wbmillerkc
Active Expediter
Hi Rocketman
First, I'm not sure this is the proper forum for the excelent questions you've posed, hence the new thread. Mr. Moderator, I'm sure you can move it to where ever it would be more suitable, if you deem it so, however I think his questions and discussion would benefit anyone thinking of getting into expiditing.
Second, I didn't mean to denigrate in any way people that drive for others, I did that for 5 years too, and Rocketman is absoultly right. If you drive for someone else and blow a $400 tire, just pick up the phone and send someone out to fix it so I can get back on the road, and hurry up, after all, it isn't coming out of My pocket! But as Socrates wrote over the entrance to the Partheon..."Know thy self" At 58, for better or worse.... I do. I would rather not hand over the freedom to not be absoultly controled by others in spite of the risks involved.
So, on to the questions....
[IF"][/COLOR]In some ways, the straight truck is actually easier to get into than a Sprinter. It will cost more, but most any carrier will sign it on as opposed to most of the better carriers have a waiting list for Sprinters.
A few more specifics would help to get you some better answers.
1. Are you looking to get into something new or something used? Anything newer than 2003 with a diesel engine has a potential for some seriously expensive repairs.....sprinters included after 2006. If your looking at new stuff, they seem to have made some improvements in the last year or 2, but all of that emissions equipment is still on there and you can bet its still expensive.
Something used to start with. As I've researched this across the web, 25500 trucks are a dime a dozen, 33000 class 7 cab and chassis can be found, you just have to look a little harder. All of them can be had for betweek 18 and 20k+ for a 2005-2007 with between 250 and 350k. Used sleepers in the 70"+ range, another 2k, Used box 24'/22', around 2005 vintage, another 5k or so. With a few thousand for incedentals, I'm thinking around 30k would get you set up. I have around 10k cash for set up and the first few months operation, the rest financed.
2. What is your main goal? Do you need a certain amount of income from this business? How much do you have in mind? Does the business only need to sustain its own expenses plus some living expenses for you? These things would be a major factor in my decision if I were in your shoes.
Here is where I fall into a bit of a quandry, I don't know what realistic earnings are. Personaly I'd need around $1800 after taxes per month for the household. After that everything else can go to the truck. But, with a lot of talk about sitting, I don't know if those numbers are realistic. Yeah, I know, you can make as much as you're willing to run. I haven't really broken it down yet, but I'm thinking around 5000 miles a month. For a solo.... is that freight there?
3. Are you capable of dealing with a 3 or 4 day layover without going crazy? Many, many people who come into this business from tractor trailers just cant take the downtime that we see from time to time. You have been out of the industry long enough that it probably wouldnt be an issue for you, but its still something to think about.
I don't really think I'd have a problem with that, once I got used to the business cycles. The first couple of months when the bills are coming will probably be tough.
For what its worth....there are many people out here perfectly happy driving for someone else. There is something to be said for not being responsible for the repair costs associated with these newer diesels....believe me on that if you ignore everything else...lol. [/I]
Ok, so if you've managed to get to the end of my longwindedness, are my expectations anywhere realistic? or am I full of BS?
First, I'm not sure this is the proper forum for the excelent questions you've posed, hence the new thread. Mr. Moderator, I'm sure you can move it to where ever it would be more suitable, if you deem it so, however I think his questions and discussion would benefit anyone thinking of getting into expiditing.
Second, I didn't mean to denigrate in any way people that drive for others, I did that for 5 years too, and Rocketman is absoultly right. If you drive for someone else and blow a $400 tire, just pick up the phone and send someone out to fix it so I can get back on the road, and hurry up, after all, it isn't coming out of My pocket! But as Socrates wrote over the entrance to the Partheon..."Know thy self" At 58, for better or worse.... I do. I would rather not hand over the freedom to not be absoultly controled by others in spite of the risks involved.
So, on to the questions....
[IF"][/COLOR]In some ways, the straight truck is actually easier to get into than a Sprinter. It will cost more, but most any carrier will sign it on as opposed to most of the better carriers have a waiting list for Sprinters.
A few more specifics would help to get you some better answers.
1. Are you looking to get into something new or something used? Anything newer than 2003 with a diesel engine has a potential for some seriously expensive repairs.....sprinters included after 2006. If your looking at new stuff, they seem to have made some improvements in the last year or 2, but all of that emissions equipment is still on there and you can bet its still expensive.
Something used to start with. As I've researched this across the web, 25500 trucks are a dime a dozen, 33000 class 7 cab and chassis can be found, you just have to look a little harder. All of them can be had for betweek 18 and 20k+ for a 2005-2007 with between 250 and 350k. Used sleepers in the 70"+ range, another 2k, Used box 24'/22', around 2005 vintage, another 5k or so. With a few thousand for incedentals, I'm thinking around 30k would get you set up. I have around 10k cash for set up and the first few months operation, the rest financed.
2. What is your main goal? Do you need a certain amount of income from this business? How much do you have in mind? Does the business only need to sustain its own expenses plus some living expenses for you? These things would be a major factor in my decision if I were in your shoes.
Here is where I fall into a bit of a quandry, I don't know what realistic earnings are. Personaly I'd need around $1800 after taxes per month for the household. After that everything else can go to the truck. But, with a lot of talk about sitting, I don't know if those numbers are realistic. Yeah, I know, you can make as much as you're willing to run. I haven't really broken it down yet, but I'm thinking around 5000 miles a month. For a solo.... is that freight there?
3. Are you capable of dealing with a 3 or 4 day layover without going crazy? Many, many people who come into this business from tractor trailers just cant take the downtime that we see from time to time. You have been out of the industry long enough that it probably wouldnt be an issue for you, but its still something to think about.
I don't really think I'd have a problem with that, once I got used to the business cycles. The first couple of months when the bills are coming will probably be tough.
For what its worth....there are many people out here perfectly happy driving for someone else. There is something to be said for not being responsible for the repair costs associated with these newer diesels....believe me on that if you ignore everything else...lol. [/I]
Ok, so if you've managed to get to the end of my longwindedness, are my expectations anywhere realistic? or am I full of BS?
but sometimes as an O/O even, that choice is not entirely yours. You are still at the mercy of dispatch. That is not something anyone but a specific carrier will be able to answer, but I was just trying to get a general feel for it.