New O/O Here - Seeking Accurate Maint. Figures

In the past maintenance figures could range from $4-5k per year, to 3 or 4 times that in subsequent years. You proposed truck has the full compliment of emissions equipment, so all bets are off. Among other things one of the factors that makes a huge difference is whether you are willing and able to do some, most or all the repairs yourself. If you operate all 48 states you will be dependent on shops, their hourly costs and downtime delays. If you operated within a 500 mile radius of your shop, if you had one, it would be a completely different cost structure
That is why your question simply doesn't have an answer. I used to work for Penske Truck leasing. When we leased a truck with a full service maintenance agreement we charged a set amount per mile. I would contact Penske or Ryder, give them some story about your friend is interested in leasing a truck and inquire what those costs are now. I am betting they are in the $.20-.25 per mile range. That of course doesn't include your loss of downtime, which with a full service lease is taken care of by providing substitute equipment. You may want to consider that.

 

What part of Ohio are you in? Ohio is good for flatbed too.

A lot of people lease on to land star, some like it, some don't. If you haul a step or flat with them you pay monthly at around 700, step is more exspensive, a month but you get 73% of the load.
If you use thier van pool you only get 65%. Someone will correct me on it.

I do tanks and make good money. But I go out for 10 days often. I get 65% and fsc of 19%. Flat is common sense. Tankers you need some training.

 

So much hand holding on this forum. Ridgeline repeats himself so much on this type of info that I dont know how he doesn't tell most of the people asking these questions over and over to get bent.

I have no problem hurting your feelings, and I'll probably get in trouble for it.

You dont know this industry. Ive been in 5yrs and I barely know enough to know that Id most likely fail because of the costs. Have you ever negotiated with a broker? Ever read over and signed a rate con? Know your immediate costs off the top of your head so you know that a load going 557mi pays $x.xx and will cost you $x.xx just to get it there? What happens if you can't get a good paying load out of an area, do you take a low paying load that you lose money on because you can "make it up on the next one?"

Lets talk about that truck you want. Do you know anything about that dd15, the emissions system on it, or any of the other specifics? What happens when that dpf filter plugs up and wont regen correctly, goes into limp mode and you're stuck 600mi from your delivery? Whats your plan? Any idea what a wrecker costs to tow a loaded semi? Then you're stuck at some shop or worse a dealer who is going to nail you for a big $ repair because what else are you gonna do? Oh and I wont even get into that 12.5% interest rate...what a joke.

Want me to keep going? I can easily write enough to make you second guess every thought you've had because I don't care if you fail. Im in this industry to make $ and the less competition the better and I dont even run dry van.

My guess is you've gotten burnt by a mega carrier and you think that you can go out and make it if you just work hard. Yea I had 10yrs of small business experience running excavation equipment and got my lunch ate when I 1st got into trucking as an owner/operator and as a company driver. 5yrs later Im just now carving out something for myself.

My advice, put all your pride aside and figure out how to successfully run a truck on someone elses dime, then look at the numbers and see if you can make it on those #'s.

 

Buy the truck outright even if you get something older. I would buy a pre-emission drivetrain . N14 or s60 12.7 . You won’t have big payments due every si how month for the truck.

 

I bought a dd15 and run it. The i

Lots of people succeed at it and lots fail. Live very cheap don't spend the money. If your engine goes quickly into this, your probably done. If you get 6 months out of it then you should have 30 k sitting in your account. An extra.


Edit
How many OOs does your friend have? Talk to some of them. To find out where things are at.

 

Well of course he has never negotiated with a broker or read & signed a rate con because he’s NEW to the business & that’s why he posted a thread about STARTING a business. Sure there’s A LOT he needs to learn but instead of being a smart ###, just explain to him on how to negotiate & how to read & sign a rate con.

 

Just take everything everyone says as advice. But don’t let it change your mind on anything. Do what you want with the advice. But most of the time you won’t learn until you go through it yourself.
I’m on the same boat as you. I’ve been in the industry for 4 1/2 years & im thinking about going on my own & starting up my own authority

 

Abraham Lincoln wrote a man in capable of failure is in capable of anything.
failure is just a part of life doesn’t mean it’ll always be that way doesn’t mean it’ll happen at all but don’t let it keep you from your dreams !