Taking the plunge. My journey as an O/O.

Aside from trucks are expensive to own, what have you learned at Crete that will be of any benefit to you in the future dispatching yourself?

 

I have learned that I do indeed have the work ethic to stick to the job even when I would rather take time off.

I have also learned a lot more about how trucks actually work.

These two things might not seem like much, but they are important for a new o/o.

 

My feeling is that owning truck and leasing to megas is like trying to mix water with cooking oil.
I've always had this self perceived notion that working for mega resembles an absurd situation of someone who'd want to emigrate from the States to places like China, or North Korea in hope to improve their lives.
My maxim is: Say NO to Megas! LOL

 

I do 100% live loads in a reefer. Most of the loads I haul only take about an hour at either end. And they pay way better than the food loads.

I don't want to buy a trailer either because the way my lease is set up if I bring my own trailer I have to pay for the cargo insurance which is about $1,000 a month. Pulling a company trailer I get 11% less, 77% vs 88%. For me I feel it's a better deal not to have to deal with the trailer or have that large deduction for cargo insurance.

 

I agree I'm leased on with a company that's got a hundred trucks or so.

There's no BS rules. I can go to the shop after hours and have a beer with the owner. I can book loads straight off the load board or their dispatch team will find loads for me but they always get a price from me before they book it.

 

Well, I am currently in my "office" organizing 2020 tax, maintenance, and load documents.

Will post all 12 of my 2020 maint recaps in a short while.

 

2020 maint recaps. This is all repairs and upkeep to the truck except antigel, wiper fluid, lock de-icer, and similar incidentals.

 

You got 2 months to do your taxes.

Don't hurry to do them now. Some changes are happening.

 

so what’s the total of that....?

 

My P&L includes all the Crete shop costs, and the incidentals, as well as my cost for the 2019 engine rebuild that was not paid until 2020.

Total maintenance expenses for tax purposes in 2020: $55,128

One minute and I will pull together more numbers. Taxes are complete on my end, but the accountant still needs to do their part.