Should I slam my head in a door?

[Big_Dave]

I've been getting the 'itch' to buy a truck again.

The only misgivings I've really had about doing so is the fuel prices. Up and down, up and down.......like a damn yo-yo. :wtf: That's one of the deciding factors that hit me last year after my motor took a dump on me. I was putting around $500 a day in my tanks when fuel was around $2.85 a gallon (just before fuel spiked).

Yeah, the $18K I was quoted for an inframe at the time helped hasten my decision to bail out. 2 weeks after I sold it, I called the guy that bought it to find out exactly what let loose in the motor. All told, he ended up buying a new (used) block and had it inframed. Total cost around $22K. :yikes:

I know now where I screwed up before, so I got that base covered this go-'round.

Anyways, I 'found' a nice Pete 379 EXHD w/ 550 Cat (3406E pre-EGR, about 200K miles on rebuild), 15 speed, 63" stand-up sleeper, 270 w/b for around $30K. (I do NOT have all the details on this truck yet)

Should I persue this or should I just slam my head in a door and hope that once the pain goes away I'll feel 'normal' again?

I await all responses, positive and negative.

[Mark-the-Spark]

. . . . or should I just slam my head in a door and hope that once the pain goes away I'll feel 'normal' again?

Head. Door. Hope the pain does not go away ;)

Fuel is not the issue (assuming a fair surcharge). The issue is being married to the truck. For us wild-eyed gypsy types, we can live with it. For a family man, another story altogether.

__________________________________________________ __________________________
Mark; had Pam Anderson responded to his emails, would probably be an accountant :cheers:

[SUNSHINE]

I hope your itch goes away soon. Dont forget about all the recipt keeping, IFTA fuel taxes. paying uncle sam cuz you didnt spend enough.I got 9 payments left and counting and no i am not buying another truck nor am I hiring a driver.If I buy anything it will be another trailer.Uncle Sam cant tax me if Im :fishing: or working in my garden. Ive just started taking more time off. Im starting to get burned out from watching the calendar and checkbook. Theres times theres not enough hours in the day to get truck and personal business done.One serious mechanical breakdown can raise finiancial havoc.It is nice being your own boss but a lot of responsibilities.But ya know Big Dave, I would probally buy another truck if anything happened to this one.Check out the gallery. thats my gold cornfield cadalliac. Even tho I b!tch alot about it being a PITA its been an adventure of a lifetime with a lot of good and bad memories. ;)

[Randg1]

Dave- only you know what is best for your FAMILY ;) .. You've been there, done that & know what to expect. Personnaly, I would only do it again if I got my auth. & a trailer. If I intended to lease on I would just stay with the day job & have a family life. But you know all this...Happy desision(sp) making my friend :brightidea:

[Preacher]

Run Forrest, RUN! :rofl:

Juzz kiddin' ya bro!

Actually, with a good fuel surcharge, fuel prices aren't much of a factor. My advise would be to buy a tractor that gets great fuel mileage. Petes are nice, but they can really suck the diesel. Remember, it's not how good you look goin' down the road, it's how much $$$ you take home. You might also want to take a look at paying less for a tractor. When I'm out runnin', my $9000 Farmall makes just as much per mile as someone else's $90,000 Pete. I know that you know all this but just want to help keep things in perspective.

[magicman]

You know my feelings on this, Dave. Lose the big hood erection and then go ahead and find a truck. That means no 379's, no W900's, no Classics, no Starcars, etc.

Fuel mileage is the name of the game right now. It also helps to be leased onto someone the collects a good fuel surcharge.

I know I get a little angry when a customer refuses to pay fuel surcharge, but if the rate works out to a good rate, does it really matter? If I take a load the ends up with $ 1.75 to the truck with no fuel surcharge, or I get a load that pays $ 1.40 to the truck PLUS a $ .30 fuel surcharge, it's all the same. The only decisions I have to make are which one goes to an area with good freight and which one weighs less. Deadhead is also a concern, but not as much as the others.

When I look for loads, I add the deadhead miles in and then divide it out, giving me my actual rate.

The load I'm on right now pays $ 3.32 per mile according to the loadboard, BUT taking the companies percentage out, using PC MILER miles, including deadhead, I'll actually get $ 2.33 per mile. Now remember, this includes deadhead miles, too. The load only weighs 1500 lbs. I have to run my reefer, but that's OK, it delivers on Monday morning, so it won't be so bad. Besides, once I get the temp down to 0 degrees, I can start using start stop.

The decision is obviously all yours, Dave, BUT please think with your wallet instead of your vanity. That big hooded truck makes no more than an aerodynamic truck. BUT it should take less to operate the aerodynamic truck.

I'll bet you could call Crete and buy Capt Chaos old truck for less than the Pete. :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: This I gotta see......Big Dave in a Century. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:


It'll never happen.

[tommy]

I got a few Internationals you can own, I am sick of the headaches already! :yikes: :rofl: :rofl:

Look in Mirror and say DUMMY till Rain is rolling on the floor with laughter :harhar: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:


I knew it was comming, along with a few others around here, you can put just as many lights on a more aero truck and get better fuel milage ya know.. :D :cool: :cool:

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

[Pipester]

I hope your itch goes away soon. Dont forget about all the recipt keeping, IFTA fuel taxes. paying uncle sam cuz you didnt spend enough.I got 9 payments left and counting and no i am not buying another truck nor am I hiring a driver.If I buy anything it will be another trailer.Uncle Sam cant tax me if Im :fishing: or working in my garden. Ive just started taking more time off. Im starting to get burned out from watching the calendar and checkbook. Theres times theres not enough hours in the day to get truck and personal business done.One serious mechanical breakdown can raise finiancial havoc.It is nice being your own boss but a lot of responsibilities.But ya know Big Dave, I would probally buy another truck if anything happened to this one.Check out the gallery. thats my gold cornfield cadalliac. Even tho I b!tch alot about it being a PITA its been an adventure of a lifetime with a lot of good and bad memories. ;)

IFTA is not a big item You get Credits in one state and Debits in another.

As long as you buy wherever the BASE price is the lowest (Before taxes).

[Preacher]

Look in Mirror and say DUMMY till Rain is rolling on the floor with laughter :harhar: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Randg1]

uhh Dave :cheers: I've got a 99' FLD with 900k & a 94 Utility 48' reefer with 17k hrs. that I'll sell for $32k.. And they are makin $$.. Then I'll get me a local rock haulin job & be home or go fishin or or or whatever.
Am I serious? yepper :fishing: :fishing: ;) ;) ;) ...

[Bryan]

i say go for it u havent seems in the right place since u sold ur rig. Ive seen some nice lookin centurys and columbias on truckpaper and some good deals are there but yea talk to the mrs and see how she feels about it then after you make ur money with a low fuel consumption u can move up with to the 379 or kw just my opinion OH btw if u give me some specs i can search truckpaper for you because i dont do anything else during the day

[David_Reed]

Did I see the word "family" in here somewhere?

Keep the belly-dump/end-dump whatever, local, home-nights, off weekends gig.
Keep the wife happy and allow the kids to see your face daily.

It ain't all about the hood.
Or the chicken lights.
Or the open road.
The wide vistas.
The irregular route, or even the dedicated, regular route, Dave.


Look in your wifes' eyes, when she knows what you're thinking.
Look in your kids' face, when they think they know what you're thinking.

Put your heart in their shoes.





Then, look into your heart for the answer you seek.

[Rooster]

Dave
There ain't no feeling like petermobiling,sounds pretty good to me,what type of trailer ya gonna pull? lease to carrier or your own authority? Good luck on what ever you decide to do. Then maybe you and Rain can come out to Cali and visit and I can give you all these cheap brokers I deal withs numbers and have a few refreshments and burn't meat.
Rooster

[magicman]

I think riding around on that FAT wallet's done went and cut off circulation to his brain. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Wait a minute, his brain ain't supposed to be in his.......back.......er....pocket????

Look Dave, you'll look just fine driving a Century. Hell, women even find men sexy that drive something besides Peterbilts. Might even get whistled at by the lady drivers. ;) ;) ;)

[Mark-the-Spark]

. . . . This I gotta see......Big Dave in a Century. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Oh, I dunno... put dual exhaust on it, reroute it up the sides, put some chicken lights on it, paint a cool color -- kinda like a black over a red base with a bit of metalflake.... ;)

[Capt._Chaos]

Dave, I'm sure quite a few people would LOVE to have the job that you have now. Think about it!

I remember you & I talking on the phone a few times about how nice it is to not have to "share a paycheck with a truck" any more. It's been almost a year now since I sold "The Battle Cruiser", and while I miss the truck itself I DON'T miss all the extra work involved in running the business (clerical, maintenance, etc). Having a good benefits package & not having to pay through the nose for individual medical insurance coverage sure is nice too! :cheers:

With truck operating costs generally on the rise (and freight rates generally not always keeping up), it's hard to plan ahead for a future as a truck owner now. I don't miss it a bit.

I may not be grossing as much money now in someone else's truck, but I have been able to put a lot more into savings & retirement now & still enjoy life. It's nice to be able to do that & not work anywhere near as hard any more.

If you STILL feel that "itch", I'll echo what Magicman said about staying away from the fuel-gulping "Large Cars". By the way I do have the V.I.N. number on the '03 Century with a pre- EGR Detroit engine I just moved out of last weekend!

[Cigar]

I've been getting the 'itch' to buy a truck again.

The only misgivings I've really had about doing so is the fuel prices. Up and down, up and down.......like a damn yo-yo. :wtf: That's one of the deciding factors that hit me last year after my motor took a dump on me. I was putting around $500 a day in my tanks when fuel was around $2.85 a gallon (just before fuel spiked).

Yeah, the $18K I was quoted for an inframe at the time helped hasten my decision to bail out. 2 weeks after I sold it, I called the guy that bought it to find out exactly what let loose in the motor. All told, he ended up buying a new (used) block and had it inframed. Total cost around $22K. :yikes:

I know now where I screwed up before, so I got that base covered this go-'round.

Anyways, I 'found' a nice Pete 379 EXHD w/ 550 Cat (3406E pre-EGR, about 200K miles on rebuild), 15 speed, 63" stand-up sleeper, 270 w/b for around $30K. (I do NOT have all the details on this truck yet)

Should I persue this or should I just slam my head in a door and hope that once the pain goes away I'll feel 'normal' again?

I await all responses, positive and negative.



Damn, sorry to read your truck is gone.. Do whatever is in your hart.. Only you know what is best... Ask God for a little help on this one.

When the Business Forms Industry turned into the "buggy whip industry of the 19teens" it was rough on me. :noclue: . You could not give business forms away let alone make a living... I took a job as a Courier. For 2 years I always thought I was forgetting something. Then I realized that my job had a beginning and an end.. I showed up and did my job and went home. :drool: A new concept that took awhile to grasp...

So far I love being an O/O. I run local and I can chase my hobbies like a nut.. It works for me...

[Pipester]

Dave,

If you enjoy the home time more than the road, stay where you're at.

If you must go back on the road, buy NEW ONLY and take out the extended warranty or else lease with all maintenance included.

[Bada-boom, bada-bing]

Lets see... you have a local gig where you're home with your family every night and then...
I've been getting the 'itch' to buy a truck again.


Go with the door, and I mean that in a good, Christian way. ;)

[Bryan]

Cantu get a truck and lease it to the peope your with now i mean brings a lil more money im sure

[Capt._Chaos]

Just thought about something.........

When the truck I was driving got backed into in January............

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/captchaos/100_0799.jpg

I'm sure glad it wasn't MINE!

About all I had to worry about was moving my stuff into another tractor & going back on the road the next afternoon- once I took pictures for my company, dealt with the Police, exchanged info with the Werner driver that hit me, and rode back to the Marietta yard in the tow truck, I didn't have the hassles of trying to collect money from lost revenue.

Something to think about. ;)

[Pipester]

Hey Dave,


how's your head ???? :harhar: :harhar: :harhar: :harhar: :harhar: :harhar:

[Rooster Cruiser]

I've been getting the 'itch' .....

They make meds for that.....

Uncle Sam, piss stained parkinglots, lot lizards, brokers, comchecks, DoT, piss bottles, bad directions, Chicago bridge hunting, truckstop food, no parking places at 2am, no internet service,drivers tossing their fast food garbage on the ground,tight spaces, people unfairly targeting your truck....

I could go on and on.....

Call me sometime, Im actually working for the next few days!!!

[tommy]

I've been getting the 'itch' .....

They make meds for that.....

Uncle Sam, **** stained parkinglots, lot lizards, brokers, comchecks, DoT, **** bottles, bad directions, Chicago bridge hunting, truckstop food, no parking places at 2am, no internet service,drivers tossing their fast food garbage on the ground,tight spaces, people unfairly targeting your truck....

I could go on and on.....

Call me sometime, Im actually working for the next few days!!!



Sounds like I never want to get back in the truck now!!! :yikes: :yikes:

Thanks for the sugeerrrr coated version RC!!! :rofl: :rofl:

[Foxfire]

Dave, you know what the bottom line is my friend. YOU do what makes YOU happy. And I know that whatever you do will make Deb happy. Remember that your kids are both grown now and almost on their own. Load Deb up and take her with you. He!! teach her to drive.
I don't have to tell you what my choice would be. Get the truck that you feel most comfortable with. We all know you won't ever be truly happy until you are the full Captain of your ship.
If ya need to talk..... you know the number.

[Big_Dave]

Load Deb up and take her with you.
That'd be fine and dandy for up to 2 weeks max..........then either I'd kill her or vice-versa. :yikes: :rofl:
He!! teach her to drive.
:yikes: :wow: :yikes: :wow: :yikes: :wtf:
I have a hard enough time riding in the pickup to town with her if she drives. :yikes: :rofl:

After much thought, IF I do buy another truck, it'll be an old Pete 359 or an old KW W925. I'd restore it and show it. :cool: :cheers:

[Rooster Cruiser]

Thanks for the sugeerrrr coated version RC!!! :rofl: :rofl:

Glad to be of service!

[dominopizzadrvr]

A buddy of mine who is a company driver broke down in Atlanta the other day. A lifter went out and he was gonna be there a week and costed the company 10 Grand to fix,anymore questions. My truck breaks down and i still get paid.

[Truckdobe]

We tried the truckless route for a year after our Pete was stolen... it didn't work. NOT driving someone else's and NOT driving anything sloped, pointed or otherwise aerodynamically inclined; they don't make one I like. Shopped and shopped 359s with the intention of restoring and sticking a custom on... stumbled across our current W9 and before I even thought about it, bought it...

I agree that only YOU know what YOU want to do. I think we're all aware (or should be) of the usual industry downsides, some of us just have to do it our own way.

Good luck either way.

[tommy]

Actually this IS between you and Deb, you know that and I sure hope to see you happy again, you got grouchy when you became a company man! :harhar:

lookin at a dogs butt cannot help much either D :rofl: :rofl: ave!!

[maxmiddle]

Hey Dave:

If ya wanna be a junior meat hauler, we have 2 W9's, one 379, AND a barney colored T-600 in our fleet!! (know you can't resist a Barney truck) :classic: :yikes: Will have to try to get some pics one of these days.

Seriously, You will have to do what is best for you and Rain. OTR gets in your blood, huh?

What ever you decide, Go For The Gusto!!

[tommy]

What ya gonna do Dave??? :cool:

[Big_Dave]

What ya gonna do Dave???
My answer is on page 2 of this thread. Here's part of it. :p
After much thought, IF I do buy another truck, it'll be an old Pete 359 or an old KW W925. I'd restore it and show it. :cool: :cheers:

[David_Reed]

thassa uh awfuh beeeig woid thayut if thang.

[tommy]

What color is your truck Dave???? :D :D

[TotallyTwisted]

I've been getting the 'itch' to buy a truck again.

The only misgivings I've really had about doing so is the fuel prices. Up and down, up and down.......like a damn yo-yo. :wtf: That's one of the deciding factors that hit me last year after my motor took a dump on me. I was putting around $500 a day in my tanks when fuel was around $2.85 a gallon (just before fuel spiked).

Yeah, the $18K I was quoted for an inframe at the time helped hasten my decision to bail out. 2 weeks after I sold it, I called the guy that bought it to find out exactly what let loose in the motor. All told, he ended up buying a new (used) block and had it inframed. Total cost around $22K. :yikes:

I know now where I screwed up before, so I got that base covered this go-'round.

Anyways, I 'found' a nice Pete 379 EXHD w/ 550 Cat (3406E pre-EGR, about 200K miles on rebuild), 15 speed, 63" stand-up sleeper, 270 w/b for around $30K. (I do NOT have all the details on this truck yet)

Should I persue this or should I just slam my head in a door and hope that once the pain goes away I'll feel 'normal' again?

I await all responses, positive and negative.

We ALL told you this would happen :yikes: ..............do the Door, it will hurt less in the end :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[trashwagon]

I'm seriously thinkin" about it too (again)


:yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :wtf:

[Big_Dave]

TW.........take the 'Door' route. In the long run, it hurts less. ;)

[SUNSHINE]

I am sitting in Green River,UT

FUEL:3.39 GAL

PASCO,WA 3.59 GAL

AND I AINT LOOKING FOR THE PRICE TO GO DOWN.

OIL CHANGE UP $40

HURRY UP APRIL 2007

[TotallyTwisted]

Hmmmm, maybe I could buy me another truck and...............Maybe..........Maybe..... :wtf: :wtf:

[EVlLBOB]

There are only two trucks worth buying:

1. KW W-900

2. Pete 379 ext. hood


Working for somebody else is fine but you will never get rich working for somebody else. They may get rich but you won't. There is no guarantee you will get rich working for yourself either, especially in this business. However, after it is all said and done I want to be just like old blue eyes and be able to say that "I did it my way" or at least close to my way. The other thing to remember about trucks is what happens if you need to sell your truck fast? How many people are out there itching to buy a century class. The W-900 and Pete 379 always have a bigger potential buyer pool and you will get a higher price than one of the throwaway trucks. You don't hear of anybody wanting to buy an old century class to fix up and show do you? The rounded trucks don't get that much better fuel mileage either.

[22_wheeler]

There are only two trucks worth buying:

1. KW W-900

2. Pete 379 ext. hood


Working for somebody else is fine but you will never get rich working for somebody else. They may get rich but you won't. There is no guarantee you will get rich working for yourself either, especially in this business. However, after it is all said and done I want to be just like old blue eyes and be able to say that "I did it my way" or at least close to my way. The other thing to remember about trucks is what happens if you need to sell your truck fast? How many people are out there itching to buy a century class. The W-900 and Pete 379 always have a bigger potential buyer pool and you will get a higher price than one of the throwaway trucks. You don't hear of anybody wanting to buy an old century class to fix up and show do you? The rounded trucks don't get that much better fuel mileage either.



Let others buy those "plastic things"they call trucks.You know the ones that every time you hit a bump in the road a screw in the dash pops out onto the floor.Also the ones that every time you go around a corner you lean so much you feel like your going into the woods.(And thats NOT from driving to FAST.

I had one for FIVE LONG YEARS NEVER AGAIN!!!!

[Capt._Chaos]

Working for somebody else is fine but you will never get rich working for somebody else. They may get rich but you won't.

I sold my truck last year when I saw operating costs going up, and while I did well as an Owner-Op I was burned out.

I may not earn as much now as a company driver now, but I do find myself not spending anywhere near as much money either.

As far as geting wealthy in any career, it's not always about how much money you make- a lot of wealth can be built by making better decisions with the money you already earn.

[Big_Dave]

You don't hear of anybody wanting to buy an old century class to fix up and show do you?
You haven't talked to Magicman lately, have you? :yikes: :rofl:

[EVlLBOB]

Working for somebody else is fine but you will never get rich working for somebody else. They may get rich but you won't.

I sold my truck last year when I saw operating costs going up, and while I did well as an Owner-Op I was burned out.

I may not earn as much now as a company driver now, but I do find myself not spending anywhere near as much money either.

As far as geting wealthy in any career, it's not always about how much money you make- a lot of wealth can be built by making better decisions with the money you already earn.

I hear ya, I have been kinda burned out for a while. I know that if I took a company job though, that I would not be able to stand it for long. I just have a real problem with stupid people telling me what to do. I am not saying that all management and all dispatchers are stupid but you know that somewhere along the line an idiot is going to be calling the shots. I like to be the idiot in charge and then I have no one to blame but myself. I have tried to run local jobs as well, and find myself getting bored quickly and wanting to get back on the road. This business is like crack,cigarettes, alcohol etc.etc. in that you just can't seem to get away from it once you start. I have tried many times and finally realized that for whatever reason, I like this business (CRAZY I KNOW) and so I might as well at least try to be in charge of my own destiny. I will agree though, that being smart with your money can make all the difference as well. It is a lot easier to tell your dispatcher to shove his northeast hand unload run when you aren't buried in debt and need the money and the job.

[Randg1]

Here's my $.02 worth & thay's about what it's worth ;) . I sold out last month. Truck & trailer went to a friend of mine who ask if I'd drive it for him foe a year. I agreed, in that my medical runs out in Nov. 07.
I have a pretty good run, leave Denton, Tx., next to where I live on Sun. morning & del. in Valdosta, Ga. on Tues. morning. Usually have a backhaul right away so I'm generally home on Thurs. afternoon. I still drive my rig & have the control to say no on any load but have no financial responsibility for the maint. or up keep.
I have'nt been at this long enough to figure if I'm making as much but not having t worry about a truck with 908k on it is priceless. :D :D
If I was even in my 60's I would have kept on truckin & bought a newer rig but at 71+ ------- one more year is enough :harhar: .......

[Pipeman]

Good for you.

Time to put away the steering wheel.


Had a brother that graduated from North texas State University in Denton with a Majors Degree in Music.

He died of a heart attack at age 39.

he had been playing for Diana and the Supremes and Gladys Knight and the Pips.