Waiting on New Trucks thread.

Go and read the thread of @BoyWander from 6 years ago.
Finally got my own truck
He gives an account of his initial struggles with a new Truck journey and he was not even independent but he was able to pick his own loads on the spot market. His payments must have been 1/3 less of what they would be today.
I thought his rates were not too bad at the time, surely better than mine, yet never he seemed content.

 

Overall, my interference here, in this thread, was not about negating the idea of new truck for a solo owner operator, generally, but the idea of a new Truck on the spot market, specifically.
I just can't be convinced that the spot Market alone, in the long run, justifies that expense.

 

This is 1 24 hour truck that I had out in PA / WV for a month long job.


This is strictly to show people that the work is out there. I could have a truck out there from now till March but I can find people to work!! Plus I have to focus on my ND customers before going outside my circle again.

 

It's a 24/7 truck. 2 drivers, slip seating.

 

@TallJoe how much does your parking spot cost? And how much a month do you spend on tolls? For me the answers are zero and I rarely run east and have to pay tolls.

The point is we’re not all the same. If I had my own authority and were running the load boards those two figures for you could very well be more than my truck payment while being next to nothing for me.

 

Parking is $350 and the tolls are contigent with the rates, meaning that the rates going eastbound of Chicago are reflecting them, therefore they are somewhat higher then those going West.
But, more importantly, If I don't run I don't pay tolls, but the truck payment would be still due.
If I had $4000 payment with additional $1500 per month for insurance instead of $ 750 - the difference due to the increased physical damage, I'd probably not need a parking spot either because I'd be running that truck every day and night to afford those payments.
I am not saying that it is impossible to work the spot market with a new Truck but it takes too much time and running when these rates are like they are today.

Don't forget that these more urbanized areas such as Chicago, have more insurance carrier choices and the premiums are typically lower than in less populated areas. My total insurance costs including Auto liability, Cargo, General Liability and Physical Damaga are $9000 per year.

Also, the outbound and local radius rates will always be higher from someone living in a dead zone area.
So, if consider all these things, it all gets even in the bigger picture.

 

Even if it is $100 000 per one shift, It is still an outer World figure.
I'd have to see it to believe it.
I mean what sort of work and skill this takes to be paid this much? Do you have to risk your life?

 

Our job was:
- wake up at 4:30 am / 4:30 pm and get ready to leave by 5am / 5 pm
- use pickup to drive to staging area ( while getting full hourly truck rate
- drive back and forth between staging and frac site moving full and empty trailers ( 2 mile round trip )
- we used roughly $150-$250 / day in fuel

We billed 28 hours a day to the truck.
We billed $125 / driver per diem
We gave the drivers $35 / day tax free for food and their own hotel rooms.

I made a mistake - the truck only made $180,000 ish.
$20k was brokered stuff that month.

We billed a hair over $6000 / day for the truck.


And just to be clear, these guys are STRUGGLING to find owner operators hence why they paid so much.

If I could find drivers I would just rent 2 trucks for $6000/ month each and send them down there.

 

Struggling to find owner operators?!
Well, You don't have to make it public - I would not - but surly some are itching to PM you as to where they can sign up.
The drivers sure have to endure pretty spartan work conditions, don't they?
I mean that sort of money must be for something in return...

 

If you consider hooking and unhooking trailers all day bad then I guess so!

It’s seriously easy work.

The 2 mile round trip drive included being in a convoy of trucks following a pilot car going 15-30 MPH.

I’m doing the same ( but slightly diff work ) in ND and we usually move 1-4 trailers a day longer distances.