making the jump to more than one truck

Everything had been going so well for me up until all this started happening. I mean my first year as an O/O under my belt and I was having a blast. Doing things and making plans to do things that other guys waited years to do.

So talk about preparing to bite off more than I could chew. Watching some serious coin go out with very little coming back in. Even so,.. its peanuts compared to trying to support all of this with another truck and the livelihood of another man and his family and needs. This was a real eye opener for me. Kinda been floating along on cloud 9, making all these plans,.. and nothing like a reality check to bring ya back down to earth.

Its the one thing you can not understand or comprehend as an inexperienced hand with dreams of becoming self employed. This is something that you will only learn through experiencing it. A very humbling experience and very grateful and thankful that I had the foresight to put money away for a rainy day. I have weathered the storm, so to speak. I realize now that I need to bank a lot more money before I even contemplate making the move to buy more trucks.

Hurst

 

at one time I ran 7 trucks doing heavyhaul. out of those 7 I had maybe 4 good drivers and two mechanics that I didn't have to babysit. sold all but mine a few years back. best thing I ever did. marriage is better nerves are better. blood pressure is back to normal. just remember more trucks more revenue more late nights keeping them running, and more stress. and don't even think about driving one yourself all the time. you will be driving a desk more than a truck.

 

I think you will find a lot of O/O that had multiple trucks but found out that babysitting isn't a job for everyone.

 

I farm and custom harvest in the fall. Have 2 older trucks running just in the fall with a couple of part time guys. One newer Pete licensed for Interstate that only I run. Every fall I get to thinking of running the 359 myself and putting someone in the newer rig full time year round. That always changes when I get away from home and see the caliber of "drivers" on the road. I make more $ with two trucks parked 9 months out of the year.

 

Ability to park the truck - is the key... Can't find driver - park, don't like driver - park, business went to ... - sell, and etc. Knew a lot of guys with bank fingers around necks... Paid off truck + at least enough money in the bank for in-frame or used motor - absolute minimums as for me...