Saying "No"

Not really, your probably getting a good price for a couple reasons. 1. Your fleet gets big discounts on trucks. 2. They planned to make their money off your low pay and high interest.

Mine are pretty basic and frankly only have bunk heaters, no A/C APU.

Nice radio and a swivel seat never made anyone anymore money. ;]

Edit: previous trucks I had, had apu but they broke down so often it wasn't worth it end of the day. So, I don't worry about it too much now. Fuel is cheap anyway.

 

@Roteck There are other options as well. I am leased on with a local guy. He only has 4 of his own trucks and a couple of guys with there own trucks. His yard is just about 6 miles from my house. He gets %10 of the gross, $190.00 per week for cargo and GL insurance. Paid every Friday for the previous weeks work. I have my own plate at about $1500 a year and 2290 for $550 a year. My carrier takes care of filing my IFTA. I bought my trailer from him directly. My loaded miles is $2.89 mile gross with a little over %20 DH. So like $2.34 all miles gross. So subtract %10 and $190.00 a week and you get where I'm at. On track for right at $200k gross and less than 100k miles this year. Home most weekends and have taken 5 weeks at home (mostly working on my OLD truck) so far this year. This is for general flatbed work.

I have a NASTIC fuel card and average $2.18 a gallon so far this year. I get a deal on tires from a local tire wholesaler (firestone steer tires $600 for pair) and a good discount on parts through a dealer (truck battery is $85) my carrier uses.

These are my numbers and not great numbers compared to most other guys on here I'm sure but, it's only starting my second year on my own. It's almost %90 loadboard freight with a few of his direct coustemer thrown in. Yes I work hard during the week but no harder than most.

The best part is he is a local guy involved in my local community and uses the same local bank I do. I know is wife, kids and grandkids. His daughter is our family doctor even. I did not even know this guy or company 3 years ago. I only moved to this state 5 years ago.

My point is there are thousands of these family companies out there in the country like @JL of Indiana company sounds like. I worked for my guy driving his truck first (yes 1099) but he has helped me in ways I can't even count.

SOME (not ALL) of these small companies are always looking for intelligent, hard working drivers to bring up through the ranks to an O/O. They won't DO it for you but, can help people that want to help themselves.

Landstar sounds like a good option but it's not the only option if your not accepted.

Agian, I posts this so you can see what's possible out here. You can compare to the other numbers you know and see if it makes sense to you. I am just an average hard working guy. Last year (my first) was $1.80 per all miles and similar DH but more miles per week.

Good luck in your adventure.

 

He looking for any O/O in Iowa?

 

No but we are only over in Illinois. Lol