for me 5k would not even even come close to covering fuel cost till i got paid. even doing something where you getting paid much quicker than i do 5k will cover fuel for maybe 2 week and that's without a single repair. for repair cost think of what a repair would cost on your 4 wheeler and then add another 0 to it and that's probably about what it will cost on a big truck, something that would cost 50 bucks to fix on a car will probably cost you 500 on a big truck. then the miles you put on repairs will happen, a new to you used truck your likely to find 5k worth in things that need to be changed within the first couple months you start running it even if you thought you went threw everything before you put it on the road.
Ok thanks for all replies. My thought was 5k. Everyone is saying that is not enough. So how much would you experience o/o recommend.
Are you leasing on somewhere or going independent? It would greatly affect how much you'd need. In addition to the liquid capital you have, you also can look at how much you can borrow. Take Landstar for instance. You could lease on and have a couple settlements before they start charging you for anything. They also offer loans. Now I wouldn't recommend getting in the hole. And a truck can eat up $5k real quick. When I got my truck I had about $3k into it real fast. Going in with $5k is a gamble. Your rolling the dice. You can't predict when that gremlin will attack under the hood. I started with $20k, and luckily haven't had any real issues yet. I want about $50k before I pull the trigger on my own numbers. I also want to get a trailer squared away before I fly on my own.
1 year was too long if you asked me. I was ready to go after 6 months. Everyone's different though. I doubled my income overnight, and the only difference was now most the decisions are mine. Yeah, I still yell at my dispatcher sometimes, but I forgive myself pretty quick...
Freight broker here based out of Chicago... considering working direct for a shipper that currently uses CH as their broker ( they tooootttally screw them on rates). I found out through friends that CH makes at least $500 per load from this company. Would drivers be willing to take freight direct from a shipper or is it just easier to use a broker? These are flatbed loads FYI.
Why not start a new thread? 2nd post hijacking?? Lol Depends on who is getting that $500 difference I guess... You could always post good paying freight on another board and watch it get gobbled up. Direct shippers can use the load boards.
