Need help and quality advice....

Hi fellow truckers. My name is Dante and I am just getting into the game.Let me start with my back ground. I drove a class B box truck and flat bed with a moffet for a local plumbing company for 5 years and got laid off, after that i went in to real estate until last year, we all know how the housing market is going now, so anyway at the beggining of the year I went back to Truck driving school here in charlotte,nc. I got hired on with KLLM, went thru their orientation, and they were wonderful to me and my trainer was really a great guy but after 2 weeks on the road I realized I couldnt be on the road the 3 to 4 weeks because of my wifes health condition and 2 very young children,its just not worth it to me to abandon them and go over the road. Ive been blessed to have the financial resources to be able to purchase a truck but it seems no comapany will hire you with out 2 yrs experience. Even with your own truck. Ive looked at expediting and would like to maybe be a truck owner and put a team in the trucks to run all they want.Also does anyone know of any truck auctions that you can find decent trucks for a good price.Thanks to anyone having the time to share your experiences, whether it be good or bad, how should I structure my company and what are some good companys to work for or lease to starting out.I dont mind driving at all,actually I luv it just not being out OTR...maybe 3or4 days at a time. I live here in Charlotte NC but we have a Home in Columbia SC also.If someone knows of any companys in NC/SC,im all ears...Ive heard there are container companys.Does anyone know any good ones that would hire me or let me lease on. I have no criminal record no accidents for 6 yrs and it was on a motorcycle.thanks so much yall...

 

I'm near you and had the same problem with experience requirements. If you can afford to run on your own authority then all that goes away, you are assuming your own liability. You could then pull for just about anyone or find your own loads. Check out Economytransportgroup there off 77 and ask for John. They have a bunch of trucks and a hard time unloading any of them in this economy.

Just to give you an idea of the deals to be had, my truck had $40k on the window and I got it for $25k.

 

I dont want to seem like a dummy, but what is running under my own autority mean. Im originaly from the coastal area and tried to find out about getting my twic card, is that about the same? Are the cost greater running under your own authority? Thanks so much,im gonna go to the dealer you told me about tommorow for sure....

 

If you don't know what "own authority" is, you are setting yourself up to get taken big time! There is so much more to this industry than just knowing how to drive the rigs..insurance, billing, permits, how to spot a shady deal, hiring DEPENDABLE drivers, communications, highway use fees....

You need to first learn about the industry, do some study and research, if not, I will PM you my address, you can just mail the check each month, at least you will know who you sent it to as you throw $$$$ out the window>

Sorry to sound harsh, but thems the facts, just the facts!

 

Thanks for the advice, i approach each and every major decision with the utmost caution, i asked for any advice and I thank you for it.. whether its sugar coated or harsh I need it.. you are right about getting got in the industry, ive been reading this forum so im more cautious than ever. once thank you,oh your checks in the mail...lol

 

Two main ways to run your own truck. Under another company's authority (leasing on), in which case they provide your tags and insurance as well as loads, and then there is under your own authority in which case you are a motor carrier just the same as Werner or anyone else. Authority itself is not expensive, $300. But a 48-state tag is $2k to $2.5k a year, insurance is $6k-8K a year (25% down) so you're looking at at least another $6k startup expense. Plus there's $550/year road tax and a slew of other smaller expenses such as UCR $40/year, LLC or Corp filing, etc. (there IS more).

BUT, you can get as much as 90% of the load pay vs. 65 or 70% of load pay when you are leased on. So if you are disciplined with money and have some to start you can do as well or better.

There are a million questions to ask from here on. I asked them all and got a wide variety of responses as well. The people talking you out of it are doing you a service as well. It's never as easy or as good as the pen to paper makes it sound.

 

This link will explain authority . http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration-licensing/online-registration/onlineregdescription.htm .Are the costs greater ? Best answered this way . If you have your own authority you have to pay for your own insurance and find your own loads . If you're leased to a carrier you use their insurance and they find the loads . They take a percentage for this . If you can find good paying rates on your own your own authority may be better . For many it's well worth paying a carrier to find the loads and handle the permits , ifta filing , etc .
Before you buy a truck make sure you know the requirements of the carrier you may lease on with .

 

Dang I think Rick got some this week!

That was a pretty nice answer considering lol...

 

Once again guys thanks so much for the advice makes so much more sense now. What do you guys think of the expediting industry, landstar,panther....I called both of them and they said for me to lease with them even with my own truck they said I needed 1 yr experience and for class b would need to have driven within the last 3 yrs...Thats when she said I might could be a owner of the truck and just put a team in it, she also said they had no age restrictions on equipment, just as long as its DOT certified....Thanks guys...I have to be honest this post is more info than I learned about the business in school...more than knowing how to drive it, Once again thanks for your input, I personaly dont know too many O/O and this is like gold to me..

 

The standard agrement with fleet owners and drivers in expedite is 60/40 . The drivers get 60% of the revenue and they pay the fuel . It's best to get a husband/wife team . That way they don't have 2 locations for home time and only 1 family with weddings , birthdays , etc . Also the pay might be sufficient for a husband and wife but not 2 drivers with seperate households .
Check the forum classifieds here . Fyda Freighliner has a used KW expedite truck .