Im new and don't know what to doooooo-JD

Canned Spam · Oct 21, 2015

If I had a job making that kinda money, no way would I have ever even considered getting into trucking.

FozzyNOK · Oct 21, 2015

Get laid off.. got on unemployment through most or all of the winter.... then if you just HAVE to.. have them pay for the school and get into this mess.. DO NOT buy a truck until you have at least 5 years in the industry.. DO NOT!!!

tucker · Oct 21, 2015

Jubal3 said: ↑

Quitting a 130k a year job to work at at most a 65k per year job your first year, where you will virtually be gone that entire first year doesn't seem like a smart move.

Moving to O/O and starting your own company with $25k savings and no experience in the industry? BAD idea.

Owning a couple of trucks and really getting that ball rolling is really tough, will keep you on the road 24/7/365 for a couple of years AT LEAST. It can certainly be done, but it's a high-risk, medium-reward proposition. If you pull it off, great. But the sides of the road are littered with would-be trucking magnates.

Just for starters, you'll need a bare minimum of $50k cash to get started so you have enough reserves to deal with major equipment issues as well as buying the first truck, paying the taxes, licences, etc.

If the plan is to lease on with a company that could save you some money, but you have to know the company you're signing on with.

Everyone I've talked with says to do at LEAST a year working as a company driver. That means at best you'll make $65k that first year, and from my own experience, chasing that paycheck usually means ZERO hometime for a year. I'm talking literally 5 days every two months.

If you want to be home about every weekend for 1.5 days, your income will average bout $900 a week at best unless you're incredibly lucky. (I've been at it 6 months and I have a local job making 1100-1300 a week which I only got because I know someone at the company and they're desperate). Working OTR I made a bit more, but like I said, FORGET time off. You can chase money or home-time, but very rarely both as a new driver.

Look long and hard at this. I know you said you've done a lot of research, so there's a start. Just make sure you have your eyes wide-open. If I was 20 years younger, starting my own company starting with one truck would be sometthing I'd pursue in about a year or so. At my age, it doesn't make sense for me (for now).

Meanwhile, you're used to 130k. How are you planning on pying your bills AND saving money making $65k a year? I predict that a 50% pay cut is already going to hurt a LOT. Saving up another $15-25k? Unless your wife gets a job that pays all the day-to-day bills, not going to happen. And seriously, starting out without that cash cushion in case things go wrong could cause financial disaster with one breakdown.

I was in a KW shop a few weeks ago and watched a guy get told his repair was going to be $17k. I thought he was going to break into tears on the spot. He just walked out because he did'nt have it and he was suddenly unemployed owning a truck that didn't work.

Opened my eyes a lot. Think about that. If you can't handle that kind of unpredictable, unexpected expense without going into hawk up to your eyeballs, being an O/O is not something you're ready for, especially with a couple of kids to look out for.

You can make a decent living driving truck. The dues you'll have to pay will be trucking school and a year as a company slave and gone a LOT, or home a lot at crappy wages.

Think about this a lot and talk to your wife about the prospect of only being home a few days every couple of months. No job is worth a marriage. If you've done all of the above and make this happen, my hat is off to you. And I wish you luck, whatever. Just make sure you aren't neglecting the potential disasters, because they DO happen.
Click to expand...

Great post. Deserves more than a thanks

59EX · Oct 21, 2015

It's amazing how people can make 130K and not have any common sense...

Gypsy27 · Oct 21, 2015

Am I correct that you make 130k and only work 6 months out of the year. 28 days on/28 days off?

So you want to lose half your paycheck and work twice as much? Basically earning 4 times less for your time while giving up 6 months of home time.

Wow, thats crazy.

mountaingote · Oct 21, 2015

I've never worked on a rig, but I've been around them since forever in various capacities, and I would waaay rather drive a truck. Oilfield sucks, straight up. No ifs, ands, or buts.

lots of character · Oct 21, 2015

Y'all are missing the point.

He's gonna do whatever the #### he wants regardless of what any of you say.

He wants to buy a truck? #### it, give him good suggestions.

Either he will go belly up, living on food stamps and unemployment

OR

He will fight it out and survive.

Gypsy27 · Oct 21, 2015

mountaingote said: ↑

I've never worked on a rig, but I've been around them since forever in various capacities, and I would waaay rather drive a truck. Oilfield sucks, straight up. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Click to expand...

It has to suck if it takes 130k to get someone to work for 6 months.

mountaingote · Oct 21, 2015

If he already has his mind made up, why did he ask the question?

Flipflops · Oct 21, 2015

From my understanding you basically want to have your own little fleet and be a small carrier.

Yes you can do it but right now if you're planning on running dry can or reefer or flatbed it will be a struggle. Especially not having any connections. Personal advice in your shoes I would get a CDL if you don't already have one, and find a good smaller company. Dive for them saving more money for next few months. I wouldn't do a lease purchase deal. If the market picks up you might have a higher chance of reaching your goal. It's fully doable just takes patience and research with a lot of work effort on business and getting your hands dirty at the same time when you begin.

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