poll pete 379 vs kw w900

[germanbmwfreak]

hey all please vote for what you would rather have or have and list why. i am debating on getting a kw or a pete and wanted to have some input.

[Rev.Vassago]

I vote for neither - for you. Until you have more experience.

No offense, but I think you are setting yourself up for failure.

I would worry less about what type of truck to buy and more about what type of freight to REALISTICALLY haul.

[germanbmwfreak]

no offense to you but i think that if you need to make $3 a mile to break even i think you are not working hard enough. if you think i dont know enough and think i need to learn more than please give me advice. telling me that i need to wait isnt helping me. i came here looking for information for what type of freight is better not for discouragement. so please help me but dont discourage me.

[Rev.Vassago]

no offense to you but i think that if you need to make $3 a mile to break even i think you are not working hard enough.

Never said that - I need a certain amount of money to run my operation, because my expenses are higher than someone just pulling a dry van or a flatbed - but you were saying you were gonna buy a truck with 500,000 miles on it, and run a team operation averaging 6000-7000 miles per week. At those miles, your truck would be used up in a year, and you wouldn't even have it NEARLY paid off running for the rates you were saying. Why not set your rate at $3 a mile? Why settle for $2?

if you think i dont know enough and think i need to learn more than please give me advice.

We were - in the chatroom the other night. You didn't seem to want to listen, though. You were sure that you would find an operation that would give you the miles you were looking for, and others (who have been doing it for years and years) were telling you that it wasn't realistic - but you didn't want to hear that. We told you that a 379 Pete was not the best choice for a team truck, either, but you didn't want to hear that. Frankly, for the miles that you want to run, I would suggest buying a NEW Century Class, and running the heck out of it - at least then you would have a full warranty. A used truck isnt gonna have that full warranty, only a used truck warranty (which only covers certain components)

telling me that i need to wait isnt helping me.

It may be the best advice you will get - you have 1 year of driving experience, and only 6 months in flatbed. There are people running flatbed who will admit that they don't know half of what there is to know at 3 years! And to top it off, you are on workman's comp right now, which will make finding workman's comp insurance (A REQUIREMENT OF BEING AN OWNER OPERATOR - ANY COMPANY YOU LEASE ON TO WILL REQUIRE IT) darn near impossible to find. The first question they will ask you is "Have you ever filed a workmans comp claim"

i came here looking for information for what type of freight is better not for discouragement.

I'm not trying to discourage you. Everyone has their own niche here - some pull dry vans, some pull flats, some pull reefers, some pull autos, some pull HHG (like me). I would say that HHG is better, but others (like everyone else) would say that I am wrong. I think you need to get a few years under your belt finding out what you like to pull, because once you own the truck, you are stuck, even if you don't like it. Jumping from one company to another isn't easy, and isn't cheap.

I'm sure this isn't what you wanted to hear, but it is the truth. It isn't just about having the money for the truck, it is more about having a sound business plan. If you don't know what you want to haul, you can't have a business plan. Without a business plan, there is no point in even asking what kind of truck other people like.

[germanbmwfreak]

i take every piece of infromation into play. i am thinking about leasing my bobtail onto a company now find a company that will pay me 2-3 dollars a mile let me know since i havent found one. i have learned th at i can make it for .95 a mile running .95 since a mile i will still have a company profit. i am in the works of a business plan. i also started the poll to find out what kind of input there was between the two trucks. one thing i have learned is a. stay away from freightliner b. never by new lose 20,000 once i bought it. so figuring in what kind of truck i will be buying has alot to do with the planning doesnt it since you have to figure mpg, length for what states you can go into and etc. insurance can be worked around it. the other day when we were in the chat room you were trying to tell me there is no team flatbed loads right?? well there is you just have to find the outfit. my friend is currently running team from utah/ca to chichago back and forth flatbedding, and i have heard of more just got to find the right outfit.

[Rev.Vassago]

i have learned th at i can make it for .95 a mile running .95 since a mile i will still have a company profit.

Please break down your projected costs. I would like to see where you are coming up with this figure (and see what you are missing from you projected costs) This would include both Fixed Costs and Variable Costs.

one thing i have learned is a. stay away from freightliner b. never by new lose 20,000 once i bought it.

And where did you come up with this information?!?!?! I purchased new, every large company out there purchases new - do you have some sort of secret insider info that we don't know? My truck is not worth $20,000 less than when I bought it (I got my truck for $53,000 below list price, BTW) And why stay away from Freightliner? Cuz they don't have a long hood and lots of chrome? What about Volvo? What about International? What is your beef with their trucks?

so figuring in what kind of truck i will be buying has alot to do with the planning doesnt it since you have to figure mpg, length for what states you can go into and etc.

Figuring out what model of truck to buy is the LAST piece of the puzzle. You ain't gonna go over length on your tractor, anyway - unless you have a hotel behind your cab. Figure out what you want to haul, then figure out what the best truck (engine and rear end ratio, not model and chrome options) would be best.

insurance can be worked around it.

HOW?

the other day when we were in the chat room you were trying to tell me there is no team flatbed loads right??

Nope - I never said that. Someone else told you that they have been running flatbed for about 16 years, and they could assure you that the miles you think you can run are next to impossible.

well there is you just have to find the outfit.

Then tell us where you can do that.

my friend is currently running team from utah/ca to chichago back and forth flatbedding, and i have heard of more just got to find the right outfit.

Name five carriers that lease O/O that are running 6000-7000 miles per week flatbed.

Heck - name three.

[Foxfire]

The point I am going to make here is that to get that kind of miles pulling a flatbed you are going to have some super connections! Due to the nature of flats, they unload in the daylight hours. Very few places unload at night. Maybe some of the steel places in Jackson, Ms. like Double Coat, Pre-Coat etc. But there again, they only deal with steel coils. So, it doesn't matter how fast you get the load from point A to point B, if you don't arrive there in the daylight you still sit. If you haul stuff to a job site, there sure ain't gonna be nobody waiting there at midnight with a crane to take it off of you. 6000 to 7000 miles per 7 days is totally unrealistic. It can be done and has been done but not in recent history. Pulling a flat is a "first come, first serve" thing. You sit in line and wait until your turn.
A 379 is a nice truck, but there is no room to team in one. You have to keep in mind the weight of that truck also. The majority of flatbed loads run around 46,000 to 52 or 53,000 lbs. If your truck is heavy then you cannot haul those loads. PETES and W900's are HEAVY!!!

[Rev.Vassago]

The point I am going to make here is that to get that kind of miles pulling a flatbed you are going to have some super connections! Due to the nature of flats, they unload in the daylight hours. Very few places unload at night. Maybe some of the steel places in Jackson, Ms. like Double Coat, Pre-Coat etc. But there again, they only deal with steel coils. So, it doesn't matter how fast you get the load from point A to point B, if you don't arrive there in the daylight you still sit. If you haul stuff to a job site, there sure ain't gonna be nobody waiting there at midnight with a crane to take it off of you. 6000 to 7000 miles per 7 days is totally unrealistic. It can be done and has been done but not in recent history. Pulling a flat is a "first come, first serve" thing. You sit in line and wait until your turn.
A 379 is a nice truck, but there is no room to team in one. You have to keep in mind the weight of that truck also. The majority of flatbed loads run around 46,000 to 52 or 53,000 lbs. If your truck is heavy then you cannot haul those loads. PETES and W900's are HEAVY!!!


LISTEN TO HER - SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE IS TALKING ABOUT!

[Foxfire]

Name five carriers that lease O/O that are running 6000-7000 miles per week flatbed.

Heck - name three.

Name one!

[Bryan]

KW lol i like the ride but then again im 16 and my rear may is way younger than folks here :harhar: :rofl:

[HSLD]

no offense to you but i think that if you need to make $3 a mile to break even i think you are not working hard enough.

Never said that - I need a certain amount of money to run my operation, because my expenses are higher than someone just pulling a dry van or a flatbed - but you were saying you were gonna buy a truck with 500,000 miles on it, and run a team operation averaging 6000-7000 miles per week. At those miles, your truck would be used up in a year, and you wouldn't even have it NEARLY paid off running for the rates you were saying. Why not set your rate at $3 a mile? Why settle for $2?

if you think i dont know enough and think i need to learn more than please give me advice.


We were - in the chatroom the other night. You didn't seem to want to listen, though. You were sure that you would find an operation that would give you the miles you were looking for, and others (who have been doing it for years and years) were telling you that it wasn't realistic - but you didn't want to hear that. We told you that a 379 Pete was not the best choice for a team truck, either, but you didn't want to hear that. Frankly, for the miles that you want to run, I would suggest buying a NEW Century Class, and running the heck out of it - at least then you would have a full warranty. A used truck isnt gonna have that full warranty, only a used truck warranty (which only covers certain components)

telling me that i need to wait isnt helping me.

It may be the best advice you will get - you have 1 year of driving experience, and only 6 months in flatbed. There are people running flatbed who will admit that they don't know half of what there is to know at 3 years! And to top it off, you are on workman's comp right now, which will make finding workman's comp insurance (A REQUIREMENT OF BEING AN OWNER OPERATOR - ANY COMPANY YOU LEASE ON TO WILL REQUIRE IT) darn near impossible to find. The first question they will ask you is "Have you ever filed a workmans comp claim"

i came here looking for information for what type of freight is better not for discouragement.

I'm not trying to discourage you. Everyone has their own niche here - some pull dry vans, some pull flats, some pull reefers, some pull autos, some pull HHG (like me). I would say that HHG is better, but others (like everyone else) would say that I am wrong. I think you need to get a few years under your belt finding out what you like to pull, because once you own the truck, you are stuck, even if you don't like it. Jumping from one company to another isn't easy, and isn't cheap.

I'm sure this isn't what you wanted to hear, but it is the truth. It isn't just about having the money for the truck, it is more about having a sound business plan. If you don't know what you want to haul, you can't have a business plan. Without a business plan, there is no point in even asking what kind of truck other people like.

Good advice here. Best listen.............................

v/r

HSLD

[HSLD]

The point I am going to make here is that to get that kind of miles pulling a flatbed you are going to have some super connections! Due to the nature of flats, they unload in the daylight hours. Very few places unload at night. Maybe some of the steel places in Jackson, Ms. like Double Coat, Pre-Coat etc. But there again, they only deal with steel coils. So, it doesn't matter how fast you get the load from point A to point B, if you don't arrive there in the daylight you still sit. If you haul stuff to a job site, there sure ain't gonna be nobody waiting there at midnight with a crane to take it off of you. 6000 to 7000 miles per 7 days is totally unrealistic. It can be done and has been done but not in recent history. Pulling a flat is a "first come, first serve" thing. You sit in line and wait until your turn.
A 379 is a nice truck, but there is no room to team in one. You have to keep in mind the weight of that truck also. The majority of flatbed loads run around 46,000 to 52 or 53,000 lbs. If your truck is heavy then you cannot haul those loads. PETES and W900's are HEAVY!!!

More good advice, best listen........................

v/r

HSLD

[HSLD]

i one thing i have learned is a. stay away from freightliner b. never by new lose 20,000 once i bought it. so figuring in what kind of truck i will be buying has alot to do with the planning doesnt it since you have to figure mpg, length for what states you can go into and etc.

A. There's no reason to stay away from Freightliners. Or most brands. A lemon is going to be a lemon no matter what emblem is on the truck. At last years GATS, I spoke with a couple who owned a flatbed operation. The ran Freightliners exclusively until about a year ago when they purchased a couple of new W-9's to add the the fleet. They both said that the W-9 have been more problematic that their Freightliners with recalls and warranty work. They both felt (for their operation) that the W-9 were not worth the $$$ given the problems they've had and the lost time due to the trucks being in the shop.

B. Do even try to figure MPG in a business plan starting off with a 379 or a W-9. Sure, you'll here guys say all day on the radio that they're getting 6 & 7 MPG's with 379 and W-9's, but I seriously doubt it.

Look, if you're just starting out, better go conservative with your plans. A Freightliner will do you nice for a few years until you get established. Then, when you've got things going smoothly, then get your 379 or W-9.

v/r

HSLD

[HSLD]

[quote=germanbmwfreak] [And why stay away from Freightliner? Cuz they don't have a long hood and lots of chrome? What about Volvo? What about International? What is your beef with their trucks?

Hey, I got a hood and it's a Freightliner. :D

If I were buying new, I think I'd have to look at International. I like the parts and service dept. at the Southwest Intl' in Fort Worth better than F.W. Freightliner.

v/r

HSLD

[Rev.Vassago]

B. Do even try to figure MPG in a business plan starting off with a 379 or a W-9. Sure, you'll here guys say all day on the radio that they're getting 6 & 7 MPG's with 379 and W-9's, but I seriously doubt it.

I get 5.5 out of my 379, and that is downhill with the wind at my back

[Big_Dave]

B. Do even try to figure MPG in a business plan starting off with a 379 or a W-9. Sure, you'll here guys say all day on the radio that they're getting 6 & 7 MPG's with 379 and W-9's, but I seriously doubt it.

I get 5.5 out of my 379, and that is downhill with the wind at my back
The overall average fuel mileage for the 379 I'm driving is 4.36 mpg. C-15 Cat, 18 speed, 3.36 rears on 24.5 tall rubber.

I can get 7+ mpg when loaded to 80K lbs., but that's only when the road is level, no wind and going 65 mph. The slightest upgrade shoots that all to hell.

Pulling the Baker grade (Baker CA), a couple weeks ago loaded to 79K lbs, I was getting 1.5 mpg almost the entire 17+ miles. :yikes:

[germanbmwfreak]

okay here is what i got so far. i appericate the info on the trucks just what i have been told so far is that pete's have the better resale value on them espically since the new emmison laws so a 03 early 04 will hold value better. thats what i have been told. i have driven nothing but freightliners and i hated them. i leased a classic xl thru england and had nothing but problems with it and the century class ones i had i didnt like the shakes in it plus they had lots of problems with them. i have driven and ridden in 379's and absoultely loved them and owners i know who own one have said they are great trucks as long as staying ontop of pm's they will run good. so my cost's so far are so

based on 5500 miles a week at .95 cents a mile.

income $5225
fuel 3107.50 figured it at 4mpg and at 2.26 gallon (yesterday's national average)
fuel surchage .30 gallon $330
truck payment $370.00
salary .25 mile $1375
bobtail insurance $7.50
physical damage $38.49
PM's acct $44.00
general repair $200.00 week
tires $40.00
qualcomm $15
trippak $3.50
fuel taxes 25.00
general taxes 30% 98.70
company profit 230.31 week left over

i figured these numbers off of a $80,000 with down payment of $20,000 and lot of the insurance and other accts i got off of freightliner's owner operator tutorial. i also doubled them since i will be putting on more miles then that on team. i still have $230 to play with a week. i think the general repair is good since the truck has warranties left. tires i think might be low. i figure it costs around $3000 for a set of tires for the truck. how long do drives "really last" and same for steers? that will help me determine more. we are planning on not comming home until we hit at least 6500 miles a week. the company i am currently looking into is jim palmer trucking and they pay .95 a mile for teams loaded and unloaded and their teams get 5500+ miles a week. they are saying more than half their loads are drop and hook and 90% no touch. i also am listening to everybody here and taken in alot of information and some stuff i dont take in and belive that it might be a driver issue. i have pretty much made up my mind that we are going to start out pulling either reefer or dryvan and find a good gig doing that where it might be drop and hook majority of the time. i do belive the majority of flat bed loads are solo or husband wife teams. i do know it is hard to come by a company who could keep a full team busy. but there are company's out there. the company is stevesons out of southern utah flat bed company they run team well they are a small fleet and one truck is running team and getting 6300 miles a week average. let me know what you think about my costs and let me know what i am not writing down or what i am figuring to high or to low.

[Capt._Chaos]

In summary, get more experience under your belt & learn more about the industry first.

I drove a company truck for several years before buying my first truck, and got out of the Owner-Operator business just recently, even though I had a paid-for truck in great shape. It's a LOT more work & responsibility than most think it is.

Flatbedding is generally more short-to-medium length of haul, and very few teams do flatbed hauling. You're not going to be bouncing back & forth between the coasts pulling a flatbed like you would a reefer or dry van (and in some cases, a tanker).

Due to the number of failed owner-operators who had trucks repossessed in reent years, chances are slim that any financial institutions will finance a truck for you, especially with such limited experience.

Most everyone in here has given you some very sound advice based on their real-world experience. WHether you choose to take this advice or not, keep in mind that we tried to warn you. Besides, what looks good on paper almost never work out in the real world.

[LSMR]

Everyone has given good advice :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

My only advice is to remember all plans look good on paper.You need to factor in the worst case scenarios too.Slowdowns in freight & the economy.

I have been trucking with my own authority since 7/05.Right now I'm in a slump but fortunatly for me I have an old tractor that's paid off plus I still have the income from my shop to scrape by.

The minute you purchase your truck you become a business owner & need to learn to think that way.

[FannBlade]

I would have to say 5500 miles/wk would be a real stretch for flatbed on a good week (team or not), like others have said night time and weekends aren't that good.

Also as much as I hate to say it......if you look in the Truck Paper (the bible) I think you'll see W9's usually have a higher resale value.

If you put $20,000 down a loan should be fairly easy.


You might think of getting a trailer so you can get a better rate. ($1.70 for a min.)

.95/mile sounds awful cheap to me I think I would look for a higher pay and less miles.

Just some thoughts....don't give up give it a shot.

[germanbmwfreak]

thanks f0r the info and encouragment. the 5500 + miles was what jim paulmer trucking says their teams get. what do you guys think about my numbers? are they accurate? am i forgeting anything?

[HSLD]

i leased a classic xl thru england and had nothing but problems with it [quote]

I've never really seen an England truck that I'd give two cents for. Most are rode hard by rookie sticks.

I've got an ol' '99 Werner Classic. No problems to date. 510K on it. I was able to get the maintenance records for it prior to purchase. No bad history, except for 2 a/c compressor replacements in the first year after Werner put it in service.

v/r

HSLD

[HSLD]

Here's what concerns me. It's all to easy to plan for "X" miles a week at "X" per mile. But, it usually never works out that way. I'd bet, that most over planned the number of miles per week or the rate per mile, or both. I know I originally planned on more miles per week than what I truly run now. I didn't foresee all the lost time at shippers and recievers waiting to load / unload, and thought I'd be burning up the roads bringing the big bucks in. It's way to easy to fall into that trap in the planning phase of a business plan.

v/r

HSLD

[Capt._Chaos]

Here's what concerns me. It's all to easy to plan for "X" miles a week at "X" per mile. But, it usually never works out that way. I'd bet, that most over planned the number of miles per week or the rate per mile, or both. I know I originally planned on more miles per week than what I truly run now. I didn't foresee all the lost time at shippers and recievers waiting to load / unload, and thought I'd be burning up the roads bringing the big bucks in. It's way to easy to fall into that trap in the planning phase of a business plan.

v/r

HSLD

Good points!

If you're going to run your own truck at some point, I'd suggest looking for a percentage contract, as mileage rates offered by large carriers are usually in the toilet. Besides that, at those rates you'd end up tired with a worthless, worn out truck and little or no money in the bank. In other words, Work Smarter, Not Harder!

Recruiters (especially on the Owner-Operator side) are usually trying to paint a pretty picture for you to see just to encourage you to work for them.

[HSLD]

[Recruiters (especially on the Owner-Operator side) are usually trying to paint a pretty picture for you to see just to encourage you to work for them.

Aw, recruiters. They paint a pretty picture. Don't they? But if you think of the garbage they put out, and how wondeful it's all gonna be, or at least as they present it, they'd be drivers and not recruiters. :D

v/r

HSLD

[Rev.Vassago]

based on 5500 miles a week at .95 cents a mile.

income $5225
fuel 3107.50 figured it at 4mpg and at 2.26 gallon (yesterday's national average)
fuel surchage .30 gallon $330
truck payment $370.00
salary .25 mile $1375
bobtail insurance $7.50
physical damage $38.49
PM's acct $44.00
general repair $200.00 week
tires $40.00
qualcomm $15
trippak $3.50
fuel taxes 25.00
general taxes 30% 98.70
company profit 230.31 week left over


Here are some more realistic MONTHLY numbers based on a $60,000 truck loan (@11 percent - yours may be higher). To base it on the week is useless - but at the end I will show you how much you need to earn PER DAY.

FIXED EXPENSES (These are expenses that occur if the truck is moving or not)

TRUCK PAYMENT: $1304.55
INSURANCE: $600 (This is a realistic quote for Liability, Physical Damage, and Work Comp - call an insurance company and get a quote)
BASE PLATE: $162.50
CELLULAR PHONE: $200
QUALCOMM: $60
SALARY: $5958.00
HEALTH INSURANCE: $500
FHUT: (SHOULD COME OUT TO ZERO IF YOU DO IT CORRECTLY)
SELF EMPLOYMENT TAX: $1787.40

TOTAL FIXED COSTS PER MONTH: $10,572.45
TOTAL FIXED COSTS PER DAY (10,572.45 x 12 / 365): $347.59

VARIABLE COSTS (These are costs that are incurred ONLY when the truck is moving, and are based on 5500 miles per week)

FUEL: $13,704.16
SHIPPING: $200
REPAIRS: $1000 (Even if you have a warranty (which will last you all of about 6 months based on the miles you want to run), you should be putting money aside anyway.
MAINTAINANCE: $800
WASHES: $200
LAUNDRY: $20

TOTAL VARIABLE COSTS: $15924.16
VARIABLE COST PER MILE: $0.67 per mile

So, what have we learned? You need to earn $347.59 per day, on top of $0.67 per mile. What you will actually need to earn per mile (based on 5500 miles per week) is $1.11 per mile.

Not to mention that I doubt the other person helping you run this truck is gonna do it for free, so let's add in his expenses too. Assuming he is gonna get the same $0.25 per mile you are, that brings your costs up to $1.36 per mile.

The next question is: Why buy a truck and earn $0.25 per mile, when you can save yourself the headache and earn more being a company driver? If you want to run team and get more miles, do it (you'll earn more than $0.25 per mile)

[germanbmwfreak]

i put the numbers in weekly format. i didnt figure cell phone because that comes out of our salary. base plates and permits were offered by jim paulson trucking paid for. the insurance rates are what were given by freightliner and also what some companies are offereing bobtail insurance and etc. now i didnt figure in truck washes that is something that i did forget. now please reccomend a company where i can make over a $1 a mile and run team for so i can make it like everyone keeps saying i should get paid more. or should i even get my own authority and buy my own trailer and go thru for example thru a load board service which i talked to someone there today and loads are between 1.36 mile and 2.00 mile. or is there a good brokerage service you guys now about. what information can you guys tell me about getting my own authority?

[germanbmwfreak]

okay for starter what is shipping cost? why have cell phone in there? why have laundry in there? why have health insurance? all that comes out of the "salary" because my company aint going to pay for my partner's laundry or cell phone. health insurance is not a necessity right now down the road maybe but not now. why not figure it in a weekly format? it tells me what i need to make a week before i go home. not that there is anything wrong with a monthly or daily format.

i am pretty sure i have figured you out rev. obvioulsy if you have to make at least $3 a mile to break even tells me you dont work hard. obvioulsy you are in here all the time you post all the time which means you aint driving. i have seen the topic on you being lazy and well that says it all. you have been very negative and whatever i have to say you have something neg to say and bottom line you always say more experience which i belive someone should have at least a year for driving purposes and dealing with people. but i will never learn how to be a owner operator driving a company truck. why cant you be more like fannblade who actually gave me good advice and encouragement. that is all i am asking for. again thank you everyone for the good advice but please if you are going to say drive a company truck for x amount of years dont bother writing that down. just becuase you guys might have driven a company truck for 5 years before buying one doesnt meen you couldnt have done it at one year. so if you think that if i drive for a company for a couple of years then buy a truck please list points why i should do that. and why i shouldnt buy now and as to the salary of .25 a mile each is because we are starting out cheap for us. .25 a mile is plenty of money a week for us to survive off of. we will have a company profit that we are trying to save up quickly for expenses that might arise. after a while of getting paid .25 a mile we will readjust it if we are doing good. better to start cheap and readjust the salary later to see what is really gonna happen with a company

[Rev.Vassago]

okay for starter what is shipping cost?

You do plan on sending in paperwork, don't you? As an O/O, it aint free anymore.


why have cell phone in there?

I use mine all the time to call shippers - I use about 2000 minutes per month. It ain't free, and it is a business expense
why have laundry in there?
See above comment - it aint free, and it is a business expense.
why have health insurance?

Because if you get injured or sick, not only do you have the medical expenses, but your business expenses continue to add up.
all that comes out of the "salary" because my company aint going to pay for my partner's laundry or cell phone.

And you expect to pay for all of that at $0.25 per mile?

health insurance is not a necessity right now down the road maybe but not now.

Yes, it is. You wouldn't drive without insurance, so why would you do differently with your health?

why not figure it in a weekly format?

Because it is easier to figure on a monthly and daily basis.
it tells me what i need to make a week before i go home.

With the miles you plan to drive, you won't be going home much, if at all.
i am pretty sure i have figured you out rev. obvioulsy if you have to make at least $3 a mile to break even tells me you dont work hard.

Now your trying to get me pizzed off - not only do I work, but I work harder than you ever have pulling for CRE or your flatbed. I don't run hard - I average 6000 miles a month - but I don't make my money driving - I make my money in the trailer.

But if you would like to know - My current costs are at $240 per day, and $0.90 per mile.

obvioulsy you are in here all the time you post all the time which means you aint driving. i have seen the topic on you being lazy and well that says it all.

I am in here at night, because my job allows me to be. I don't have to run the hell out of my truck and beat it into the ground to make money. And as far as the topic about me being lazy, not only was that in jest, but I can afford to wait for a good paying load. Why take a load that has me deadheading all over gods green earth when I can wait 6 days and have a 200 mile deadhead?

you have been very negative and whatever i have to say you have something neg to say and bottom line you always say more experience which i belive someone should have at least a year for driving purposes and dealing with people.

Then you are a fool.

but i will never learn how to be a owner operator driving a company truck.

Sorry you feel that way. You ain't gonna learn to be an owner operator falling on your azz either.

why cant you be more like fannblade who actually gave me good advice and encouragement. that is all i am asking for.

Why don't you just tell it like it is - I'm not telling you what you want to hear, so I am "Rude and negative".

so if you think that if i drive for a company for a couple of years then buy a truck please list points why i should do that.

EXPERIENCE HAULING THE THINGS YOU WANT TO HAUL, AND DOING A GOOD JOB AT IT

and why i shouldnt buy now and as to the salary of .25 a mile each is because we are starting out cheap for us. .25 a mile is plenty of money a week for us to survive off of.

Then get a job driving a company truck for $0.25 a mile, and save the hassle of being an O/O.

better to start cheap and readjust the salary later to see what is really gonna happen with a company

That is the silliest thing I have ever heard. Start cheap? If you start cheap, you will always be cheap, because people will learn that you will do it for cheap. You think someone is gonna pay you $2.00 a mile, when they know you'll do it for $1.00? :rofl:


I'm done with you - do whatever you want - but I'll be the guy laughing and saying "I told you so".

Whatever.

[The_Governor]

Hows this for perspective;

I gross right at $200.00 a day as a company driver.

I average about 200 miles a day.

I work M-F approximately 10 hours a day.

I dont pay for truck insurance,fuel,plates,permits,maintenance,truck washes,zippo,nada.

A tank of gas in my Chevy van last 2-3 weeks because I drive my company truck home most days.

My only worry is making sure that the truck returns to the yard in one piece---just like it did when it left and that I have'nt injured, mamed or killed anyone.

I like my company job-------------if I were any happier I'd be twins. :classic:

[Rev.Vassago]

and i bet you are making your money in the trailer, huh gov?

[Truckaxe]

You'd be better off breaking down your cost per mile,since some of your expenses are determined according to how many miles you run.

If you want to figure on 10,000 mi. a month for an average then......
aprox. $8000 a year for unlimited (can run anywhere in u.s. 48) for cargo,($100,000), liability(1,000,000), and physical damage on tractor (depends on value of truck). You don't need bobtail running under your own authority.
So.......................8000/120,000miles = 6.66 cents per mile
Fhut $550 per year............................ .458cents per mile
Fuel,roughly..................................31.5 cents permile
I.f.T.A., your punishment for not buying enough fuel for the number of miles in each state you run in...............????????????????
a $45,000 trk you plan on running 3 years, $45,000/3 =$15,000/120,000miles =......................... 12.5 cents per mile.
put back for repairs and maintenence.............10 cents a mile.
that should cover trailer expenses if not pulling a reefer.
I don't know how ark. ks. and ky figure what you have to donate for property txs but their is an ifta website that maybe explains it,but idon't remember what it is so don't forget the cost of a notebook to right down everything you know you won't remember.

whats listed here comes to about 61 cents a mile (not including interest on trk loan.)

i'm sure there is more that others will add, like the corporation tax that a few states are wanting to collect if you are inc. and pick up or deliver in their state.

So everything that you make over 61 cents (in this example) is yours to keep. Right? If it is then don't forget to figure in the cost of that great tax attorney and another .39 cents for mailing his name to me

[The_Governor]

Rev I think your advice is right on target and absolutely the money is in/on the trailer.

The company sells lumber and the buyers want it delivered.............thats where I come in :)

[Rev.Vassago]

You'd be better off breaking down your cost per mile,since some of your expenses are determined according to how many miles you run.

No, because some of the costs occur even if the truck doesn't move, like:

Truck Payment
Insurance
Home Expenses
Base Plate
Phone
Accountant
Qualcomm (if you have it)

These costs need to be broken down as fixed costs, becuse they are not affected by the number of miles the truck travels. After you have an average of how many miles you drive a week/month/year/lifetime, you can figure a cost per mile from it, but it is better left as a cost per day.

Variable Expenses are items that only occur when the truck is moving such as:

Fuel
Repairs
Maintainance
FHUT
Shipping
Showers
Meals
Laundry

These items are better left in a cost per mile figure, because they are directly affected by the number of miles you drive.

Combining the two is going to give you a distorted view of your costs, especially if you do not average the same amount of miles week in and week out.

It's a whole lot easier to say "I need to make $1600 this week, plus $0.60 per mile. If you are averaging 3000 miles a week, you need to earn $3400 to cover your expenses. In this scenario, you need to earn $1.14 per mile to cover expenses (based on 3000 miles). Everything above that is gross profit. If you want to get even more specific, include your take home pay in either your fixed or variable costs (I include mine in my fixed costs, as my home bills are not affected by how many miles I drive)

You are definately better to have 2 sets of cost numbers - Fixed and Variable. One does not affect the other, but you need to factor enough to cover both.

[germanbmwfreak]

You do plan on sending in paperwork, don't you? As an O/O, it aint free anymore

some companies that i have looked at do. trip pak and they process the paperwork and get me paid. now granted a accounting firm will charge you but i plan on doing accounting myself since my fiance' is a accountant.

I use mine all the time to call shippers - I use about 2000 minutes per month. It ain't free, and it is a business expense

now remeber i will have a partner so why should we have the company pay our cell phones. you wouldnt pay the contractors you hire to load your trailer full of household goods cell phone or laundry bill would you? so what is the reasoning behind having the company profit pay the cell phone bill? my understanding of the taxes is we have a self income tax plus the business taxes. and a cell phone is a tax deduction on the self income tax correct?

Because if you get injured or sick, not only do you have the medical expenses, but your business expenses continue to add up.

i will have workman's comp insurance for if we get injured on the job. granted it still is a risk of getting sick and having high bills but again the company account will not pay for mine or my partner's medical bills (unless work related)

And you expect to pay for all of that at $0.25 per mile?

yes it will work out to roughly 650 a week at 5500 miles .25 for the both of us. we can survive off of 650 a week easy. my house for one will be paid off before i do this and number 2 we both survive off of less per week. i have a fiance' who has a income and my partner has a small apt that he pays 400 bucks a month for. and we have aggreed to start out paying ourselves the minumm for now until we get some accounts saved up within the company and then we can go back and readjust to the average income of the company.

With the miles you plan to drive, you won't be going home much, if at all.

we plan on staying out 7-10 days and home 3-4 days. as a team we could run 5500 miles in 5 days easy.

Why don't you just tell it like it is - I'm not telling you what you want to hear, so I am "Rude and negative".

no you have something bad to say about ANYTHING i say you havent had a good word yet about what i have come up with. no matter what i say you have something negative to say about it. the problem is that you can't justify what you say for example drive a company truck a while longer and learn about the business some more. first of all did you ever see the numbers that a company does with that truck? ever see anything that a o/o has to do? (besides fuel price and load price) when i drove as a company driver i never did the only thing i saw was load info, fuel prices (at the pump) , and the occasional repair bill. and as every o/o know there is a hell of a lot more business things to learn and do that a company driver wont do or see. you havent told me what i will learn as driving a company truck that would benefit me more as a o/o. and the biggest problem i have is that you think i automaticaly will fail out there. i aint stupid i am very business orienated and very discplined and i think i stand a good chance out there. all i want is some serious justifaction to your thoughts and you havent done that. what will i learn from being a company driver longer?

[Rev.Vassago]

Well, I had begun to post a reply to the last post, but then I thought better of it, as there is no point.

Good luck.

[HSLD]

i didnt figure cell phone because that comes out of our salary.

Why???? The cell phone should be a business expense and not something that get's paid out of salary. :wtf:

v/r

HSLD



[/u][/i][/b]

[HSLD]

Well, I had begun to post a reply to the last post, but then I thought better of it, as there is no point.

Good luck.

Good idea rev. ;) This guy has it all figured out. Not sure why he even bothered to ask for advice in the first place. :wow:

v/r

HSLD

[germanbmwfreak]

first of all what you guys say you cant justify.. you say drive as a company man longer i ask what will i learn about being a o/o from being a company man? no answer there to what i ask. you guys say deduct laundry, cellphone from the business acct and i ask why because i will have employee. when you drive for a company they dont pay for the cell or laundry so why should i put that in my projected expense report? some of you have told me good things and i have listened but somethings i just do get and i ask for justifaction on why i would do that and i get no answer. trust me i do not think i know everything there is to no about being a o/o far from it but however i do not know what i will learn from being a company man. (not including drving and securment part) i feel you have to make the best of it no matter if you are a o/o or a company man. i rember i pulled a over length load out of montepeiler iowa and it was supposed to be tarped but the load hung of the back like 8 feet and i was having a hell of a time tarping it with the tarps i had but i had to make due. i called the company for advice on this no help on that one did give me some basic ideas but i still had to figure it out. but the point is that i know the basics just like everyone else does. a guy could be pulling a flatbed for 20years hauling building products but come down to hauling a coil might not have a idea on how to do it. so what i am saying is we never stop learing about driving or securment and i am a firm beliver that the day you know it all is the day you should quit because you are gonna kill yourself. what i am trying to learn is the business side of it and i dont understand how i will learn that from being a company man. just like you guys say i cant get that miles in flat bed and that there is no flatbed loads doing that however i talk to different people that are pulling equipment, containers, miltary stuff, etc. coast to coast that is why i ask how you base that upon that i wont ever get that miles in flatbed i want to know why you say that because there are other people out there you beg to differ. i dont know you people personally just thru here and i dont know if you are sucessful or failure at being a o/o or the grounds for failure or what sort. the same thing you guys dont know me and my history and we all know about "cb talk" where there is a chat room talk too and i have to weed out the people i dont want advice from so that is why i ask for justifaciton is because i have been told different and i want to know why the thoughts are so i can sort them out. rev you are a prime example. there is a topic in the forum about you being lazy. joke or not how does a new person automaticly think of you? lazy, because there is a topic about you being lazy. i dont know if you are lazy or not and also you told me you waited 6 days for a load and in my eyes that is bad news but you never told be the numbers you were waiting on. there are plenty of o/o's making it out there and wouldnt think about selling out and going to be a company man again. owning a truck is owning a business you have to be business orenitated to make any business work and that is why majority of o/o's fail. for example the majority of o/o's have bad credit because they have bad money managing problems (you might have good credit and making it but what about the o/o parked next to you?) you see i am in no way trying to offend anyone or say i am a know it all. if i knew it all i wouldnt be here in the first place asking for advice. just trying to sort out "real" advice from the "cb talk"..

[Foxfire]

The very first thing you need to learn and understand is that trucking as an O/O is a BUSINESS. When you figure this out then everything else will fall into place. I do agree that you should have more experience before jumping into being an O/O. The way the industry is headed these days, there is no way in hell I would put money into a truck again. When I go back to work it will be driving the other man's vehicle and he will be responsible for all upkeep.
You will do what you think is right for you and that is all good. I just hate to see you end up broke and facing bankruptcy. If it were me, I'd take that workman's comp. settlement and put it into CD's and go drive for someone else and live well on them when I retired.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

[HSLD]

I think we're all trying to tell you that your expenses come from the business acct and not from salary. As for cellphones, are you planning on having two phones? One for you to use for business and then your employee has to have one of his (or her) own to use for your business? You may get lucky and find someone who'll go for that. Can't say that I'd pay for a cellphone in a team operation if I worked for you, you had a business phone on you and we were teaming it for your business.

I also don't think teaming with quote an "employee" will work in the long run. Many a friendship and relationship has been tested to the breaking point running team. I can't imagine employer / employee working together in such close confines for very long.



Some guys luck into good gigs like military loads etc..... Sometimes it's luck, some times it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time. It's a lengthy process just to qualify to haul military or government loads. Some work for years in the industry before they get the good loads or get where they want to be. I think what you're being told by most here, is that you're building a business plan around a small, specialized sector (team flatbed operations) within transportation. And in doing so, will be subjecting yourself to a large amount of risk for a person with not much experience in the industry. Is that a wise plan? Maybe, maybe not. Some military loads require a security clearance. You won't get that overnight. And good luck finding a co driver justing starting out that can get a clearance so that you can haul these loads.

Dream big, but start small. :)

v/r

HSLD[/quote]

[The_Governor]

Some folks are just dense......................like a five gallon bucket of mercury :harhar: :wtf:

[germanbmwfreak]

i give up here no matter what is say is turned around to negativity in this forum. first of all i was going to have a business partner me and my best friend were going to do this together. key word WAS we have decided that it probally wouldnt have worked out so instead i am going to do this myself pulling a skateboard. and as far as the cell phone thing if you are a company driver is your cell phone paid? enough of the negativty already all i was asking for was what you thought of petes vs kw and this got turned into one big arguement. i ask to explain certain things and it gets blown up in my face that i am a know it all which explained in the previous reply from me saying that i am far from that and just trying to get what you guys say clarifyied. i came to this site looking for help like it is supposed to be and granted there is a couple of drivers here who have given me advice and answered my questions in a postive way not a negative way. and telling me to get more experience driving a company truck and then not explainging what i will learn about being a o/o thru a company when i ask what more can i learn about being a o/o and the ones who are saying that should have gotten off that high horse realized i aint driving company no more and answer my questions without saying you are going to fail or get more experience. for the people who have been helping me with GOOD advice and postive about it i truly say thank you. to you all who said negative stuff on this and made stupid comments about me hope you are proud for helping someone out and not pushing them back down. so in closing i am done with asking help here i have a few people who i have pm'd with here that have been great help and i can take it from here because for the majority of you guys here you didnt do CRAP

[Rev.Vassago]

You're welcome. Glad I could help, and glad that you listened, since I answered every one of your questions in a very concise and detailed manner, from why you need more experience as a company driver, to what kind of truck would suit the type of business you wish to run, to what you need to factor in as far as expenses, to what things are truly business expenses and should be treated as such. I enjoyed our conversations, and appreciated the fact that you didn't insult me for the advice I gave you, as that would have just been mean.

Hope you find that dream job and dream truck you are looking for, and look forward to having future discussions with you.















By the way, I prefer the 379 over the W900.
http://www.antique-mall.org/truck3.jpg

[Uturn2001]

For what it is worth here is how staying a company driver a while longer can benefit you:

1. Lower insurance costs. The more time you have behind the wheel of a truck, accident free, will lower your insurance premiums.

2. Better paying jobs. Many if not all of the truly good paying freight hauling jobs require 2 or more years of experience in order to get.

3. The ability to develop a more "real life" business plan by tracking real life expenses while someone else is still paying the bills.

4. More time to develop contacts who may be able to give you leads and/or get your foot in the door to companies/jobs that pay a lot better of a base rate than 85 or 90 cpm. Success in biz depends as much on who you know as what you know.

5. Time to strengthen your operating capital.

[LSMR]

Uturn makes a good point

The ONLY reason I'm making it with being an O/O is because after 25+ years in the truck repair business I have established some good contacts & friends who can help me out.

You have to know what you want to do.Although some of the comments you recieved here were not the nicest they were all true and came from people who were in your shoes at one time.

The best advice I can give to you is to LISTEN & keep researching the industry.

Again GOOD LUCK

[Capt._Chaos]

i give up here no matter what is say is turned around to negativity in this forum. first of all i was going to have a business partner me and my best friend were going to do this together. key word WAS we have decided that it probally wouldnt have worked out so instead i am going to do this myself pulling a skateboard. and as far as the cell phone thing if you are a company driver is your cell phone paid? enough of the negativty already all i was asking for was what you thought of petes vs kw and this got turned into one big arguement. i ask to explain certain things and it gets blown up in my face that i am a know it all which explained in the previous reply from me saying that i am far from that and just trying to get what you guys say clarifyied. i came to this site looking for help like it is supposed to be and granted there is a couple of drivers here who have given me advice and answered my questions in a postive way not a negative way. and telling me to get more experience driving a company truck and then not explainging what i will learn about being a o/o thru a company when i ask what more can i learn about being a o/o and the ones who are saying that should have gotten off that high horse realized i aint driving company no more and answer my questions without saying you are going to fail or get more experience. for the people who have been helping me with GOOD advice and postive about it i truly say thank you. to you all who said negative stuff on this and made stupid comments about me hope you are proud for helping someone out and not pushing them back down. so in closing i am done with asking help here i have a few people who i have pm'd with here that have been great help and i can take it from here because for the majority of you guys here you didnt do CRAP

What you are (were) interpreting as negativity is actually the straight scoop from most of us who have "been there, done that, and got the t-shirt".

All too often, the reality is that what you want to hear is different from what you need to hear.

[Big_Dave]

What you are (were) interpreting as negativity is actually the straight scoop from most of us who have "been there, done that, and got the t-shirt".

All too often, the reality is that what you want to hear is different from what you need to hear.
BINGO!

germanbmwfreak, without careful planning, you're gonna end up broke and filing for bankruptcy.

[Foxfire]

Do I hear an echo in here?.....lol

[HSLD]

i give up here no matter what is say is turned around to negativity in this forum. first of all i was going to have a business partner me and my best friend were going to do this together. key word WAS we have decided that it probally wouldnt have worked out so instead i am going to do this myself pulling a skateboard. and as far as the cell phone thing if you are a company driver is your cell phone paid? enough of the negativty already all i was asking for was what you thought of petes vs kw and this got turned into one big arguement. i ask to explain certain things and it gets blown up in my face that i am a know it all which explained in the previous reply from me saying that i am far from that and just trying to get what you guys say clarifyied. i came to this site looking for help like it is supposed to be and granted there is a couple of drivers here who have given me advice and answered my questions in a postive way not a negative way. and telling me to get more experience driving a company truck and then not explainging what i will learn about being a o/o thru a company when i ask what more can i learn about being a o/o and the ones who are saying that should have gotten off that high horse realized i aint driving company no more and answer my questions without saying you are going to fail or get more experience. for the people who have been helping me with GOOD advice and postive about it i truly say thank you. to you all who said negative stuff on this and made stupid comments about me hope you are proud for helping someone out and not pushing them back down. so in closing i am done with asking help here i have a few people who i have pm'd with here that have been great help and i can take it from here because for the majority of you guys here you didnt do CRAP

What you are (were) interpreting as negativity is actually the straight scoop from most of us who have "been there, done that, and got the t-shirt".

All too often, the reality is that what you want to hear is different from what you need to hear.

Can I get a witness!!!!!!! :D

Wish something like this board would have been around when I started. I've made it (so far), but with the help of the folks who call this place home, I'd have been saved lotsa headaches (and stress) back then. :D

I know there were a few things that I was hard headed about when I started and wouldn't bend on no matter what I was told. But, having the experience that I have now, I can easily see what others were trying to get me to see and understand so long ago. ;)

v/r

HSLD

[The_Governor]

UT said something about operating capital.................Can I pay for my cell phone bill with that? :harhar:

[Uturn2001]

UT said something about operating capital.................Can I pay for my cell phone bill with that? :harhar:

Sure you can. You can even write off those 900 number calls off on your taxes as entertainment. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[The_Governor]

What about those girls in fishnet stockings in Sin City.........are they tax deductable too :brightidea: :yikes:

[HSLD]

What about those girls in fishnet stockings in Sin City.........are they tax deductable too :brightidea: :yikes:

Yes, at first, you can deduct anything. But upon scrutiny of your tax filing by the IRS, you may have to remove of the more questionable deductions. :rofl:

v/r

HSLD

[slowpoke98908]

What I don't understand is why anyone would want to buy a W900. Not that these are bad trucks but the classic truck will cost you $7,000-$10,000 more in fuel a year.

Yes resale is better than most areodynamic trucks but not $10,000 a year diffrence. If you kept it just 3 years that adds up to $30,000 a year.

For resale and fuel mileage look at the T800. The resale is a good as a W900 and cost less and burns less fuel.

Why not get a truck that will make you the most money? I know I am in the minorty here, as most love the big Pete's and W900's.

[David_Reed]

it tells me what i need to make a week before i go home.

i am pretty sure i have figured you out rev. obvioulsy if you have to make at least $3 a mile to break even tells me you dont work hard.

Oh, I guess everyone failed to mention, you AIN'T going home at the end of the week. Not if you want to average those miles.
Just because you WANT to take off, doesn't mean you WILL take off a day each week. Forget that right now.

You ain't got Rev figured out at all.
You are simply ignoring the reality being presented to you.

What part of "Work Smart, Not Harder" don't you understand?

I don't mean to be offensive or rude, but you seem to be real hard-headed about accepting what people WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT are trying to teach you.

"Put down the dream, step away from the dream with your hands over your head".

Now, when the swelling goes down, browse through all the posts here about costs, the realities of the miles available and the practicality of running X numbers of miles per week LEGALLY, the discussion about running for a cents per mile operation versus a percentage based operation, breakdowns and maintenance and then.....

REGROUP your thoughts and ideas and re-examine your plans.

6 years ago I was in your shoes.
I did what you are planning to do the same way you are planning to do it.
It would take me all day to tell you about what I learned in the next few years that PROVED to me,

you are about to make a mistake just like I did.

[Pipester]

You'd be better off breaking down your cost per mile,since some of your expenses are determined according to how many miles you run.

If you want to figure on 10,000 mi. a month for an average then......
aprox. $8000 a year for unlimited (can run anywhere in u.s. 48) for cargo,($100,000), liability(1,000,000), and physical damage on tractor (depends on value of truck). You don't need bobtail running under your own authority.
So.......................8000/120,000miles = 6.66 cents per mile
Fhut $550 per year............................ .458cents per mile
Fuel,roughly..................................31.5 cents permile
I.f.T.A., your punishment for not buying enough fuel for the number of miles in each state you run in...............????????????????a $45,000 trk you plan on running 3 years, $45,000/3 =$15,000/120,000miles =......................... 12.5 cents per mile.
put back for repairs and maintenence.............10 cents a mile.
that should cover trailer expenses if not pulling a reefer.
I don't know how ark. ks. and ky figure what you have to donate for property txs but their is an ifta website that maybe explains it,but idon't remember what it is so don't forget the cost of a notebook to right down everything you know you won't remember.

whats listed here comes to about 61 cents a mile (not including interest on trk loan.)

i'm sure there is more that others will add, like the corporation tax that a few states are wanting to collect if you are inc. and pick up or deliver in their state.

So everything that you make over 61 cents (in this example) is yours to keep. Right? If it is then don't forget to figure in the cost of that great tax attorney and another .39 cents for mailing his name to me


Re: Punishment for not buying enough fuel in the states that you run in......How about the GIFT in the way of credits for purchasing more fuel than what you burned in the other states. ?????

[germanbmwfreak]

omg i cant actually belive people wrote on this post still. as for the problem i was having earlier obvioulsy still didnt get across because some people in here still have some smart a** remark to make still. i ask a question and the people who wrote the answer cant justify their reasonings to why they belive that. majorty of people say o/o's are not making money i think that is total bull crap. if you are a o/o and you aint making money then that is a personal problem.

[Pipester]

omg i cant actually belive people wrote on this post still. as for the problem i was having earlier obvioulsy still didnt get across because some people in here still have some smart a** remark to make still. i ask a question and the people who wrote the answer cant justify their reasonings to why they belive that. majorty of people say o/o's are not making money i think that is total bull crap. if you are a o/o and you aint making money then that is a personal problem.

It's lack of business sense. PERIOD>

[Pipester]

The reason I made the comment about IFTA is that yes there are debits with some states but credits with others.

The short of it is ....buy your fuel where the BASE price of the gallon before taxes is the lowest. Don't worry about the taxes....you have to pay those regardless based on miles travelled in each state.






http://www.totaltrucking.com/fsfuel.htm



Things you need to know about buying fuel:

The single most important thing to remember is:



You pay tax on where you burn the fuel regardless of where you buy it.



The pump price isn't the true cost of the fuel.




The provincial/state tax rate doesn't matter, if you travel there, you pay tax on what you burn there. GST has a positive effect on fuel pricing for Canadians



Buying "enough" fuel to get you through a province or state may not be your best option.




Owing money at the end of a quarter on your fuel tax may mean that you paid less for fuel rather than more.

[germanbmwfreak]

i understand the fuel tax and that the pump price isnt what it actually is. i am not being hard headed its that i STILL hear comments "give up the dream" "go be a company man", blah blah blah. i really do appericate the REAL answers ive gotten here. i dont appericate the smart a** comments, or go be a company man, hard headed, give up the dream, etc etc.

[tommy]

I still say to stick with an International!!!!! :D

[DANMELISSA]

Go with the KW W900B w/86" Studio....here look at mine....http://www.expediterworld.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10066/thumb_PIC_0004.JPG

http://www.expediterworld.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10066/thumb_PIC_0005.JPG

http://www.expediterworld.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10066/thumb_PIC_0008.JPG

http://www.expediterworld.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10066/thumb_PIC_0017.JPG

[Rev.Vassago]

Go with the KW W900B w/86" Studio....here look at mine....

Bad form. :angry:

[tommy]

your truck looks stupid and your Bimbo likes it, so that just confirms how ugly your truck really is vASSago

[Rev.Vassago]

your truck looks stupid and your Bimbo likes it, so that just confirms how ugly your truck really is vASSago

www.grammar.com

[hellcat_99]

Your trk looks awesome. Really nicley turned out. :cool: :cool: :cool:


Holly :cheers:

[EVlLBOB]

The reason that most of the posts seem to direct you to be a company driver for a few more years is simple, you don't have enough driving experience to be contemplating buying a truck. There is too much to know that only experience will get you. The driver's that are offering you advice are trying to prevent you from going bankrupt. Your projections of running 5000 miles a week or more are fantasy. Consistency in this business is a real problem. You might be rich one month and broke the next. Companies that guarantee you x number of miles per week are lying. Also, when freight gets slow those companies will run their trucks and starve their owner operators. What did we just learn? Any company that has their own fleet and also owner operators will look out for their trucks first. Also, mileage pay is the wrong mindset. Revenue per mile is what you need to think. Less miles, more pay. Who wants to run 5000 miles per week? Nobody does and even if you can get that many miles consistently you will be wore out and so will your truck and you will never get home. In fact, if you are factoring in home time on a regular basis you can forget that right now. Trying to get home and make your truck payments at the same time will bankrupt you fast. The truck and payment are your mistress. You see where we are going here. You will be scrambling most of the time to make ends meet because of so many factors that come along that you can't have prepared for. You will hemorhage money for repairs, bad decisions, slow freight, down time for repairs, etc.etc. Nothing that you think you can count on on paper will come to pass. You have done some good homework on what to prepare for but the bottom line is that you can't be prepared because there is so much that you don't know about this business and a lot of it can be learned by more time as a company driver.

My advice is to stay a company driver and do the following.

1. Save your money so that if you buy a truck you can buy it outright or at least have a real cheap payment.

2. Pay off all other debts as much as possible. Credit cards, house payments, car payments etc.

3. Gain more experience and try to travel all 48 states and Canada and get to know freight patterns and where you like to travel.

4. Learn and take note of the dead areas for freight and also when certain types of freight are dead. For instance flatbed freight is dead from December to the first part of March...usually.


By saving your money and paying down your non-trucking related debt you will then have a better chance to survive. One bad month could otherwise break you and cost you your home or your car or your significant other or all of the above. The bottom line is that you really don't have enough experience as a driver to be taking the leap to ownership. I am not trying to sound like I am talking down to you or dismissing your drive and determination but I am just talking from experience in the real world. You can position yourself better for success if you heed the warnings you have gotten from several people on this thread. Good luck.

[DANMELISSA]

He is absolutly right, ya want an all o/o company with which you'll make more money with less driving. Now most o/o company's require that you have 2yrs o/o experience. My truck I was able to pay CASH for, only cuz of 4 teenagers that couldn't drive and they destroyed my old truck. If you want to lease to own a truck, at least a decent 1, look up Trans Lease in Denver,CO, thats where I bought my first truck. %age pay is not always the best, few company's actually have decent milage pay, like Roadrunner/Dawes. Yes the paysheet for each terminal is in writing, but that doesn't include FSG, thats added to it. Even though my truck is paid for, I wont haul a load for less than $1.50 a mile, and the run I'll be on is paying $1.60 plus for 4500 miles round trip, and thats fine with me. You dont need to run yer truck into the ground to make money. "Drive Smarter, Not Harder!!!" here is the old truck.....http://www.expediterworld.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10066/thumb_05-19-06_1801.jpg




And Vassago, what is with the bad form comment??? I notice you are showing every1 the percentage of actual brain usage you use. Thats why you make the idiotic comments you make, cuz ya only use 1% of yer mind..........

[Rev.Vassago]

And Vassago, what is with the bad form comment???

Because it is BAD FORM to bump ancient threads to discuss things with people who no longer frequent this board. And thank you for the personal attack. ;)

[DANMELISSA]

Why thank you!!! I just wanted you to taste how it feels.....

[Rev.Vassago]

Why thank you!!! I just wanted you to taste how it feels.....

Please enlighten me where I have personally attacked you anywhere.

[DANMELISSA]

Its not me you have attacked, but others, I just took notice. Besides, you quoted something I said, so if you didn't mean to attack me, then I apologize. But on another note, you have attacked others I know, and I felt that if ya mess with my friends, ya mess with me....

[Rev.Vassago]

Its not me you have attacked, but others, I just took notice. Besides, you quoted something I said, so if you didn't mean to attack me, then I apologize. But on another note, you have attacked others I know, and I felt that if ya mess with my friends, ya mess with me....

Pointing out the obvious is not an attack. And if THEY think I attacked them, then I am sure they are big enough to handle it on their own. Just sayin'. ;)

As far as me stating that bumping this thread was BAD FORM, I say the same thing to everyone who bumps old threads. So don't think that it makes you special. :zzz:

[Big_Dave]

As far as me stating that bumping this thread was BAD FORM, I say the same thing to everyone who bumps old threads. So don't think that it makes you special. :zzz:
Rev......One thing to keep in mind is, Dan & Melissa weren't members here back when this thread was started.

Most new members peruse old threads to find info or just to read them. There's nothing wrong with bringing an old thread back to the top for the sake of discussion.

Who knows, someone may learn something. ;)

[DANMELISSA]

You tell 'em Big DAVE!!!!! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Rev.Vassago]

Who knows, someone may learn something. ;)

You're right. We learned (once again) that germanbmwfreak wasn't right in the head. :harhar: