Any Truck To Stay Away From O/O

Starting to look at the possibility of running O/O flatbed....any truck/Trans/rear end or motor to stay away from? Not just a I had this and boy it sucked. Not just your 1 bad experience unless you have additional info to back it up as if it's a persistent problem. Also if it's a single bed do the make a bed you can add for a bunk above. Just like to know if some trucks have a more reliable history of longevity. Thanks

A big question would be, what's your budget?

A big question would be, what's your budget?

Robert has a good question, budget may dictate the whole thing, but I have a little different angle on the question.

Let's just say you had a budget of 100,000 dollars, or maybe even half that. Is that your ability to borrow, or is that extra cash you just have laying around with no good purpose?

Now, what is your purpose for going owner operator? If your reason is "to make more money," then what evidence can you produce to support your belief that you will indeed make more money as an owner operator? We recently had one of our long time members in here who after a brief time as a company driver decided he wanted to make more money, so he became an owner operator. He was in here telling us how great it was going (and for the record, I personally think this guy has a great head on his shoulders, and he seems to be doing okay with it for now, but all honey moons are good if you know what I mean) He made the outrageous claim that he was making five or six times the amount he was as a company driver! Parrothead66, I've owned a good amount of trucks, I was in business for thirty years before I retired and started driving a truck as a company driver, and when it comes to business and making money, you can't blow smoke up my backside - I've experienced all the highs and lows of being an entrepreneur. I cried B.S. - as much as I didn't want to embarrass the gentleman, I knew there was no way he could be making that kind of killing. You want to know what the real disturbing thing about the whole discussion was? He really thought he was making that kind of money, but after asking him all the right questions, he had to admit that he was paying himself around five or six hundred a week - Do you know that a new driver in training at Prime makes more money than that?

If your motivation is simply to make more money, then use that good head God put on your shoulders and ask yourself a few questions. One of which should be "Why is it that all these trucking companies are advertising that they are seeking to hire owner operators?" Do you seriously believe they are just wanting to find some people that they can pay a whole lot more money to for moving their freight? Here's another one for you. I think about this one everyday when I am in the truck stops. "Why is it that about twenty nine out of thirty owner operators I see out here in the trenches are in an old wore out truck (usually twenty plus years old) when they are supposedly making so much money that they need a wheel barrow to take the money to the bank each week?

Now let's get back to Robert's very astute question. If you've got cash in the bank that you are just wanting to spend, then just keep doing whatever it was that enabled you to put that cash away like that. Trucking's risks are very high, and you are a beginner in the truest sense of the word. Why would you want to take those kind of risks at losing what some folks work a lifetime to put away for retirement?

Do you know how to forecast business risks, losses, or profits? I do, and I can tell you that for owner operators, it all seems like roses at the beginning, but hold on to your steering wheel, because about three to five years into this game and your dream may become a nightmare of epic proportions.

Okay, I've given my dire warning, and I'm sure some are laughing and ignoring it. I've gotten accustomed to the fact that everybody thinks I'm so wise until I start opening my mouth about the problems of truck ownership.

Final word: it is my opinion that the risks associated with truck ownership far outweigh the possible rewards. There are, and have been a few, who have done well at it, but there are interstates paved with the tears of the many who tried it and suffered the uniquely predictable consequences.

A big question would be, what's your budget?

Robert has a good question, budget may dictate the whole thing, but I have a little different angle on the question.

Let's just say you had a budget of 100,000 dollars, or maybe even half that. Is that your ability to borrow, or is that extra cash you just have laying around with no good purpose?

Now, what is your purpose for going owner operator? If your reason is "to make more money," then what evidence can you produce to support your belief that you will indeed make more money as an owner operator? We recently had one of our long time members in here who after a brief time as a company driver decided he wanted to make more money, so he became an owner operator. He was in here telling us how great it was going (and for the record, I personally think this guy has a great head on his shoulders, and he seems to be doing okay with it for now, but all honey moons are good if you know what I mean) He made the outrageous claim that he was making five or six times the amount he was as a company driver! Parrothead66, I've owned a good amount of trucks, I was in business for thirty years before I retired and started driving a truck as a company driver, and when it comes to business and making money, you can't blow smoke up my backside - I've experienced all the highs and lows of being an entrepreneur. I cried B.S. - as much as I didn't want to embarrass the gentleman, I knew there was no way he could be making that kind of killing. You want to know what the real disturbing thing about the whole discussion was? He really thought he was making that kind of money, but after asking him all the right questions, he had to admit that he was paying himself around five or six hundred a week - Do you know that a new driver in training at Prime makes more money than that?

If your motivation is simply to make more money, then use that good head God put on your shoulders and ask yourself a few questions. One of which should be "Why is it that all these trucking companies are advertising that they are seeking to hire owner operators?" Do you seriously believe they are just wanting to find some people that they can pay a whole lot more money to for moving their freight? Here's another one for you. I think about this one everyday when I am in the truck stops. "Why is it that about twenty nine out of thirty owner operators I see out here in the trenches are in an old wore out truck (usually twenty plus years old) when they are supposedly making so much money that they need a wheel barrow to take the money to the bank each week?

Now let's get back to Robert's very astute question. If you've got cash in the bank that you are just wanting to spend, then just keep doing whatever it was that enabled you to put that cash away like that. Trucking's risks are very high, and you are a beginner in the truest sense of the word. Why would you want to take those kind of risks at losing what some folks work a lifetime to put away for retirement?

Do you know how to forecast business risks, losses, or profits? I do, and I can tell you that for owner operators, it all seems like roses at the beginning, but hold on to your steering wheel, because about three to five years into this game and your dream may become a nightmare of epic proportions.

Okay, I've given my dire warning, and I'm sure some are laughing and ignoring it. I've gotten accustomed to the fact that everybody thinks I'm so wise until I start opening my mouth about the problems of truck ownership.

Final word: it is my opinion that the risks associated with truck ownership far outweigh the possible rewards. There are, and have been a few, who have done well at it, but there are interstates paved with the tears of the many who tried it and suffered the uniquely predictable consequences.

So to answer the original question....why don't you just say "I have no idea"

Larry, I'm not sure if that was just a quick response or a rude one. OS is a wealth of knowledge on here and is merely trying to ask some simple questions to make sure the OP doesn't potentially set himself up for failure. Now, if we want to get down to technical answers, I could write a book for this guy but there are plenty of factors involved.

1. What's your budget 2. What do you plan to haul 3. Where do you plan to haul 4. How long do you plan on keeping it 5. What creature comforts do you need/want 6. Does fuel economy matter 7. Does style matter 8. How new does it need to be 9. What level of mechanical knowledge do you have

I can go on but you see my point. This is one area where I have a bit of knowledge since I used to build and work on the big boys for a living and still turn wrenches when I have to. Preference is all based on opinion.

If he isn't strapped money wise, I'll suggest a glider kit. A new KW or Pete or even a Coronado with a pre def Detroit or Cat engine and a 13 speed Eaton transmission with 3.42 gear maybe 3.55 if he plans on running the hills quite a bit. He won't be running Cali unless he's a Cali resident and he has the distinct advantage of a brand new truck with factory rebuilt engine and a full warranty. The biggest perk, none of the problems associated with regen systems.

Research is the key..one to stay away from is max force engines..drive what you really like..if your making an outrageous payment.

Larry, I'm not sure if that was just a quick response or a rude one. OS is a wealth of knowledge on here and is merely trying to ask some simple questions to make sure the OP doesn't potentially set himself up for failure. Now, if we want to get down to technical answers, I could write a book for this guy but there are plenty of factors involved.

1. What's your budget 2. What do you plan to haul 3. Where do you plan to haul 4. How long do you plan on keeping it 5. What creature comforts do you need/want 6. Does fuel economy matter 7. Does style matter 8. How new does it need to be 9. What level of mechanical knowledge do you have

I can go on but you see my point. This is one area where I have a bit of knowledge since I used to build and work on the big boys for a living and still turn wrenches when I have to. Preference is all based on opinion.

Sounds like you are very qualified to answer his question, so why not ask him those questions and help him in his research?

His question was specifically what is the best equipment to invest in.

Now if his question was "do you think I can make money as an Owner operator?" Then OS opinions would have been right on.

Seems a lot of people come here for specific answers to their questions and all they get is lectures.

Again, best is all personal opinion. Just as was mentioned, stay away from MaxxForce engines. False. The engine isn't the issue, the problems come from regen issues. The MaxxForce is nothing more than a C13 Cat Acert engine with different badges on it. The issues are well documented as are ways to avoid those issues and mods that will make them compete with everything on the market. His original question left a lot of questions to be answered.

So to answer the original question....why don't you just say "I have no idea"

Oh I have lot's of ideas... I could have just said stay away from Pete 379's that have a 600 horse Cummings and an 18 speed Eaton/Fuller gear box. You see I had one, a tri-axle with extended frame and drive shaft, it was a beast, and it caused me lots of grief. But, there are owner operators in abundance who would let you castrate them to get a rig like that. So, Larry, just how helpful do you think that information would be?

Seems a lot of people come here for specific answers to their questions and all they get is lectures.

Larry, it's a forum... we share ideas, we try to help people learn so they can succeed. The way a person learns isn't merely by asking questions, some times knowing the proper questions to ask is where knowledge begins. So, often times I don't answer a question directly because I want the poser of the question to broaden his mind and open it up to possibilities he hasn't even realized he needs to consider. To refer to such help as a "lecture" shows an appalling disdain for true learning. I can guarantee you that you haven't seen or gotten a lecture from me.

I'm going to offer an answer (for Larry's sake) to the original poster. It seems to me his question was boiled down to his last statement:

Just like to know if some trucks have a more reliable history of longevity. Thanks

Yes, there are some trucks with a more reliable history of longevity. Ready for this? It is the trucks which have been meticulously maintained. Yep, those are the ones that will keep you on the highway and making that money.