Should I buy a truck and put a driver in it?

My opinion is it's kind of tough with having a driver in the truck.

First of all it is hard to find drivers. Second, at least for some peroid of time, you should run your own truck and see how everything is working out and what your exact expenses are, and then you can see whether you can afford a driver or not.

I would love to be in a situation that I was retired with a pension and I was doing something else to make money.

If I was situated like that I would go buy real estate, hands down. The trucking business is much more of a gamble that many many people lose, especially when they hire drivers right off the bat and you're not 100% on top of things because they're doing something else.

I'm not suggesting that you don't have the abilities or that you can't multi-task, it's just that Trucking is it risky business in so many ways that whatever you would spend to get situated with a truck trailer and insurance, would be so much better spent just investing in real estate.

If I was in your situation like that, I would buy real estate, maybe day trade, maybe buy cars or trucks for resale something like that. There is just so much involved in the trucking business and so many ways that you can lose.

Not to mention nowadays that the trucks are so unreliable and completely outrageous in cost to repair...

 

Things have changed a lot in the last ten years and most of the changes make it harder for one guy with one truck to succeed.
A guy without recent experience would have a real struggle keeping up with the way things are these days.
If you want a second source of income there are a lot of things available that are a lot more stable and financially rewarding than trucking.

 

The easiest way to make a small fortune in trucking is to spend a large one.

Trucking is one of the hardest ways to make a dollar. Sometimes you owe 10 and need two months to break even again provided nothing else comes up.

IF it was so bad why did I do it? Literally nothing better to do, existing jobs not worth the trouble or profitable after commute and I actually like trucking.

If you want to continue flying and teaching, then stick with that. That's way better than holding a wheel around the USA constantly harassed about your delivery appointment.

If trucking was so easy and a money machine, everyone would be doing it. But it's not. It's a flat gamble. You can be hit with losses up to including judgements, law suiting or even prison.

 

^^ This... in spades.

 

To answer your question

NO

 

Trucking requires full time focus and you must be proactive. From shady brokers to breakdowns , if you’re not on top of things, you can go under easy.

 

I know an older man who had a few trucks and did the same thing you want to do. He finally sold out, he got so tired of trying to find drivers, drivers quitting and leaving his trucks all over the country and having to go find them. For a little trucking operation you either have to find a good driver you know and trust or preferably drive the truck yourself or it will be a nightmare

 

$3k over what time frame
The life of the equipment?