The T/T Advantage

**moose** · 10-11-2008, 11:10 AM

O/O are getting into Expediting for all kind of rezones.
Many are a class A CDL holders.
in this case , it is easy to forget the Tractor Trailer advantage .
if you buy into a T/T , and things just don't work out the way you planed , you can always take your tractor and lease on with a Trucking Company .
if you buy into a strait truck , you must make it within the Expedite market.

Moose.

**FIS53** · 10-11-2008, 01:40 PM

I have to disagree with that assesment of the straight trucks. There are loads of local and regional carriers that utilize straights for doing calls and some guys do alright. Many of these have expeditied calls going short distances that pay well and if equipped with tailgate lift there are many jobs to be had delivering for various outfits. I know a couple of local places where their top drivers make reasonable money. Now these guys work for it and do multiple calls a day but quite often they do well in just 8 hours on the road.
Rob

**cheri1122** · 10-11-2008, 07:03 PM

There's also that T/T disadvantage: finding somewhere to park that puppy. It was tough when I drove T/T 5 years ago, and it's only getting worse.

**Jayman** · 10-12-2008, 06:32 PM

Im thinking of buying either a T/T or a straight truck next year. One of my key issues is this. I dont want to be on the road for a lengthy period of time. Right now, my company sends me places that I can get to within 11 hrs. After I deliver, I have to go down for 10 hrs. Then I dead head home. Thats the way the company does it almost 100% of the time.

If I buy a truck of any kind, I know I wont be able to operate like that. But, I dont want to spend my 34 hrs of reset time on the road. So, I would like to run hard until I reach my hos limit. Then go home for 2-3 days. Is it possible to do that and still generate about $3,000 a month? (after expenses) I live near I-70 in Terre Haute IN.

**FIS53** · 10-12-2008, 07:22 PM

Jayman i have a similar problem where I work with the sending me out and no backhaul but rather than look elsewhere I'm working on changing their ideas of doing things so now they are looking into load boards etc. It has been a slow process but with constant input and reminders and giving reasons for the change and of course benefits of greater income etc I think they are starting to see the light (oh wait that's the sun rising....). I can relate to the deadhead part as I have a lot more than most expeditors.
I'm not too sure if with the current market conditions if you'd be able to run hard for the week and then go home for a couple of days and then do it again. I get busy one day and sleep half the next. Most of my calls are short runs which means not a lot of time running.
Rob

**moose** · 10-12-2008, 07:44 PM

Jayman
you can easily clear 3K$ a month running a dedicated run out of your area.
on a T/T running general freight .
(heck ,with some experience ,you can do so as a Co. Driver)
with the current HOS , many trucking Company's have changed the operation for regional job, maximizing the 34 hours restart at home.
i dont think you can reach your home-time/3K goals , running Expedite , tho'w.

Moose.

**Jayman** · 10-12-2008, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by FIS53

Jayman i have a similar problem where I work with the sending me out and no backhaul

Rob, thanks for the info. I may not of made situation clear. I am a company driver. So, it dont cost me money to deadhead. lol But, you make good points that I need to consider.

Originally Posted by moose

Jayman
you can easily clear 3K$ a month running a dedicated run out of your area.
on a T/T running general freight .
(heck ,with some experience ,you can do so as a Co. Driver)
with the current HOS , many trucking Company's have changed the operation for regional job, maximizing the 34 hours restart at home.
i dont think you can reach your home-time/3K goals , running Expedite , tho'w.

Moose.

Thanks. I may end up going T/T then. Time will tell. Fortunately, I can get my class A and drive for my current employer and decide whether I want to buy my own before I take the plunge. I drive a straight truck now. May look into whether I can get general freight biz with a straight truck too. Somebody mentioned that was possible.

**iceroadtrucker** · 10-12-2008, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by moose

O/O are getting into Expediting for all kind of rezones.
Many are a class A CDL holders.
in this case , it is easy to forget the Tractor Trailer advantage .
if you buy into a T/T , and things just don't work out the way you planed , you can always take your tractor and lease on with a Trucking Company .
if you buy into a strait truck , you must make it within the Expedite market.

Moose.

The more I read mooses post the more I want my own Tractor trailer.
Im going to have it. Id rather be running and paying for somthing of my own then paying somebodys elses bills
Bills Bills hmm Dixi Chicks what happend to Bill where is Bill
YA ROTFLMAO

**nightcreacher** · 10-15-2008, 06:59 AM

kevin,when I retire i'll sell you mine

**easyrider2697** · 10-15-2008, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by nightcreacher

kevin,when I retire i'll sell you mine

For the right money I will sell you one of mine now, no need to wait till I retire!!....second thought, maybe not, I like the way things are now.

**BigBusBob** · 10-15-2008, 12:37 PM

It is rare that you can read posts regarding T/T's on EO...
Most on here are straight truck and cargo van/Sprinter drivers/owners.

It is also rare that you see posts from other T/T operators, other than FedEx and PII.

I still have yet to see a post from a T/T driver/operator with other co.'s than FedEx and PII. And even those 2 there's only 1 of each.

What's the deal there??? Both co.'s watch your logs and your movement like a hawk, regardless of whether you are loaded or not.

The real question I have:

Are there advantages to running T/T for expedited co.'s Besides FedEx and/or PII???

When I rarely see T/T subjects on here, it really makes me wonder, why? where are they?
if the money is so good in T/T expediting, then why don't other co.'s than FedEx and PII appear to be talked about on here?

They're both good co.'s, but I know that other co.'s use T/T's for expedited freight.

This is an interesting post. Hopefully I've just made it more interesting.

BigbBob

**nightcreacher** · 10-15-2008, 12:57 PM

There are other expedite companies that use T T,but in regards to your question,there are more than 2 of us with T T that post here,just seems that only a couple of us post on a regular bases.There is a big advantage to useing an E unit,we can haul B, C, D loads if needed.If you were to concider putting a tractor to work,the biggest advantage is there is less competition,so you dont tend to sit around as much as the straight trucks.I'm not going into the pay scales,or who would be the best to contact,just remember most recruiters are like used car salesmen.You should find a contractor from the expedite companies,and have a talk with them

**BigBusBob** · 10-17-2008, 01:41 PM

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

**wallytrucker1** · 10-17-2008, 06:34 PM

Big Bob: ! think there are a half dozen t/t here at leam. I just pull a 40' van with lift gate; works well for what I do here.

**nightcreacher** · 10-17-2008, 10:07 PM

Bob,since I dont have any idea about straight truck revenue,except when I might haul one,once in a while,I cant give you a real answer to compare straight truck teams to tractor solos,but I will say,running solo all depends where you are,whether you are willing to do short loads,and have the patience to work around the HOS.There are a lot of variables to making money as a solo,same as a team,but you will stay loaded more as a team.I cant say where you might make the most money,all the companies have ther own problems,its basically what your willing to deal with.I'm satisfied with FECC,you may not be.I make a lot of money here,You may not.Ive run solo here,have had fantastic weeks,have had weeks I'd rather not talk about,but I will say,my net income is much better running team than solo.This probably doesnt help much,I think the way some of the companies set up there systems,you may be able to do ok as a solo.My co-driver has run solo for some other owners,never in a straight truck,always in a tractor,he will tell you, he makes more running team than solo