Today's lesson

It clicked with me about 24 hrs before I picked up the very 1st truck I purchased when I started ..

It was when I was in the banker's office signing the papers for the loan and he showed me what my Monthly payment was going to be .. after he gave me a 1 hr lecture about how I would never make it .. but I was young enough to try something else when I failed

 

I believe you've mentioned this before, and I've always liked your comments. The day the tide turned for me, is when I HAD to do it. Married, kids, house, there was no time to learn anything else. THAT'S when I began to hate it. Oh, I tried everything else, but it all centered around trucking. My O/O days,,,the best of times, the worst of times, and eventually, did me in too. As an old-timer, might I say, you have time on your side. We've all taken a tumble or 2, but got back up and rode. The "bright eyed and bushy tailed" person is still in there, just bogged down with the BS of todays life. Stuff we, as old timers, never dreamed of. Compared to what has come through here lately, your story isn't so bad, and can be salvaged. 1st, and foremost, put all O/O ideas out the window, cut your losses and start over. It's what makes America great. Chinatown lists so many great company jobs, and with your experience, I don't know why you haven't done that yet. EVERYTHING will improve. Dedicated account, nice new truck, checks start rolling in, BAM, new fissin' boat, and on your way. Hang in there pal, we're on your side.

 

I was always a numbers guy. While driving down the highway I had a small calculator I could use with one hand while driving and was constantly playing what if scenarios with the numbers. I eventually wore out the calculator buttons.
I did a lot of scenarios several years before I even drove truck using material that I read in trucking magazine articles. Then when I actually started to drive I was able to confirm things like speed vs fuel economy, tire wear and maintenance.
The control of your expenses is your biggest advantage compared to large fleets or even most owner operators. Competition limits your options on the income side.
Any improvements you make to gross income is offset by its effects on mpg, speed, time spent or wasted, wear and tear.
Any improvements you make to expenses you get to keep the entire amount saved.

 

Great advice on company driver jobs. The high costs and low profits of a 1 truck show just aren't worth the headache. I've got the easiest job in the world now. My family practitioner says on the next checkup she might even take me off the blood pressure medication.

 

I’m here if you need any help. Not judgement - advice and an ear.

The biggest men to me are those that admit they’re in trouble.

 

Back at the end of 2011 I was newly divorced and pretty broke and had gotten into a truck because I needed a job and there wasn’t really anyone I wanted to drive for. I lucked into some good things and I was able to earn enough money that it outweighed some of the stupid choices I had made. If I did something I shouldn’t have done all I had to do was go run hard for a while to put some money back in the bank. And that’s not a good mindset to have because all I did was end up with some paid off vehicles and some property and I was so burnt out from hauling cattle I didn’t even want to look at a truck anymore.

Then I sort of had a midlife crisis that lasted a couple years where I moved to Montana and later Hawaii for a little bit.

Then I bought another truck and found myself right back in the rut of buying stuff and then running hard to pay for it. I guess when it clicked for me was when I leased on where I am currently and realized that if you’re smart about stuff you can run a 100% legal log and have a decent life. The last 2.5 years I’ve been way happier than before. Yes I watch my expenses, yes I drive a slope nose truck, but I’m no longer running high miles to pay for non-truck things like I used to.

 

Well that’s some outstanding news!