Seasonal Truck Driving?
Topic 23662 | Page 1
Welcome to the forum Samuel!
First off I suggest to familiarize yourself with OOIDA . There you will find information specific to independent truck ownership and how-to maximize the equipment you already own.
The other thought is to join a Cincinnati business owners group like the Chamber of Commerce where you can network yourself into additional opportunities during the winter months. Getting a more thorough understanding of what is available locally and developing a relationship with a couple of really good freight brokers will also help.
The single-screw dump truck? Plow and a salt spreader and hire yourself out for snow removal service. And a final thought if you want to just work; delivery home heating oil. I have several friends who drive construction vehicles during the spring and summer and deliver local fuel during the winter.
To get some insight to what makes us tick here, giving Brett’s book; Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving a read will provide background to the Trucking Truth Forum.
I am hoping members like Old School and Brett can add their two cents to this thread. Good luck!
OOIDA:
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
Who They Are
OOIDA is an international trade association representing the interests of independent owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect truckers. The over 150,000 members of OOIDA are men and women in all 50 states and Canada who collectively own and/or operate more than 240,000 individual heavy-duty trucks and small truck fleets.
Their Mission
The mission of OOIDA is to serve owner-operators, small fleets and professional truckers; to work for a business climate where truckers are treated equally and fairly; to promote highway safety and responsibility among all highway users; and to promote a better business climate and efficiency for all truck operators.
I was just talking to an owner op at a T/A yesterday that was talking about hauling specialized loads like munitions & TNT that pay very high rates per mile. Another avenue he was pondering was buying a specialized trailer that’s 84’ long with steerable axles. That trailer costs approximately $220K but he referenced a farmer that owned one. Basically the farmer runs 6 loads per year at $130K per load then farms for the rest of the year.
So in short, if you can connect with a specialized hauling opportunity, the skies the limit.
TNT:
Trainer-N-Trainee
Prime Inc has their own CDL training program and it's divided into two phases - PSD and TNT.
The PSD (Prime Student Driver) phase is where you'll get your permit and then go on the road for 10,000 miles with a trainer. When you come back you'll get your CDL license and enter the TNT phase.
The TNT phase is the second phase of training where you'll go on the road with an experienced driver for 30,000 miles of team driving. You'll receive 14¢ per mile ($700 per week guaranteed) during this phase. Once you're finished with TNT training you will be assigned a truck to run solo.
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I own an excavation business and work a solid 8 months out of the year, in the Cincinnati area. I mainly dig swimming pools. Work comes to a stand still around November and starts back up around March. I own a single axle dump truck and a single axle Freightliner with a 12.7 detroit. The Freightliner is mainly a backup for the dump truck. It pulls the machinery around when I don't have to haul dirt, since it doesn't have a bed. My question is, would it be cost effective to haul freight through my off season? I do not own a semi-box trailer, but I would buy one if I had enough work for it. I see my truck pulling trailers all the time around my area, so I know it would do the job. I know I would have to change up my Insurance a bit. I already have my operating authority. Thanks, Sam