Kevin Rutherford..

My whole 30+ years in this industry, I have only owned big hood petes. My business decisions have allowed me to enjoy a newer paid for house with plenty of room for truck and trailer. That classic hood I drive around in has been paid for, for years. My aluminum spread axle flat is paid for. My F250 super duty is paid for. My wife's Toyota is paid for. and we have a good bit of money in the bank.

My household has never had any other income. This was done as a one truck owner operator leased to a couple different carriers, dragging a flatbed all over the country.

You have to make a lot of good business decisions to be a success in this industry. A lot of people go broke trucking. But Mr. KB3MMX, when you see me in my long hood Pete looking freaking awesome all fixed up with the chrome, bumpers, stacks, etc,etc, you are looking at a very successful owner operator.

There are a lot of successful owner operators that enjoy coming out of a truck stop and seeing their beautiful hood sitting over there. Shippers compliment us on our trucks. Receiver compliment us. The general public will come up to us and compliment us.

Some of us take an extreme amount of pride in our equipment, that is only one of many thousands of business decisions that have to be made. If I made 7.5MPG I would have more money, but success is how happy you are.

 

This is an awesome post!!!!!!

It should be saved at the top of this section for all to see.

 

Exactly I do what little I do because I like my old pieced together classic truck, if I was made to give it up and drive a bigheaded aero truck I would quit.

 

In the 70's I worked on a family Drilling Rig when not in school.
The Bucyrus-Erie 21W I cut my teeth on was from the 1940's and all friction drive, no clutches. The truck was a 1960 International B170, always repainted every so many years, and new Babbitt bearings poured when needed. Although it was old it was always complimented because it was well taking care of. Other drillers had rigs looking like scrap yard material, real pretty set up next to a new house drilling. Enjoyed your post.

 

success is much more than who gets the best fuel mileage.

 

While I agree with you completely here, people do have to understand that they give up some money for the big hood. It's a personal decision. Nothing wrong with that if you account for it. No different than me only running 50k miles a year to spend more time at home with my family. obviously I'm leaving money on the table to do that.

The guys I get a laugh at are the ones that seem to have convinced themselves that their hood doesn't cost them any extra money, or even worse, they think it makes them money. Guess the laws of physics don't apply to them?

 

were on the same page spyder I agree 100%

 

It is funny to read your comment 2 years later after the 34 hour limitations were repealed. What would be your objection now?