I need your help - Thinking of buying a tractor

Yup there sure is, especially these days.

Not sure how your place is laid out, but instead of starting a full blown shop, maybe think about just startin out doing tires or something, and build from there. I know a guy just does used tires, has a beat old building with just a two lane wraparound drive, probably gets a lot of tires from a boneyard but also pays decent for good used tires off the street, more than TA most of the time and sells for less than they do too. Might only make 25 or 50 per tire, charges only 100 for a 10 tire rotation, and is busy enough to keep his six man crew working pretty much all day long, sometimes with a line of several trucks wrapped around the building. Buys centramatics off ebay when he finds them and sells them at a good price, that sort of thing.

Once a setup like that gets humming, maybe adding a mechanic into the mix isnt such a huge leap. Just a thought. Of course he has a central location for dirt cheap in an otherwise run-down area, a half mile off i80 right by Gary, Indiana, exit 15 just past the three truck stops, two truck washes, a chrome shop and a tarp dealer....

 

It’s very difficult to make enough money running locally to pay a decent driver. I’ve owned my own trucks for around 4 years and do consistent local work. The mill would love me to get more trucks, but there just isn’t enough money left by the time you pay a driver. I’m sure you can do it and break even, maybe even make a bit of money, but it will hardly be enough for the headache you go through.

Oh and a couple major expenses you’ve missed are paying workman’s comp and TAXES!!!!!

 

I really like that. Sometimes in recent years I think a little too big and then get overwhelmed by how big of a bite that all would be to chew. Breaking it down more slowly and simply manages the risk and doesn’t seem so overwhelming.

I have a good location but definitely not the perfect layout. And my yard is already bursting at the seems with my own stuff. No room for customer equipment. I’m sure something could be figured out though.