wannabe team needs advice

so, why does W/S do it this way? and nobody else does?

I would think they should not have any trouble getting drivers.

they sound like a "sound" company................lol

 

I have no idea why they do it this way, they've been doing it this way for 30+ years though.

We dont have any problems getting drivers, our recruiters get 100's of apps a day and right now we only have 1 recruiter.

Yes they are a very good company, for new and experianced drivers as well as O/O's which we have allot of, most of which have Big Sexy Large Cars and Still make good money even with fuel prices the way they are.




American Trucker

 

ae they privately owned?

 

yes



American Trucker

 

If you feel you need a trainer then hold off on Watkins. Yes they are a great company but not for those who need a little extra training. The very last thing you want to do is buy a truck. If you are just looking to give money away I will give you my bank account number! I think you should drive for at least a year company. Everything you do during that year pretend as if you were owner ops. Keep track of everything and see how you do. I think you most definitely find yourselves saying "we're glad we aren't owner ops right now!". It's not the driving to be concerned about, you should pick that up in less than a month. It is going to be making money, navigating, dispatcher relationship, where to set up for freight, running your logs, etc... You also want to give yourself sometime to refine your driving so you aren't wasting money buying tires, brakes, transmissions etc... An amateur driver will be like throwing money out the window. If you want to keep track of your score figure 1800 miles a week will break you even. Anything after that will be gross except fuel. Figure $1000 a week for your truck payment, insurance, bobtail ins., permits, qualcomm rental. Now on top of that you need to figure your over-mileage. For a team it will be around $300-400 a month. You also need to have a maintenance account. I would highly recommend $15,000-$20,000. Just a set of tires will cost you $5000. Also as a team your oil changes and services will occur more often. Every three to four weeks for an oil change at $150 a shot. You need a trucking accountant (ATBS) about $50-60 a month. Truck wash at least every two weeks $75-100. Scales will be $10 figure on 3-4 a week. Tolls will vary depending where you are going $30-90 a week. Then you have to pay your medical ins. $100-300 a month??? Plus food, hotels, spending money, office supplies, tickets, once a year inspections, rental cars, etc... As far as fuel, running as a team figure filling up every 24 hours of running so $600-800 a fill up. A good team can run 7000 a week or 1000 a day and that is what I highly recommend you do. Anything short of 5000 is wasting your time!

If I am missing anything feel free to chime in everyone.

 

One retired GI to another, thank you and your wife for your service to the nation.

Like the others have said, I'd strongly recommend getting some civilian road time under yer belt. Remember, we civies actually have to stop at the weigh stations......

As long as wifey likes the road, you will do fine after you gain some experience. Just remember we aren't allowed to jack-slap idiot dock employees.

 

This is a team \/: Enjoy!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juCyQbbsRlw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hv885tZ2lQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h00VoAWb9ho


ok now to why am I showing you these 3 videos....This is a Husband and Wife team of 33 years!!! Brad started driveing wayy back in the day and 33 years ago taught his wife how to drive, and they've been teaming ever since. They are also O/O NOT L/O. They've been O/O's since they started teaming, in fact if I remember correctly he owned the truck he taught her to drive......So why is any of this important.....They are both VERY experianced truck drivers, they've been with Forward Air for over 11 years, they know how to drive effiecantly. Look what its doing to them!

Now the other reason I showed you they're videos is so that if you ever look at a Volvo and say "oh how cute I want one!!!!" well go watch all there videos and you'll see how the 1st big mistake in they're trucking carrer along with these fuel prices might just put them out of bissness.

Just is case you dont want to watch there other videos right now I'll give you the short version. They heard all these claims about how fuel efficant Volvos where so they went and traded in there W900L for a BRAND NEW Volvo! And ever since then they have spent $10,000's of thosands of dollars in repairs, to things that don't normally get replaced on a new truck and very rarely get replaced on a old one! Heres an example, that truck has been through I beleive 10 Injectors already, and he's had MULTIPLE trucks for well over 1,000,000 miles and not need new injectors, everytime they break down, thats a few days in a hotel, and a few $5000 or so in loads they lose! He bought this 2010 Volvo in January 2010, and is now stuck with it until, this is what he told me "stuck with it until they get more equity in the truck" so that they can sell it and buy another American made truck.




Just something to think about, Trucking and being a O/O isnt as easy and the $$$ money maker some people like to make it seem like it is.


Not saying dont do it, just make sure you go in prepared so that you can be sucessful.




American Trucker