Straight truck to tractor trailer

jjoerger · Jan 22, 2012

In talking with a friend today who is also a straight truck operator a hypothetical situation was brought up.
If a straight truck driver were to purchase a tractor and trailer would any carrier lease them on without recent experience? This driver has a class A CDL and more than 3 years OTR experience. And experience in a tractor trailer some 30 years ago.
If this driver were to get his own authority would anyone contract with him?
This topic was brought up due to the possible purchase of a TT at a great price.

BigCat · Jan 22, 2012

If you had your own authority and insurance that was up to par with the load requirements you could pull from load boards but I don't know about carriers.

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zorry · Jan 22, 2012

Getting his own authority. Not always a blessing. The other question could be answered by a quick phone call to any carriers he may be interested in. Recently some of the more desirable carriers have put in new age limits on equipment .

jjoerger · Jan 22, 2012

The truck is a 2008 KW. The trailer is a 2009 step deck. The sale is due to the death of the O/O who was my friends uncle.
He is thinking about buying it for what is owed, which is very little.
The question he has is what would he do with it other than resell it?

zorry · Jan 22, 2012

If the uncle had family he should sell it and give them the profits. Otherwise, if he sells it at a profit, he can't lose on it in the future. Call Idtrans. He's always looking for a deal and has connections to work that type of equipment I believe. How do you become a millionaire in trucking? Start with 2 million dollars, buy a truck and trailer.......

paullud · Jan 22, 2012

If he is running on his own the biggest obstacle is finding a broker that will use a new company. Once they see he can do the job he can be a little more picky with who he works with. There are carriers that will pay a very good percentage for someone with his own trailer, he may want to try that first.

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jjoerger · Jan 22, 2012

zorry said:
If the uncle had family he should sell it and give them the profits. Otherwise, if he sells it at a profit, he can't lose on it in the future.

No living relatives except my friend and his brother.
He was thinking of selling his straight truck and giving the flat bed a try.
It would be a shame to give it back to the bank with so little owed. I am not sure of the amount but the payments were around 2k and there is only about 10 left.

BigCat · Jan 22, 2012

At that price I would buy it and worry later. But really either way he goes he could turn a hell of a profit.

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jjoerger · Jan 22, 2012

He's going to buy it if he can. He has to arrange it with the trustee of his uncles will. He just doesn't know what to do with it. As asked in the OP, would anyone let him run it? Or would he better off selling it at a profit and pocketing the cash?

BigCat · Jan 22, 2012

Don't know about in the expediting but if he leases it with a big time carrier they may if he does 2 week refresher to prove he can do it. England,prime and swift all offer refreshers to name a few.

Or sell the trailer for say $7500 or so and get an 08 kw for $2500 and put a driver in it until he regains some experience.

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paullud · Jan 23, 2012

He would just need to find insurance that will cover him and find the brokers that will deal with a new company.

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ChrisGa23 · Jan 23, 2012

Could always get it and put a driver in it at a expedite company and sell the trailer ?

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bluejaybee · Jan 23, 2012

I agree with pallud. If he can get insurance, experience won't matter that much to a carrier. Ability to get insurance will be the determining factor in this situation.

greg334 · Jan 23, 2012

jjoerger said:
The truck is a 2008 KW. The trailer is a 2009 step deck. The sale is due to the death of the O/O who was my friends uncle.
He is thinking about buying it for what is owed, which is very little.
The question he has is what would he do with it other than resell it?

If he can get the truck for under $30k and the trailer for under $15, then he is three steps ahead of everyone. As mentioned, once you get the insurance, the fight to get onto a carrier is almost over. I would take the truck and make money with it, especially with some of the flat bed work happening in the mid section of the country.

jjoerger · Jan 23, 2012

If he could hire a co driver with several years of verifiable experience would a carrier except them. That way he could gain experience and make money.

BigCat · Jan 23, 2012

That would be up to carriers discretion. Whether or not the company offers training is another factor.

Be best in my opinion to do a refresher. He can obtain insurance through alot of ins companies and then should have no problems. That's how alot of the overseas (Indian) guys do it.

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nightcreacher · Jan 23, 2012

he just needs to take a refresher course ata truck driving school,then almost any company he wants to lease the truck and trailer on wiith will take him.Get in toudh with the companies doing the jet engines,although,you would need to run team with them

paullud · Jan 23, 2012

jjoerger said:
If he could hire a co driver with several years of verifiable experience would a carrier except them. That way he could gain experience and make money.

If he isn't going to get his own authority and sign on instead most carriers will want him to take a refresher course which most driving schools offer.

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BigCat · Jan 23, 2012

Most companies that offer a refresher give it free if you stay x amount of time. Make money and get refresher all at once.

I think going rate on a refresher is $1500 at a school or atleast it was at roadmaster when I checked on doing it myself.

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jjoerger · Jan 23, 2012

He found a small company in Missouri that has company drivers and owner operators. The said they would sign him on and have a company driver run with him for 2-3 weeks doing 200-300 mile runs. They seemed to be more worried about his ability to tie down and tarp the freight.
He can get the truck and trailer in about a month for around $21,000 cash.