New Authority, advice on booking loads?

Okay,

Now ask yourself if you were the driver working 6-7 days a weeks what you would expect to make? Remove yourself from the payments and the operating cost because if you are just the driver you normally have zero sympathy for those who are. You need to pay for your home, car, groceries and diapers. How much would you want to make to make an honest living? Then look at what a 2 year driver is making at any number of companies out there.

Don’t forget maintenance days off, breakdowns, parts that are hard to get, driver getting sick, lockdowns, shutouts, etc. when you calculate how many days a week you think you will run. I’ll give you an example. Last year when the Texas freeze out happened. I had come off the road and put the truck down for some maintenance (Air Compressor) went and bought the compressor (I know you say whoever your leasing truck from will do it but doesn’t mean they won’t encounter an act of nature or whatever) I pulled the compressor off, and already thought I would need to replace a few air lines and oil line and coolant lines behind it. Well after I get it off Boom… ice storm. I am not sitting here trying to get a few parts I needed and everyone was closed. Even after the roads were dry I could not get a couple parts. I had to sit there for almost a week without the parts. That really sucked. Luckily, none of them needed to be ordered. They were in stock but the business was closed. If Covid has not taught me anything it has taught me to a ticipate

What benefits would you offer?

How many years of experience would you expect and more importantly what would your insurance agent expect?

Have you checked the price of insurance?

Will this be a venture in power only? Or will you have to buy a trailer?

So after the $3910 a month for truck, (assuming you do power only and no trailer payment

Any good drive who can pass insurance screening and doesn’t wreck your stuff would be approx $80k so about $1538 a weeks = $6152 a month

$6152 + $3910 = $10062.00 a month….

What about fuel? I bought $7900 in fuel last quarter and I am a light runner. I’m so far out of super trucker status I can’t even but a flannel shirt.

Let’s say you run 9k a month and at 7 MPG = approx 1286 gl of fuel. at $3.00 a gallon that is approx. $3858 a month

So we are up to $13920 a month….

Again what is your insurance quote?

Don’t forget other misc cost and supplies.

You calculate $4200 a week = $16800 a month

$16800 - $13920 = $2880

What are your insurance cost?

I’m not trying to discourage you. But nothing ever goes as planned. Things happen. You need a big cushion. That is a huge lease payment. Huge, and after a few years you have no equity.

Disclaimer… that is very fuzzy math. I spent all of a few minutes typing this up. If you find a mistake in your favor congrats. I am busy today so I can’t spend much time on it but best of luck. There are thousands of people every day making it as owner operators. You have to really think about it before you do it.

 

I am glad I bought the truck before becoming a member here.
Was there ever been a single poster - a new member - that was ever encouraged here?
On the other hand, those who do want do it and know something about it, they don't need hear it here.

 

Sounds like you've got all the answer so just go ahead and more forward.

Your gonna make lots of money!!!!

 

I’m not trying to discourage anyone. I just feel sometimes you have to step back and hear a different prospective than what is sometimes said. I definitely agree with you. There are a lot who think only they have the gumption etc. Not true.

I was discouraged but I also had a couple people give me real answers and actually reach out and help. Tremendous help!

So hopefully the OP understands that. There are many many O/O out here making it and not every one is a unicorn. I hope he has 10 trucks rolling in a year. Some don’t think about the cost.

 

No , but is not unusual, have heard of drivers selling beer out of the trailer