What is with rates???

That's why the mileage is low, to cover downtime. Spreadsheets and daily breakdowns are nice as a guide, but it really comes down to hitting the quarterly and annual projections. I think the maintenance is right on for a new truck and trailer, spec'ed properly. By going with premium Goodyear tires on my current truck, I'm going to get almost 200k out of my steers, and I'll have 500k out of my drives. By spec'ing disc brakes, the pads shouldn't need to be replaced until after the tires. Putting an APU on will decrease the number of regens needed, plus the driver retention aspect. By the time it's out of warranty, there will be a considerable amount to absorb any major costs. As far as driver health insurance, $400 will get you a ok single policy. Paying .50 cpm, taking out taxes, giving some medical, etc is a lot more than most small truck owners do. Oh, you can't make it @ 1.67 per mile, that's why it says break even in that column. There has to be profit as well as slush money for unexpected occurrences. RedForeman with BigJohn54's sudden passing come to mind. My main interest in posting this hypothetical spreadsheet was to prove to mcgoo that anyone could run under the parameters I said in a previous post when he called me on it. I've had multiple trucks running before and am considering doing it again. I'm leaning towards Western Star gliders for the trucks though.

 

Fitzgerald is now building Peterbilt 389 gliders, with a S60 Detroit as well..... very nice.

http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=3940361&dlr=1&pcid=2000840979

 

Fortycal, if you start a small fleet are you going to lease them all onto LS or go back on your own authority?

 

Man those are nice trucks. If i didn't operate out of the northwest i sure would consider it. Hell I still might for the next o e.

 

Man some people must really tear up their equipment if they spend $1k a month for 12 months on maintenance!!

 

My last full year trucking I averaged about $.11 / mile for maintenance. That was about $12, 000. The truck is 10 years old. 1.1 million miles. Stuff wears out eventually. Actually, I think I have been lucky on repairs and maintenance. Never been on a wrecker. Had to call road service once because I ran over a sheet of plastic that wrapped around the drive shaft and damaged 2 airlines. ( I learned that duct tape would only hold 5 psi and then leak ).

 

In the beginning, they will be with LS as there are many advantages to start up costs, the biggest one being no sales tax in IL where they will be plated vs FL where I'm based. That is $9,000 on a new truck. I know the system here, and like certain aspects of it. I used to hate working Internet Truckstop, going into negotiations on every single load that MIGHT work for me, and doing that for three trucks burned me out as the economy faltered in 07. I'm also considering a couple other non- trucking business ventures as well. I've also pondered reactivating my brokerage authority, a 537xxx MC number probably considered old school now.
No matter what though, it will be 2q 2014 before I implement my plan.

 

Last year I spent $13,000 on my truck before march, 8,000 of that was EGR problems turbo injectors v-bod delta-p etc than needed spring bushings king pins hangers etc. so it will get you if your not planing for it