The T/T Advantage

[easyrider2697]

Steve pretty well hit the nail on the head, being a tractor we have the ability to move all the sizes of freight that the company has to offer, we can take our loads to places that a cv or straight truck will not go to because they cant get reloaded as quick, with Panther I have the ability to backhaul if I want to and relocate myself to a better area to get another expedite load instead of sitting for a day or so waiting on one, I will say both team and solo has its pro and cons, thats why I run 2 tractors and a total of 3 drivers, I have a floater driver that runs in both trucks and I personally believe it works great, gets a little hair pulling every now and then but really works out well...Parking it is not that bad, maybe once a week or every 10 days I have to circle the lot a couple times before I find a spot.

[BigBusBob]

Panther and FedEx again, both saying the same thing. But, Thank you.
Basically, stick to regular freight for solo 18 work.
Go team in expediting 18's to make money.
Team in anything makes more money, that's a no brainer.
No other 18 wheel operators (from other co.'s than the 2 above) want to comment on this thread??

[BillChaffey]

At the beginning of this "thread" the opinion that with a TT you can always drive for a Trucking Co. In Mountain Grove MO. as you pass by the Sale Barn, on the South side of highway #60 there are today, nine Tractor Trailers sitting in a For Sale Consignment lot. In mid July there were at least thirteen. All twin screw with sleepers. I don't understand if anyone with a Tractor trailer can sign on with a Company, why these owner choose to stay home and sell their Rig.

[kangar0085]

Ok, Steve... I have a question within this post... is it worth it for a contract driver like myself to get on with an o/o who has an 18 wheeler with an expedited co. besides FedEx or PII??? Versus a straight truck?

Am I going to make more money as a solo in an 18 wheeler driving for an owner -that pays the fuel for me- for any expedited co. versus being a solo in a regular freight co. driving 18's?

how about teams ina straight truck versus solo in an 18? Is the money still good?

These are basically yes and no questions, no need to mention numbers (unless you want to). Numbers can tend to bring up heated debates on here at times. However, Numbers are always interesting.

Thanks, BigbBob

I've been solo with US Xpress as a company driver and now I'm an owner operator at Panther with a T/T I'd say you will make the same money with an expedite carrier but will work alot less then with a truckload company like US Xpress who will get you an average of 2800 miles per week.

[kwexpress]

if you ask me a t/t is the only way to go.you dont need to sign on with anyone.

the cost of operation is more the insurance is more just everything is more.
but consider this.I take 3 or 4 ltls from IL to fl that all pay at least $1 per mile
usally I gross over 4k for my trip down and I have a house in fl so I dont deadhead out I spend a couple of day on the boards to find ltl there and along my route back.so over the course of a month I may sit for 1 week but its at home.
for every week and 1/2 I only run about 2,500 miles total but it averages out to $3 per mile by the time I am done so why would I expedite on there schedule when I can work that this.
I have been off the road since february by choice but will most likely be back on the road after x-mass.


I like my own schedule hos is never a problem and as far as terre haute,IN thats a good area you should do well

[kangar0085]

if you ask me a t/t is the only way to go.you dont need to sign on with anyone.

the cost of operation is more the insurance is more just everything is more.
but consider this.I take 3 or 4 ltls from IL to fl that all pay at least $1 per mile
usally I gross over 4k for my trip down and I have a house in fl so I dont deadhead out I spend a couple of day on the boards to find ltl there and along my route back.so over the course of a month I may sit for 1 week but its at home.
for every week and 1/2 I only run about 2,500 miles total but it averages out to $3 per mile by the time I am done so why would I expedite on there schedule when I can work that this.
I have been off the road since february by choice but will most likely be back on the road after x-mass.


I like my own schedule hos is never a problem and as far as terre haute,IN thats a good area you should do well

It's very difficult to put together LTL's its almost impossible to do 2 let alone 3-4. You must be superman.

[Scuba]

As my tag line says i am solo t/t and i do real well $12,000.00 t0 $15,000.00 a month with less than 2000 miles a week

[jwgmover]

As my tag line says i am solo t/t and i do real well $12,000.00 t0 $15,000.00 a month with less than 2000 miles a week

There you go everyone, low miles, high revenue. Should be every expeditors moto.