My journey so far as a new O/O

It varies. Generally I do Mid West and East coast - Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois (Chicago area mostly), Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Sometimes Maryland.

Amazon usually schedule a 2-day trip. Let's say pickup from Cleveland going to South Jersey, than Baltimore, and back to Cleveland. For me it's usually under 1000 miles for the whole trip. Amazon gives enough time for a fuel stop and lunch break between the runs. Usually it's a round trip but sometime it's one way.

As far as pay, average around $2 / mile. Though I've had some ####ty weeks where I was getting $1.50 / mile. Short runs pay more per mile. Like I've had a few round trips from Hebron KY going to...Hebron KY. Total paid miles - 4 miles. Paid $270. Finished the whole trip in about 40 min. Had a Detroit to Pittsburgh, with deadhead from Cleveland. I forgot the total pay, but it was around $3 / mile with deadhead miles included.

Not exactly great pay, but it's easy work - drop and hook, in and out of the terminals, no waiting for load / unload, trailers in mint condition, everything done through the Amazon Relay app.

I usually send in my paperwork every 2 weeks. On good 2 weeks I'll make $6k-$8k after fuel.

 

I'm back home again, after about month out trucking.

My windshield was smashed by a rock as I was heading home. Yay... And some #### head punctured my tire while my truck was parked a block away from me.

Met up with my mechanic today. We tried to fix the diff lock, and I think we actually did. The switch itself was not working at all. We took off the center console panels and jury rigged the airlines from the 5th wheel slider switch, just to see if the diff lock switch works. And at first it didn't. I think the switch itself was clogged up or blocked with something because after disconnecting the charged up airline, and blowing air all over the switch, it started working. I think. I mean, can't really test it until I get stuck somewhere, but it does send air through, and it sounds like something is happening at the diffs.

Also, diagnosed the engine temp sensor issue. In that it's not the sensor itself, but simply the gauge. It wouldn't go past 200. I looked up the gauges, saw a mechanical gauge and an electric gauge for sale. I have no idea what I have.

Monday I have to get the tire replaced. Later that day I decided to go to a custom shop to change my fat single muffler to a twin-stack straight pipe behind the cab. As well as remove the APU + fan / rad, and remove that cab aero kit. I'm scared to find out how much all of that is going to cost.

As far as money, well, for the 1st two weeks of this work month I made $6k after fuel, after the $1k for cargo insurance and after my company's 10% take. Not bad. But then I got ####ed over the next 2 weeks. Didn't send my paperwork in yet. 1st, I asked my dispatch to hold the loads an let me take care of some minor issues. I had to replace my brake pressure light switch. Bought the switch at a dealer ($70 for a quick connect switch), replaced my self. Easy fix. My AC crapped out again. I was stupid enough to forget to check the fuses. Yep, it was the fuse. Lost a day and half. 2nd, Amazon ####ed up! I got a Pittsburgh load from Detroit, while I was in Cleveland. Paid well enough, even with deadhead bobtailing, still just over $3 / mile. That Detroit Amazon terminal was closed due to power outage for 3 days. And it was the weekend so our Amazon dispatch was out. Spent 2 days at a truck stop waiting for any loads. I got one from Cleveland. That means I had to bobtail back. 400 miles of wasted fuel and tolls and 2 days wasted. 3rd, I asked dispatch to hold the loads again because of a battery issue. My voltage would sometimes drop below 11 Volts. I checked, it was a loose battery terminal. I tightened it but decided to go to a shop anyway to have them remove the APU connections, clean up the connectors (they were rusted and oxidized), and load test the batteries - 2 good, 2 bad; will replace all next week. They also removed a broken side skirt bracket. Aside from testing, I could've done all of that myself. Well, at least they didn't charge that much - $140.

So yeah. Lots of stress this past month. Hence why I'm chugging this fine 15-year old Scotch while I'm home.

 

You might wanna buy a truck and lease it on to a company first. From what I've heard from multiple people, the cargo insurance will be insane for a new owner op with your own authority. I'm paying a $1k a month for cargo insurance through the company I'm leased to, with my own authority it'll be triple or even quadruple that. I called my insurance company to see if they can run a quote for me. Since I don't have my own USDOT number, the only company willing to give an estimate was Progressive, at $54k a year, VS $12k I'm paying now.

 

Holy ####, that's cheap! I'm paying $160 a month for bobtail insurance and company takes $1k off my paycheck for cargo!