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Should I go to another company or Landstar?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by OOwannaBE, Feb 12, 2016.

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  1. Feb 12, 2016 #1
    OOwannaBE

    OOwannaBE Medium Load Member

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    Mar 12, 2015
    Nashville, TN
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    Hello, I have been with my same reefer company for the last four years so everything I learned about trucking is through them. I love trucking, I run hard without any problems, I am single, no kids, and just paid off my house so my only big bills are my health insurance and cellphone. I have over 815 credit score and probably around $90,000 of credit available including a business credit card. I wanted to save up money to get my truck and go to Landstar and later get more experience and save more money to become totally o/o dry van.

    My currrent reefer company is pissing me off again by only allowing three days off when I stay out for a month. I wonder if I should get more experience by going to a different company as a company driver that has different trucks (Volvos and T680s) so I can gain more experience before going to Landstar? Or go ahead and get my own truck and proceed to Landstar.
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2016
    OOwannaBE, Feb 12, 2016
    OOwannaBE, Feb 12, 2016
    #1
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  3. Feb 12, 2016 #2
    gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

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    Mar 5, 2012
    Ontario Canada
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    The money is not very good right now for owner operators. You won't make much more even if it all goes well with no major breakdowns. If you can pay cash for a good deal on a truck right now it would be a good time to buy. Many are selling out/being forced out because they can't make it. It is a rough go right now.

    As for not enough time home just tell them you need more or you will quit. If they don't respect that then quit. There is lots of opportunity for good drivers.
     
    gokiddogo, Feb 12, 2016
    gokiddogo, Feb 12, 2016
    #2
    51.50 and OOwannaBE Thank this.
  4. Feb 12, 2016 #3
    OOwannaBE

    OOwannaBE Medium Load Member

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    Mar 12, 2015
    Nashville, TN
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    Do you think the low cost of fuel is the problem now or is it just that time of year when things are slow? When do you expect things will pick back up for owners? Yeah I would probably have to quit since the managers follow the corporate rules and make no exceptions.
     
    OOwannaBE, Feb 12, 2016
    OOwannaBE, Feb 12, 2016
    #3
  5. Feb 12, 2016 #4
    CJndaTruck

    CJndaTruck Road Train Member

    3,349
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    Nov 21, 2014
    Knoxville, TN (area)
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    Man it is SLOOOWWWWWW all over and rates suck! Buy a truck next January or Febuary. Until then stay a company driver. Now is not the time to start as an OO. Next year things will start picking up (I hope) and you will be better positioned to take advantage of the upturn. If you buy now you will be broke next year.
     
    CJndaTruck, Feb 12, 2016
    CJndaTruck, Feb 12, 2016
    #4
    OOwannaBE Thanks this.
  7. Feb 12, 2016 #5
    mp4694330

    mp4694330 Road Train Member

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    Aug 30, 2010
    Chicagoland
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    Watch used truck market, buy when prices hit bottom, in meantine stay company, save save save!
     
    mp4694330, Feb 12, 2016
    mp4694330, Feb 12, 2016
    #5
    rollin coal Thanks this.
  8. Feb 12, 2016 #6
    OOwannaBE

    OOwannaBE Medium Load Member

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    Mar 12, 2015
    Nashville, TN
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    Thanks but how about me going to another dry van company in the meantime? I am sure they will go to different places and do things differently so I can combine the knowledge of the way my current company does things with the new company and know which works best for when I become an o/o. When I get my own truck I hope to go to places that I like. I pretty much hate any state touching lake Michigan.
     
    OOwannaBE, Feb 12, 2016
    OOwannaBE, Feb 12, 2016
    #6
  9. Feb 12, 2016 #7
    CJndaTruck

    CJndaTruck Road Train Member

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    Nov 21, 2014
    Knoxville, TN (area)
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    It's a rough time to change companies too. But it won't hurt too much. You have a little savings so against my normal advise I'll say go for that part.
     
    CJndaTruck, Feb 12, 2016
    CJndaTruck, Feb 12, 2016
    #7
  10. Feb 12, 2016 #8
    OOwannaBE

    OOwannaBE Medium Load Member

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    Mar 12, 2015
    Nashville, TN
    0
    The weird thing is that my miles have increased with my current company so I am not seeing the decline but I believe you guys when you say its there. The new company has larger 70 mph trucks and quiet dry vans. My current company has loud reefers and slow 64 mph trucks. No one hardly talks about governors but that is a priority for me. I want to be able to pass slow idiots texting in front of me.
     
    OOwannaBE, Feb 12, 2016
    OOwannaBE, Feb 12, 2016
    #8
    Bean Jr. Thanks this.
  11. Feb 12, 2016 #9
    gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

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    Mar 5, 2012
    Ontario Canada
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    It's hard to say when freight rates will rebound. Lots of factors. The price of oil and loads of crude on the market makes for lower cost fuel. But all those oilfield workers need to work somewhere. Manufacturing should ramp up again because people spend less at the pump and have more to spend elsewhere. That's the theory at least. There has also been so much manufacturing moved overseas people may not have jobs to earn money to spend. Who knows. Maybe because the consumer bought Chinese for so long which hurt factories here, is finally hitting where it hurts. So many ways to look at the whole situation. But for now, I wouldn't even venture a guess that things are "on the upswing" ... keep saving dude. Buy a truck outright if you have the cash and it is a very good deal. Because right now you'd be hard pressed to make more than you are now driving for someone else.
     
    gokiddogo, Feb 12, 2016
    gokiddogo, Feb 12, 2016
    #9
    Pharroh336 and rachi Thank this.
  12. Feb 12, 2016 #10
    51.50

    51.50 Heavy Load Member

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    Jan 20, 2016
    Salem Oregon
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    I think the economy will be slow until we get a new president that works for the economy instead of against it as obama has done. At least 2 years is my guess. Save your money, buy a truck for cash. Gokiddogo is right
     
    51.50, Feb 12, 2016
    51.50, Feb 12, 2016
    #10
    Harold Youngs, alien4fish, Pharroh336 and 4 others Thank this.
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