So guys..... I need to throw one truck over the road while I figure out my oilfield work. I see 1/2 of you are contracting under a company and 1/2 run your own loads. Looking to see pros and cons of each and where I should throw my extra truck. Now I can be super hands on planning loads and managing where the driver goes or I can let it go and have a companies dispatch do it all - I'm fairly easy going. Throw some facts at me now! Notes: - I'm fully insured for literally anything with my own numbers. - Truck will have to have ELOGS for this stuff - I will be either throwing MY flatbed under the truck, using a company trailer or PO
The main factor imo is how much time can you spend dispatching your 2nd truck. How is it going to run? Long trips or short? If you can spend the time every day dealing with brokers and finding good loads that fit your needs, you'll probably be more profitable running your own loads. It can be very time consuming and frustrating at times, but you get more control over your operation. There are plenty of companies that you can lease onto, and they will handle the dispatching. In addition you get discounts on fuel and insurance. They will handle the IFTA reporting, logs, and all permits. You also get your money right away, without having to worry about billing, factoring, or possibly having to chase down a broker to get paid. It will take a little time to get your driver and truck signed on, as both will have to meet the company's requirements, at least a few weeks for any decent company.
If you have the extra time i would try the load boards 1st. Never know, you might find something steady from a broker. If your driver is a go getter that's even better. If I had good driver that also helped keep the truck loaded it'd be well worth it to throw him a few extra %
If you have your own numbers why would you lease your truck on to somewhere and then give them the responsibility of dispatching it? If they dispatch you you don't know if you're going to do poorly or OK or terrible or maybe good one day maybe terrible another day... At least if you're going to lease onto somewhere go someplace you can pick-your-own loads and be in control of your own destiny.
Are you wanting to do this to keep the driver employed? Because 1 truck leased onto a carrier with a driver in it, wont make you very much $. Enough to pay the driver and enough to cover maintenence and small repairs before you can take a cut. Is your driver good enough that you could trust them to learn how to dispatch themselves under your own authority? You pay them a percentage, they learn how to negotiate and that means they and you make more $.
I said 1 truck, but you multiply the revenue by 5 or 10 and then you'll make $. That's why I asked if you are doing this just so the driver has a job.
Volume. Pick a number greater than zero. Now multiply that number by "5 or 10". Is the number bigger now?
Well, just on route back from grabbing these two trucks. First one I’m planning on either doing OTR or local flat bed and the white in rear will be my new oilfield truck. Up to 4 now
