Thoughts on this truck

Okay, I am looking at International as well, but I'd really like to get this KW. What do you think?

98 KW W900L Studio sleeper
N14 Cummins 525HP
18 Speed
275" Wheelbase
Supersingles

$45k and mileage is about 800K or so .

Not thrilled about the supersingles, but I would really like this truck

 

not quite sure yet. The company I drive for now (as as company driver) mentioned leasing me on, in which case it would be dry vans. If I put a wet kit on it, then van plus walking floor. This is if I stay with these guys and they pay the rates I want. Also, home every day.

Otherwise, I am talking to a couple of intermodal companies, where I would be home every day. 1 says $500/day with two loads a day (cleveland to shelby/willard) but not quite sure about those rates.

Another is saying $700-$750 a day, staying in Ohio (unless i want to go further), home every day.

A co-owner of the company I drive for said he'd talk with his partner about leasing me on with them, and I would find my own loads. If I do this, more than likely flatbed, as the truck has a headache rack with light bar for OD loads. This route will keep me out for a couple of days, but worth it in the end for having my own business. I have run one before (not trucks), so I am not going into this completely blind. I have a spreadsheet that has all of my weekly projected costs for the truck as well as all home related expenses. Broken down into what I need to bring to the truck to break even.

Now, no one wants to just break even, otherwise, the business will fail. The daily minimum is the bare bones that I will take on any given day for operating costs; this way, I am paying the truck note, and the family won't be homeless. Everything else will be put aside for taxes, maintenance, and other miscellaneous expenses.

The goal is to gross $800 a day (this will show a profit; i already know about breakdowns and downtime) or more. I would like to see $1k a day, but I am sure I will need to build up relationships with customers; showing I am dependable, my equipment is dependable, etc.

I have spoken to a couple of other companies about leasing on with them, but not quite sure I want to go that route yet.

Also, with regards to anyone telling me I should get my own authority - that is in the future, but not for now. As a company driver for 10 years, I feel I am about as ready as I will ever been for making the jump over to O/O. I started researching the L/P back in '10, but also into buying a truck of my own. So long as I am successful as a single truck O/O, then I will entertain the thought of becoming a full MC, and buying another truck or two. However, if I am barely scraping by as an O/O, then I know I am not ready to buy another truck and put a driver in it.