Think B4 You Jump

Originally I had $40k in start up money and was planning to hit the road with that. My girlfriend and I decided were're going to run teams with our own authority. I was planning on teaching her myself, but I thought she might learn more and pay more attention if she was in school.

Gotta to pay for Commercial Driving School $5k.
Gotta clean up both of our credit before we hit the road so we won't be in debt $5k.

Down to $30k now....

I was going to but a Wal-Mart truck with a tripak apu for $17-$20k. Let's just say after auction fees $18,000. It is between 640k- 770k miles, 2004's or older mostly.

Down to $12,000 now.........

Need a trailer. So I was going to pay between $3 and $6,500 for a reefer 53' 102" wide thermo king with 17k or more hours. Lets say....$4,500 after auction fees. And how long do you think that reefers gonna last before it brakes. Just something to think about.(By the way I paid $180 subscription fee to get these prices from the auction.)

Down to $7,500 now

But wait, you can't forget about DMV & Ins. $5,500 or more b/c she just received her cdl.

Down to $2,000 now.........

Settlements don't come in to until 15, 30, even 60 days. But what about operating expenses fuel, maintenance, tires, etc. until the settlements comes in? So I said, "screw it... we'll wing it.... we'll be alright."
With only $2,000 dollars?

Good Luck.

So I was talking with a good friend of mines (Hanadarko) and he said,

"You need a decent amount of money in the bank before you hit the road. Ideally $20-30K but I think $10-20 would suffice. This is AFTER buying the rig and paying for things...its to cover expenses (while you wait to get paid) and if something happens to the rig thats costly.
Many guys hit the road and have NO backup emergency fund and then what..? If you both have decent jobs right now, you can always do the truck thing anytime--"

"If it takes me 6 months or 12 months - who cares !? - I don't. It has to be done and done right or it's not worth doing in my book."

These are true words to live by they saved me from complete financial, business, and career disaster, not to mention taken the love of my life (Optimus Princess) down with me.

We thought about it and decided to wait another year. In doing so we will save a ton of more cash, I'm still purchasing the tractor in March, and insurance will be a little cheaper cause she will have a years experience under her belt.

Also, I just received a call from a dear friend who's gotta a 2007, all aluminum, 53ft, air ride, split axel trailer. It has all the chains, binders, tarps, and a spare tire holder with headboard. (I think that's what you call them.)
She said, she heard I was trying to get in the business and she wants to help out. All this for $7,500 and I can give her $2,500 down and $500 a month.

Now talk about true blessings... Thank You again(Hanadarko).

This thread is dedicated to all the people who are going to jump out there on their own with out a clue or enough financial backing. Please wait!!!!!
You will only be in the way. People actually make their living off trucking, walk, talk, breathe trucking. This isn't just a career, for some people it's how they put food on table, pay their mortgage, and clothe their families.

And if you don't look at it the same way then you are already losing before you start. So to all you O/O who are actually doing it out their..

I apologize for myself and future FOOLS for getting in the way.

please please just think about what you are doing before you make a life altering decision. I'm sure glad I did.

 

Yeah I plan to get the 04 International. I would like to let my mechanic work on it to work out the little kinks or bugs, if any. I really don't mind it losing value cause I don't plan on selling it any time soon maybe never. The mileage and mechanics is more so what I'm concerned about. If it sits a year, would that harm the tractor any?

Not sure about the make or if it has metal along with the aluminum. She asleep right now, i'll get that info and let you no. I think she said all aluminum if I remember correctly, I'll double check though to make sure.