No experience but getting Authority

That is a #### good looking truck for what you paid for it!!!

 

Thanks jarhed. That was pretty much the look on the maiden voyage while the truck dealer's detail job was still fresh LOL. Although I will admit it must've been cared for by it's previous owners. This truck was easily 2x more solid and straight than the 10 others just like it with the same miles.

Speaking of detailing, my service guy lied about the truck wash. I was kind of in a hurry and didn't bother to make a big deal out of it. I've worked with these guys twice before and have a good rapport over the phone. Yesterday I found time to show up in person to pay. Long story short, everything's back together and the shop turned out to be better than I expected. Very clean and well equipped. I dogged them about the wash because I could LOL.

The tire dealer jumped on the trailer tires as soon as they opened and by 9am the truck was on the way to get loaded. Now on the way to Houston with a light load and collect some more insects.

 

First I would like to take the time to thank everyone that has posted here for all the extremely useful information. I have been looking into the industry for around 3 months and running numbers through spreadsheets to figure the worst and best possible scenarios and everything in between. I have seen alot of trucks going very cheap right now because of the new california regulations in 2012 on trucks but after further research into the legislation I have found a loophole. I have been able to find trucks that qualify for my standards (and more importantly that loophole) with a trailer to put on the back for 7-15k. I will be getting my CDL within the next two weeks and have more or less already secured the start-up funding (35-50k). The current plan is to go OTR with my fiance and just live in the truck as we do not have kids and do not own any property. While in the truck she will be my dispatch to keep me loaded with the wheels turning and I will drive. She will also be the buisness accountant and will handle all the financial end of things, she has no equal when it comes to math. I am hoping to have this up and running within the next 2-3 months and am looking for every resource possible to help out. My plan is to get a dry van and run anything it can haul that does not lose money and if all goes well find a second truck, trailer, and driver if she likes the dispatch job. In about 5 years when we decide to have kids I will either hire a driver for the truck or sell it and get out of the buisness. If I already have a second truck and driver I will get a driver and just become the fleet manager with expansion in mind. I welcome any and all critiques and questions, I also welcome comments stating that it will not work as if I cannot come up with a reply to said comments apparently I have not done enough homework. My main reason for doing this is because I like trucking and have always wanted a small buisness, other than that my current job makes 250 a week and I cannot find anything better in the area without extensive further education.

On a side note I just want to put out there that federal EPA estimates gasoline to be in the 2.50 range by 2012-2013 while I don't see that happening I will say I have seen a fair drop in fuel prices in my local area lately.

 

Ever think about being a company driver for 8-12 months before investing all that money? There are a lot of things that you will learn that you won't find on this forum. I think you'll have a MUCH better idea of the variables if you go that route instead. Hold onto your 50k and let it gain a little interest while you are running the country for a short time, then find your truck and trailer and pull the trigger later.

Just my .02

 

I have considered it but have dismissed the idea because I would have a hard time getting hired with my driving record ( 3 speeding tickets since september 90 in 45, 58 in 45 and 82 in 70). Other than that i want to be able to take sarah with me and not have to worry about being stuck sitting in one spot for days unless i want to be. I guess what I am trying to say is that I have looked into both and like the O/O idea much more. I have alot of family and friends that drive so I have been learning from them and I can teach myself pretty much anything in a matter or a few hours. You are not the first one to say to go company first though so I understand what you are saying. Thanks for the relply.

 

You are going to find that you will be limited to a 500 mile radius of your home base by your insurance, and because of your record, your insurance is going to be through the roof......... assuming you can find someone to insure you in a commercial vehicle.

Now, I'm going to say this before anyone else, and I don't want you to take it the wrong way. I'm not trying to be a smart *** but do you really think you need to be driving a 40 ton land barge with a record like that?

 

I do want to point out that all those tickets were before I ever thought about driving a truck. I was driving a third gen camaro for two of them and the only one that was really my fault was the 90 because I was running late for work and there was no traffic on the road I was on so I just opened that V8 up. The 58 was 3 days after I moved from Texas to California and I honestly thought it was a 55 the only speed limit sign was more or less hidden and hard to find. The 82 was when I was back in Texas last christmas and was heading home I was keeping with traffic but I guess my California plates attracted the DPS attention. I have curbed my speeding to more or less none and have way to much respect for a big rig to attempt to drive like that in one. On a side note I learned much of my driving habits from my dad (drove stock car before it was nascar and was OTR for around 20 years) and racing books so I am not just out acting stupid I know how to handle a CAR at high speeds and not to try to handle a TRUCK at high speeds. I understand your concern but trust me when I say I would never endanger anyone elses life (especially my fiance) by attempting to drive a "40 ton land barge" at anything above posted highway speeds. Other than that I dont want to repeat the $891 ticket i got for that 90 one.

 

With rates what they are in CA, no OTR experience and your record - what insurance you can find is going to be limited coverage, very expensive and you are going to have a tough time getting the miles just to meet the insurance overhead.

Over the years I have had people tell me things I did not want to hear. At times I listened and other times I didn't and payed dearly for my arrogance.

This is one of those times in life where past actions are going to dictate what you can do. Being an O/O with all the strikes against you is something you should not do. Give it time and get those tickets off your record.

And if you do not think that these tickets are a big deal then please do not get into this business. You are not mature enough to handle the responsibility that comes with this business.

 

So what I am hearing is that only once when you broke the law was it not out of ignorance but even then you have the skills above and beyond most mortals that even this was not unsafe.

I don't care if Kyle Busch himself says you can driver circles around him. Your attitude shows a lack of maturity. And fortunatly because of being caught on this it will likely keep you from driving a big rig for several years.

 

To add to my last post I will not be staying in California I will be moving back to Texas to start the buisness. Everything is to expensive in California and I don't see how any O/O can really make a decent living out here. I will say that my vehicle insurance before those tickets was roughly 200-300 for 1 85 jeep and rougly 200 for the vehicles I have now. and after I turned 21 even with those tickets I am only paying 160 for 1 85 toyota pickup 1 84 camaro Z28 with 5L and 5SPD trans and 1 89 camaro RS with 5L and auto trans. I am figuring since I turned 21 the insurance companies might be looking at that as a young and dumb type thing since I have had not a single infraction since then. I will however be looking into insurance and getting estimates before I purchase a truck and apply for authority though so i will post here sometime later this week with my results.