What kind of truck to buy for intermodal hauling

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4269474]Hi Cody, actually, a cabover would make sense if you just did short hauls, but for longer stuff, you'd suffer in fuel mileage, and working on a cabover is a nightmare.It's funny, years ago (70's & 80's) cabovers were the norm. Check out this video, "Convoy", which was made in the 70's. It was all cabovers. (notice the blooper? He says a cabover Pete with a reefer on, which is clearly a Freightliner) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le2bPRGvKXE[/QUOTE]

You see a few cabovers in the rail yards (no not ones from 1980s or earlier) that owner operators have. Yeah the fuel economy sucks but if you need a sleeper and plan to only do short runs with an occassional night or two spent in the truck it's actually not a bad idea. Some of the newer cabovers aren't horrible when it comes to fuel economy. The OP doesn't tell us if he is looking at a local or regional gig so I can't say what I would get if I was in his shoes. Just what I would look at if I was going to give being an owner operator a shot doing intermodal. I've seen convoy before and it's alright but smokey and the bandit was the far superior movie.

 

Well, my company truck is a 2014 Pete 587, 10 speed Ultrashift, 60" sleeper, 240" wheelbase.....the rental I'm running is the NICEST truck I've ever driven, 2015 KW T680, 72" condo sleeper, 225" wheelbase, 10 speed manual.....they work well....

 

I would not take that kw in a rail yard I'd be miserable

 

I'm in railyards around Chicago daily.

 

Hi ew, I used my '72 Pete in my signature pic with no power steering in the rail yards of Chicago. I had more problems at some of my pickup and delivery than in the rail yards.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4268934]Hi striker, I agree with a lightweight tractor, and I'm surprised your Mack is that light, as the Macks I've driven, due to their heavy duty construction, were some of the more heavier trucks out there. I think an old R model day cab I drove was 17 something. I don't think the people with large cars are doing it to look cool, it's probably, they took such a beating with their OTR gigs, they can't afford to get a different truck, and have to run what they have.[/QUOTE]

In most cases, these guys aren't true O/O's, but more like fleece operators, and they were supplied the truck by the company. We have one O/O that works for us, but, he has his own authority, own insurance, etc., only operates under our SAC code and our cargo insurance when hauling cans. He took over a run I used to do before I hurt my back, for that he has to have his own cargo insurance. I think one or two of competitors have a couple of guys like that, but the majority of them are fleece operators. The pay reflects it as well.

 

Probably 90% of the stuff I run in the mtn's is 75K plus, no problems pulling 7% and 8% grades with my 445 hp, and it keeps the mileage a little more in check

 

Hi striker, the company I had my truck leased to in Green Bay had about 40 trucks and 38 were O/O, and 95% of the O/O's were large cars from guys coming off the road and wanted more local type work. Sadly, after a couple years of putting up with the crummy rates and RR junk, most of them, me included, moved on to other things.

 

Yep, in my area, the fleece operators are getting 70% to 75% of the rate, and not always FSC added on. Our O/O get's 95% of what we charge the broker, he can ask to see the billed rates if he ever questions it. That's the difference though, he babies his truck, every Sat. he'll be in the yard for an hour or two working on it, or doing something that needs done. Whereas a lot of these guys won't touch it unless it breaks and leaves them stranded, PM means after Noon.

 

Im in Kansas City so i dont have to deal with mountains. The worst I'd have are the hills in souther Missouri