 50% flats/steps & 50% vans. You do need a hazmat there also 12 months recent experience. No trailer required on their dry van side... You can pull theirs.

Forward Air ---- I don't know much about them. I do know they run terminal to terminal freight. I've been told that it is light freight, but not sure. They also require hazmat & 12 months experience & you drag their trailer.

YRC Glenmoore ---- I think they look good. But with the YRC bankruptcy, I'm wondering if Glenmoore will become a stand alone company again. Once again, Hazmat & 12 months experience is required.

Clark Transfer ---- They haul broadway theater shows, movie sets, concerts, and anything to do with show business. I'm looking into them heavily. They don't require hazmat, but they do require you have a passport & you capable of going into Canada. I just looked & they require 3 years recent OTR....




So basicly.... Stick with Swift for now while you read & learn about the O/O side. Look at trucks... Get an idea.... Then when you start approaching that 12 month mark.... Then start getting more serious!

 

Not with only 6 months experience most wont talk to you with out at lease 1 year and some require 2

 

Or if he is going to "go for broke" he could just get his own operating authority and insurance.

Personally if it was me, and I wanted to get my feet wet, I would buy some older tractor for like $10,000 or less and lease on to some intermodal outfit. He might not make much, but it would be a hell of a learning experience, and the financial risk isn't that bad.

I think my late freind Tony Cap owned a intermodal outfit in Ga. His son Tony Jr still owns it as far as I know.

Yep they still own it.

http://www.ctitrans.com/Articles/Article.aspx?id=927



CTI Opens Intermodal Dray Facilities in Atlanta Ga, Cleveland Oh and Jacksonville Fl
Monday, October 16, 2006

CTI is proud to announce the opening of its newest Intermodal Dray Terminals in Atlanta Ga, Cleveland Oh and Jacksonville Fl.

Atlanta - Serves the rail yards in Atlanta as well as the ports of Savannah Ga and Jacksonville Fl.

Contact Atlanta - (404) 766-0221

Cleveland - Serves the ports of Baltimore Md and NY/NJ as well as the rail yards in Cleveland. They can also act as a Midwest CY Yard and Depot for Containers and Rail Equipment.

Contact Cleveland - (216) 486-2720

Jacksonville - Serves the Port of Jacksonville both Imports and Exports.

Contact Jacksonville - (904) 388-8327

Tony was always a good guy, his son always treated me decent too. Tony Sr used to work out in the shop with the mechanics, and run the wrecker almost up to the day he died

 

U. D. A. ............................................................................

 

This is the wrong time to get into business and the wrong industry at that....

Suit yourself but it is very tough out there right now...