Retiring railroader here looking to buy a truck

Have you considered opening a lemonade stand or driving a ice cream truck ...just kidding lol.
The used truck market is very tight right now and you will pay way more for a truck right now if you can even find one.
I'd wait until things cool off to buy .

 

At least you're not a former school teacher and you know what you're getting into.
Money has been good lately but if it is still going to be there once you're ready is hard to tell.
Either way, if you do it, there'll be moments of doubt and regrets intertwined with moments of victory and euphoria.

Hey...you were driving trains Mister...there is something to tell to your grandkids.

 

Since you have some experience.Go flatbed or step, lots of railroad freight, no tarp, no long lines. No lumbers

 

There's companies now that have internet loadboards, you can lease your truck on and just go on the board and pick which load you want to pull. Most of them have their own trailers, or with some you can byot and get a bigger cut.

 

That first part was the joke of the day for me. Way to go with putting laughter in the day

 

Maybe start out as a company driver then move on to ownership? Test the waters, so to speak.

 

All equipment is super high right now not just tractors. It's impossible to find reasonably priced reefer and dry van trailers. In your shoes I would wait for the bust part of the industry cycle to happen then pull the trigger on getting your trucking company up and rolling. That way you can pick up equipment much cheaper.

 

I agree, be an employee for a while until this boom part has passed. Besides, you’ll be considered “inexperienced”, and therefore nigh uninsurable. Get a year or two under your belt on someone else’s dime......

 

If you got a RR retirement check coming every month and enough money to pay cash for a tractor. Id just sit back and go fishing or something .