Checking In!

Well a lot has happened since I've last been online I did get fired from western express but in hindsight I think that was a blessing in disguise! I found work driving for a smaller company called Urol express bit unorthodox and unorganized but I learned a lot and will forever be grateful to them for giving me a chance with that accident on my record since then I've bought my own truck and I'm anxious to be my own boss and run my own company I bought a 2011 freightliner from Schneider with 345,000 miles on it and leased on to a company for 88% of the load so like always I'm here for advice! Any thought?

What happened with western? Are you under contract with this new company?

Butta, four months ago you were a totally green rookie who wrecked his truck and got fired by a company known for their leniency on rookie accidents. Somewhere since then you worked a few months for a company I've never heard of that you described as unorthodox and unorganized.

Now you have bought your own truck and leased onto some un-named company for 88% of the load and you are asking us for any thoughts?

My thoughts are this...

Who in the world was willing to insure you, and do you have any idea what percentage of that 88% is going to vanish into paying that premium?

Also, I assume you are aware that freight rates vary wildly, while the costs of operating an older truck are continually rising. What I'm saying is that 88% of $2.25/mile is considerably different than 88% of $1.50/mile. As long as the company you are leased to can get you a load they are making money, it doesn't matter to them about the rate of the freight. They don't have the overhead of the truck on their shoulders, you do.

I think if you thought you were having a rough go of it prior to now, you are about to learn what it means to really be dancing to a new tune. I wish you the best, but don't think you have the slightest clue about what you just got yourself into.

I bought a 2011 freightliner from Schneider with 345,000 miles on it

Butta, does anything seem odd to you about those numbers?

You found a six year old class 8 truck from a major carrier's fleet with less than sixty thousand miles per year put on it? Something just doesn't sound right to me. I've put 410,000 miles on my 2014 Volvo.

Now maybe it wasn't an over the road truck, maybe it was doing port drayage work or something like that, but those trucks are usually beat to death after a few years. That mileage number just seems odd to me.

Have to agree with Old School on this one. I have a 2016 Freightliner and I just turned 400000 miles on it. Something isn't right. Did you by chance look at the maintenance records on this rig?

On BUTTA'S defense I might say this when it concerns the insurance: if he is leased to another company then all he needs is his bobtail insurance which could be as low as 700 dollars a year depending of if he wants physical damage or not. but we also have to talk about the contract he has with the company he is leased to because most of the drivers leased to a company have to pay for a portion of their liability insurance since that goes by the DOT authority...... so mr BUTTA give us a little bit more feedback

Butta, four months ago you were a totally green rookie who wrecked his truck and got fired by a company known for their leniency on rookie accidents. Somewhere since then you worked a few months for a company I've never heard of that you described as unorthodox and unorganized.

Now you have bought your own truck and leased onto some un-named company for 88% of the load and you are asking us for any thoughts?

My thoughts are this...

Who in the world was willing to insure you, and do you have any idea what percentage of that 88% is going to vanish into paying that premium?

Also, I assume you are aware that freight rates vary wildly, while the costs of operating an older truck are continually rising. What I'm saying is that 88% of $2.25/mile is considerably different than 88% of $1.50/mile. As long as the company you are leased to can get you a load they are making money, it doesn't matter to them about the rate of the freight. They don't have the overhead of the truck on their shoulders, you do.

I think if you thought you were having a rough go of it prior to now, you are about to learn what it means to really be dancing to a new tune. I wish you the best, but don't think you have the slightest clue about what you just got yourself into.

Aw man y'all got my head spinning I made a mistake on mileage it's 436,000 miles on the truck maintenance records and all ok nothing major I only got bobtail insurance and even though I wrecked I beat my ticket in court I understand about how a company makes money I've had this goal in mind long before I got a cdl I'm just thirsty for knowledge and experience I feel I got a good head on my shoulders I've prepared for this and left myself a safety net I'm going in to this eyes wide open!

88%?

Are you pulling for Traveloko?

I sincere hope it all works out for you.

Stay safe.

Butta I wish you the very best of luck but with that many miles I hope You build yourself up a NICE and big escrow account. 435k is a lot and probably sooner than later the truck will be nickel and dimeing you to death . Those pumpkin trucks have been through a LOT