Owning own Trailer

my trailer makes more than 4% for me

if i didnt have my own i would be leasing an old pos 45' spring ride for $660 month....i think ill take the payments for my new east beast over that any day

 

For 4%? Probably not. Is that number pretty standard? I was thinking 8% was more common for the increase in percentage for a trailer. At 8% it is well worth it in my opinion. The other factor that you have to keep in mind is that with your own trailer you will be live loading/unloading on every load(no more drop/hooks) if you are at a company which you do drop/hook loads now.

 

I have that same question/dilema on my horizon; here is how I see it.
Does your company use pre-loaded trailers? If so, how often? factor that into your yearly equation on revenue lost.
Does that 4% you give up give you a good trailer? Equal to what you would buy?
Do you intend to not change your need for what type of trailer you will need for the next 5 years? Increased revenue will occur past this point (most trailers are financed at 60 mos, and the weekly payment just about equals the 4% or about $150 a week).
My situation (flatbed, hauling general freight, getting 72% of gross, their trailers, 2007 Reitinours, drop and hook about 20%) will not improve getting my own trailer. I can change companies and get 75%/85% using my own trailer, but only if I can get good consistent freight, or go oversize loads, then get a drop deck/rgn; but then the trailers cost $50,000 and will my increased revenue make that up? How long until ROI? (Return on Investment).
Hope this helps.

 

I leased a tractor to companies' van divisions where they had about seven trailers for every tractor. In those days, there was more dropping and hooking in automotive before all of this "Just In Time" delivery. Those companies also had steel divisions, and those owner-operators received 15% for their trailer, tarps and chains. They often said that the trailer was the profit center and it made more money than the tractor.

 

You are talking a reefer AND a liftgate? absolutely not! not for 4%. To cover the acquisition cost of a trailer like that would take at least 10-12% to even come close to being feasible.

 

Definitely dude, for a reefer w/ a tailgate, they had better give you more than 4%. Or like you said, keep yanking their wagons.

BTW, do you haul flowers/live plants?