New want to get my own truck

Your dad is brilliant. And so are you for listening to him. We should all be so smart.

 

You're in Florida, so consider being a company driver for a reefer outfit that will allow your wife to go with you.
Here's one to consider click here > Lessors Inc. | A Full Service Refrigerated Motor Carrier
Wife can ride along.
Hires drivers with 9 mos. experience.
Coast to coast loads.
.

 

Self driving trucks are fake news. In the 1960's Popular Mechanics said we'd all be flying around in George Jetson cars. Self driving trucks are the same science fiction. Never going to happen.

 

Don’t be so sure about that .

 

If you want to stick around closer to home until your wife retires; look at this company:later you can switch to a coast to coast outfit.
Click here > Atlantic Bulk Carrier
Terminals in Pensacola & Mobile.

• Pay increase: Dry Bulk .55 per loaded mile, .55 empty and Liquid Bulk .60 per loaded mile, .60 empty.
• • Sleeper berth pay: $25.00 per night spent in the sleeper berth.

 

Indian River Transport in Winterhaven, FL one to consider for later:

• 95% no-touch freight, just drive
• $72,000 annual earning potential
• $2,500 sign-on bonus
• Excellent home time
• Medical, Dental, and Life insurance available
• 401k Plan with Employer Match
• Paid Vacations
• Free Spouse Rider Program
• Assigned Late-Model Equipment (tractors are 36 months old or newer)
• Weekly Payroll Direct Deposit
• 24-Hour dispatch available to assist you
• Trucks:
  
  • Indian River Transport runs a late model tractor fleet consisting of 600 Peterbilt tractors.
  • All trucks are furnished with refrigerators and premier interior packages, over 70-inch sleepers.
  • All tractors are assigned and are less than 36 months old.

 

Liar. This post angered me so much I almost wrecked my spaceship. I can’t afford the pilotless model

 

Maybe when she retires drive for someone else all over for a while. You’d hate to wreck any type of retirement or savings you may have trying to own the truck. You’ll have less freedom to go where you want but still depending on company will travel the country.

To answer if it makes sense in regards to self driving... companies are buying 10’s of thousands of new trucks, I wouldn’t worry about that in my opinion. Your have other hurdles that are incredibly more concerning.

 

In my opinion, both driving a company truck, or leased to most carriers will be a poor way to what I think of as seeing the country. neither will show you much more than the interstate routes, which is the least desirable part of the country you can possibly see.
Neither will let you spend the time you want where you want, either, very few sights to see in my opinion.
Personally I would stay in a company truck and learn everything about the business I could for at lest the time she has left to retire, then start thinking about a change.
I would be talking to oo's that are leased to companies that you do your own dispatching, that way you can pick your lanes of travel and time between loads.
I did some power only for a little while, it didn't really fit in my program, but it did give me the freedom to park anywhere (within reason) and run around anywhere I wanted to between loads.

As far as how much your income will be, well that is up to you. You can lease out to companies that have a set pay, and just be happy (or not) with what they allow you to make, or go with a self dispatch company and set your own limitations after you learn the ropes.

As far as seeing the country, the ultimate freedom comes from running your own numbers, and I have done it for years. I will get flamed for this, but especially for a new to the business guy, I wouldn't recommend it for several reasons.
One is more start up costs, and it is a long term learning curve that can break a guy pretty easy.
Two is unless you have some good contracts of your own, the actual money that goes in your pocket on average will be no more than leased to a good carrier, when you figure in everything they can offer, compared to what you can get on your own running a one truck company. Many people even seasoned truckers can do better with a good lease than on their own, but do have to follow a few rules.

 

This. So many times, This.

Being an O/O is still running a business. Sounds like you and your wife have some Exp with that, which is a plus for sure, but some of these guys out there who couldn't manage a Pizza Hut think that they can operate a small business like it's nothing.

Also - If you can - Finance a truck on your own. If you can't? Company Driver is the way to go.