Everybodies $.02 worth please

[sevenn]

Hi everyone, my first time posting and I have a question (eventually).
I broke my first and foremost rule of trucking last month....I quit my job without having a plan in place to replace it. Last time I quit a job was in 1979 and that was to go to a better one. I have had two jobs quit me since then (laid-off).
My father was an O/O and I learned to drive from him in 1974 and have been in the business ever since. From 1979 to 1993 with a private carrier and from 1993 on in the LTL freight business (I know, a damn freight hauler:7 ).
Since quitting, I have been looking at O/O expediting as a way of challenging myself and being my own boss.
My question: On some other websites and reading between the lines in this forum, it would seem that a newcomer running solo with a D sleeper might gross as little as $50,000 or as much as $75,000 per year. GROSS! Pay for freight hauling for the other guy has averaged around $45,000 per year for me over the last 11 years. Can I average paying myself $45,000 per year after expenses but before taxes running solo in a class D sleeper?

I appreciate the input and, just to be on the safe side, am still putting in applications at the freight lines .

See ya,

Sevenn

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

 

[teacel]

Not that I’m a smart assssss!!!! But how hard do you want to work? How long do you plan to stay out – 1week – 2weeks- 3weeks or so on. Lets say there is money to be made, if you want to make it.

Most are now assuming that because of the new HOS solo drivers don’t have a chance. I personally don’t buy that hog wash. I know guys running solo doing better now than ever. It is all up to the individual person. If you are a hustler you can do it. If you plan on being home every weekend forget about it.

I don’t drive D or E units so I can’t say I did it. I drive a van and I make a lot more than that in a van.

GOOD LUCK in making a decision

 

[highway star]

I will preface my post by saying I am a van O/O, but I've been in trucking since the 70's and I know enough people in this business to have an idea how you might do with a "D" unit. To make it in this you have to make it your life, pretty much. As someone who is willing to work, I wouldn't be happy with less than 90k gross. I base that figure on how people I know well are doing. Given the ups and down of this business you might have years slightly less, but not much. How you do when all is said and done depends on your personal situation. Best of luck.

 

[sevenn]

Thanks teacel and highway star

I appreciate the quick responses and understood even as I asked the question (even tho I did not spell it out) that everything depended on how hard a person is willing to work and how long they are willing to stay out at a stretch.
I will keep my eyes and ears open for more information from folks like y'all who have "been there, done that".

Stay safe,

sevenn

"The journey is the destination."

 

[davekc]

crash

Seems like the ones who most often are to crash in this business are confronted with personal misfortunes, wanting to be home often, mismanage their finances, or overspend on a truck

 

[RichM]

RE: crash

Davekc hit it on the head,overspending on a truck is one of the biggest reasons people fail.They listen to the salesperson,get all kind of bells and whistles but fail to understand that now the truck owns you,you don!t own it. I see these huge D units out on the road and you get to talking and they tell you that their monthly payment is $2800. This means no time off,don!t get sick or have an accident etc.
Mismanaging finaces also happens,a guy starts out ,gets some decent trips,big checks arrive in the mail and they think it will always be this way so they blow the check.It is better to pay yourself a small salary each month and when conditions are ok a quarterly bonus.

 

[sevenn]

RE: crash

Thanks Dave And Rich for the responses. I will try to avoid the pitfalls y'all mentioned. See you on the road.

sevenn

"The journey is the destination."