Minimum amount of cash in the bank to start O/O

Actually more like have a part time driver In it.

 

I've got 230K on my current Mack M-Drive auto. The one I test drove 4 yrs ago, the O/O that bought the truck, according to our salesman with Mack, now has 500K on the truck and no trans issues. You really have to turn off any preconceived notions about the thing when you get behind the wheel, and take it for a drive. Talk to a dealer and see if they would let you test drive it bobtail and hooked to a trailer.

 

that Eaton 18 speed auto left such a bad taste in my mouth i have no desire to even try another auto, if i was going to spend the money to buy a bran new truck i would get exactly what i wanted or no deal. it would not be a run of the mill dealer stock truck it would be custom ordered.

 

There is a night and day difference between that Eaton Autoshift and the M-Drive. I've got 1.6 million miles exp. running an Eaton Fuller Autoshift, the first Gens sucked balls, the last one I drove was a 10th Gen. version, much improved, the M-Drive, light years ahead. Something to keep in mind, and as an O/O I'm sure you are aware of this, how the overall truck is equipped makes a world of difference. Once again, this is where in my case, working for a small fleet is nice. We only have 15 trucks, 90% of our loads, we're grossing 75,000 lbs plus. Not to mention, being based on Colo., we run the mountains. My truck is spec'd: 455 hp Mack MP8, 12 spd M-Drive, 3.23 rears. The mistake my boss made, I'm geared too high, my last truck had 3.73 gears, even with an autoshift, it could out pull my current truck off the line. My truck isn't some castrated fleet truck, all the M-Drive features (performance mode, Max braking) I have, I can run 77 mph, not 65 mph like a typical fleet truck. My boss only limits me at 77 because the insurance says so, otherwise, it would be an 80 mph truck. Most of the people I see and hear complain about these trans, are driving stripped down, castrated fleet spec flyers.

The very first M-Drive truck I drove was a factory O/O spec'd truck, 505 hp, double bunk condo, 3.55 gears, 12 spd M-Drive, gov. at 65 mph and turned down to 405 hp. That was how Mack was demoing the truck. The guy that bought it, has it set to 505 hp and 80 mph. Even castrated like it was, I thought it was a great truck, and the trans was a blast to drive.

Here is a write up I did way back in 2011 on a 2012 truck, one of the first M-Drive trucks, and the one I refer to that an O/O now drives.
Truck Review: '12 Mack CXU w/ M-Drive Auto trans

Here is a youtube clip from Mack on the M-Drive, there are actually several videos about this trans.

 

M-Drive is a rebranded Volvo I-Shift. Never driven one but everyone I've ever heard from that has says they are really nice. Even some of them are people who swore they'd never give up rowing gears. I'm one of those. I do like shifting gears. But I sometimes have problems with my joints and clutch knee. Which I'm sure is from driving a truck for almost 20 years and I'm not getting any younger. Whenever I upgrade trucks most likely it will be a Volvo with I-Shift.

 

You sure you're ok today?

 

OK I get it.

I've got macks in the fleet, and I've got both Mdrives and Eatons, plus I have 13/18 speeds. The last truck that I own that I drove was a 2016 mack with an Mdrive and I thought the driver would hate it, he was a 18 speed guy with 1.5M of just driving 18 speeds, he cried about it for a week and then a few weeks passed he called me up to thank me for getting him this, it really is good to drive.

Go figure.

I just ordered a 2017 Pinnacle MP8 and Mdrive highrise. It is being built as we speak.

The two things I am pissed about with mack is they discontinued their bull dog hood ornament that glowed, it wasn't in their catalog but I got a few of them when I went to the factory to see my trucks being built. AND they used to have a Pinnacle model with a sleeper that they sold, it is no longer there and the sales dweeb I was dealing with promised me a few of them but never delivered. He lost my business for that.

 

I love large cars but the practical side of me pulling reefers and vans a hood just doesn't make sense. Plus with my knees and ankles sometimes having to clutch a truck isn't something you look forward to if your left ankle is inflamed. It'll really make you grit your teeth when you see a green light go yellow lol. I drove VNL 670's as a company driver and thought they were good trucks. They sometimes had a check ECU light on in the dash but it didn't derate or anything. Other than that no issues really.

 

He probably finds it very relaxing

 

How do you feel about using a home equity line of credit to finance my business, I can get a line for $75,000,
I was thinking buying used like 2014 freightliner , from Arrow Trucks, for around 50-60k, the reason I say arrow is because they have good warranties, I also know a couple more companies that offer good warranties, and I mean on all the major parts, and even the small stuff like turbos, etc. So If I was to go this route my plan is to finance the truck, with my good credit I can get approved with like $5,000 down, which I don't mind, So figure $5000, down with a truck note around $1400, insurance will depend, but will be cheaper since I plan on leasing my truck onto a carrier.
And fuel and Maintenance will be my only other expenses, besides payingy driver, So I figure with a credit line of $70,000 it's solid enough to hold things together, while revenue is generated, and another advantage is that any income generated after paying my truck, and all expenses,including drivers salary and the equity line back for the amount that I used will be extra income, mainly because I have a day job that allows me to be flexible and pays me enough to cover my living expenses.