Mechanic and part time driver possible?

Become a member of www.OOIDA.com which is a business website for owner-operators and small fleet owners.

 

Why not take your mechanic skills to a local dump truck/construction outfit in your area, tell em you wanna learn to drive... Be an extra when a guy doesnt show up or when they need the extra help, etc... Be plenty of work in a gig like that.

 

It would be a better move to take your skills and open up a shop.

 

Here we go,,,again,,it never ends. In a nutshell, one or the other. There are no part time trucking jobs, and repair today is THEEE hottest job, because many simply can't do it themselves, or will in the coming future. Actually, I'm surprised at you, giving what you know about the repair business, then you want to feed right into that,,,with a fleet of trucks yet? ,,sorry, I know you may have "just thought of this", but in the 8 years I've been here, this topic comes up the most often, and rarely ends well. I know a friend, opened a truck shop, almost immediately, he added 6 more doors to the shop. Like taking candy from a baby,,,he said.

 

On the other hand, there’s a lot of Trucking Companies that also do outside work in their Shops. I know a Mechanic/Driver. He had a Shop, 2 other Mechanics, his Own Authority, also ran 3 Trucks, 3 Drivers. Sounds simple enough. He decided to go to work for a Small Fleet. Now He runs the Garage, takes in extra work, makes a good % of the extra. Less headache he says. Smart Guy, could have grown into a Larger Shop/Fleet. Both can be tough Businesses when things are tight. Lousy rates, O/Os tight on cash. Even Large accounts can put the squeeze on you, nit picking over prices/billing. I’ve seen this at different Companies I’ve worked for. Dealing with hired Mechanics is just as bad as Drivers. As far as being a Part time Driver, while running the day to day Operations of a Shop. Sounds like a lot of Irons in the fire. Starting with a Shop, playing the rest by ear. Being flexible, instead of trying to have a rigid Business plan. Too many go into debt, with a fancy plan on paper that never works out. Make the money first, then grow as it becomes possible. Nothing Lost. Relying on others can cause big problems and headaches.

 

Doesn't a class 8 tech need a CDL?

Who does the road testing?

 

You know, you optimists really pixx off us pessimists,,,,,just kidding, I think your advice is always spot on,,