Who to avoid, who is the best?

very little hijacking going on in this thread
bad credit equals bad business skills
hence lil chance of success as O/O L/O

one O/O at our company has bad credit bought a truck from
Rip off company B in Duboque IA $5000 down $2000/month
19% interest he takes no time off and lives on advances
there is a reason most people should be company drivers and be looking for better companies rather then thinking as an O/O that will fix everything

but the OP will listen to the less then 1% that believe otherwise
he be better buying scratch tickets

 

We may disagree on bad credit equaling bad business skills since there are do many reasons credit can get dinged. What we agree on is the bad business skills. As ive said many times. Most drivers ive seen, most people for that matter, couldnt run a lemonade stand.

During the 15 months I was doing l/p I saw people doing some hair brained stuff. My two favorite involve fueling strategy. Choosing to fuel at a chain because they get 2 bucks in points when 5 miles away they could have saved $25 on the fuel. The second was fueling to balance out settlements from week to week. Let me get this straight, you'll pay .50 cents more per gallon in cali because it will balance your settlements. Thats $75 to balance a settlement If you buy 150 gallons. Anyone ever hear the word budget?

 

Hi gicarr03.. Sounds like you and your husband are trying to do some research on what best works for him.. It was not too long ago I sat here asking myself the same questions..

1st no matter what anyone says, you can be successful in a L/P. Personally for me the most important thing to do first is pray about it. 2nd you will need to understand the #'s.. Such as what do u need to make a mile to sustain you lifestyle? What is your cost of living, rent or mortgage, car payments, utility's and or medical insurance, life insurance or what ever else you have.. I personally need to make about .56 CPM for me and my family to be able to pay all of the above, my wife also works and we piggy back her insurance so this is very helpful. 3. What is the #s to pay for the business, the truck, permits, insurance, accounting, plates, taxes and so forth? For me that # is about .80 CPM and I alway add .20 CPM fuel.. So at a very bare minimum I know to brake even before anyone else like the broker or the company takes there share I need $1.56 CPM to move my truck down the road..

Now I only pay myself .36 cents per mile and put the rest into savings.. Last month I spent well over $5000.00 dollars in minor EGR / DPF repairs.. I did not have to beg my company for money because of the principal of paying myself a set rate.. On avatar I have been making over $1.80 a mile after everything had been paid so It helped to be prepared..

Your #s my be different than my #s but looking at some company's out there it will help to know #s.. I seen a post above where the driver said he pulled .80 cents pulse fuel surcharge (.20 a mile /varies) but can you make it on $1.00 a mile?
It seems like a lot of drivers are happy with SNi Choice, they pay about 66% of the load and all FSC.. This is good, and they have a large selection of freight, this too is good..

I think American Central Transprt pays 1.41 (?) a mile and FSC.. So if you stay out of the excelerator and manage your mpg you could make this work also..

I run for Bruenger Transport a refrigeration division of Roadrunner. I average about $1.70 a mile. I basically make about 70% and 100% of the FSG. Our downfall is we are a smaller company in a mega company world, so we don't have the large selection of fright as SNi..

In the end please know what you have to make.. It will help you when talking to a company to determine if there pay works for you.

Also understand as a spouse of a truck driver, most of us making money, are only coming home every 4 to 5 weeks.. Yah I stopped by the house last night for approximately 45 min, but home time is sacrifice for the business..

Unfortunately there are a lot of other decisions that I wish I could go on about here to help you guys in your decision, like taking about leases, or new truck vs old truck.. I can tell u go new with a warranty, and stay away from ISX motors and or International Pro Star motors unless u want to save an additional .15 cents a mile to maintain there EGR / DPF systems..

Anywho not trying to scare you guys, but ####s and once you know them the rest is cake... But this is just my humble opinion..

 

100% False!

 

He runs crude oil in ND right now, and we live in TX, so we are used to him not being home for up to 7 weeks at a time right now.

Thanks for all of your information. It is very helpful!

 

American central Only pays $1.03 plus fuel surcharge. Our company average miles per week is around 2200. Some get more miles, and a lot get less. I work for ACT on the company driver side. They are also placing Driver facing cameras in EVERY truck.
I would look into Quality Leasing company. They work with about 34 other companies that you can lease your truck onto. And you can switch from one company to another if it isn't working for you. STAY AWAY from Eagle logistics co. Mercer might be good for your husband, he can pick his own freight and do as he wishes. Same with Schneider, dispatch your self however you want. And Schneider will let you take your truck elsewhere, such as Landstar. Don't be discouraged by all the negative on here. Pm me if I can be of any help.

 

Earl Henderson Trucking has a lease program. I recommend he try them as a company driver first because they have a guaranteed minimum weekly paycheck. In a few months he can go lease-operator if he wants.

 

Dead wrong Morgan, I know a Mickey D's operator, franchise owners do not own the building, Land,Equipment, ANYTHING. Everything is leased. Everything. There is no purchase in the end, so if you want to get down to it a L/P Truck is a better deal cause you may not come out with much but a least it something. McD franchisors in a good scenario keep 5% that's $1,000,000 earned to keep $50,000. bad example....

 

Why are drivers so intrigued with holding a title to a truck, but as a business man it should be a tool to make money and get rid of it. But all I hear is guys busting they ##* just to brag they have a title to their trucks nothing about that is business savy to me.

 

the company holds the title to your truck so it must be very savy