Expediting for me? Opinions Needed!

Paul56 · Mar 11, 2008

Kyreax said:
If I missed anything, feel free to chime in

You mentioned at the outset a love for driving.

You will be doing plenty of that, but that does not always translate into an enjoyment of the type of driving you will be doing when operating a truck.

It is one thing to enjoy taking a car or small truck out for a spin at a time of your choice and in weather of your choice. Quite another to be "taking a spin" in a large truck through all kinds of weather, at all hours of the day, with deadlines and most of that time being somewhat under the microscope of the authorities.

You will learn to deal with it all and take it in stride, but it is getting from here to there that may or may not become an issue.

kwexpress · Mar 11, 2008

a class A cdl you can drive anything.I hear it all the time from drivers about how some have as much as 8k invested into just getting the licence.I dont see why anyone wants to do that.

I can see going to a cource on skid control if you want to but I could live for several months on what these guys go out and pay for the cdls

kwexpress · Mar 11, 2008

if you buy your own truck dont go out and pay 50k plus for a truck.I paid around 6k for my last class8 straight but I wasnt buying a truck to make the company look good I was buying a truck that could do the job.
save that 100k of yours.
now since your going to be signing on with someone you will need a newer truck but still for under 30k you can get a heck of a nice used truck I prefer tandem trucks because of the difference in the weight you can haul most single axel trucks will scale around 13k maybe 15 and if you ever plan on getting your own authority you will want to be able to scale around 20 dont worry about sleeper size get a 24' box I prefer swing doors cause they give you a few more inches in height and you dont have to worry about a fork lift hitting them just make sure your box is 102" wide.check out the trucks on truckpaper.com look under heavy duty trucks and click on expediter/hotshot trucks then look under freightliner and check out the classic xl they have down in AL for under 30k
and if your paying cash you could most likely get it for 25 now that is a true large car expediter double frame and all.lift gates if you get one make sure it is a tuck-away and dont worry about a refer.are you a salesman?do you know what it takes to operate a truck?
remember the only way to make to make a small fortune in trucking is to start with a large one.

jaminjim · Mar 11, 2008

Kyreax said: 1. Get CDL-A with Hazmat to keep my options wide open. Try to get it for cheaper than $3500 at a trucking school.

2. Work for another O/O for at least 6 months to learn if I actually even like doing this, and to get a handle on the ins-and-outs on someone else's dime/truck/risk.

3. If I'm not absolutely insane by then, buy a nice but affordable and well-maintained used Class D truck with a liftgate (to be able to haul the most loads) and lease it to a company. Be nice to dispatchers, don't burn bridges with companies under any circumstances. Keep my eyes and ears open to new ideas.

My question is if you are going to drive a "D" why get an "A" license? If your going to get an "A" why drive a "D"? Most carriers will require at least six months of recent verifiable OTR experience. So if you get a "A" and drive a "D" you will have wasted your money.

greg334 · Mar 11, 2008

Jim,
The reason I recommend a class A is to be versatile in the ability to drive anything and so you can make money if the D unit freight dries up or you can't get a D unit to drive. We are in a changing expediter world, with high fuel prices and with changes in industry, having as many tools may be the only way to go.

I think that if you are locked into a class B, you limit yourself in the future. It is just as easy to go to school to get the class a as it is class b, so if you are going to school, go for all of it. I regret having just a class B, I want to go and get my class A with a tanker endorsement. I already have had a few load offers that required a tanker endorsement because of the size of the containers I would have hauled.

fastman_1 · Mar 11, 2008

With a Class "A" CDL you would be able to drive any size truck.

Kyreax · Mar 11, 2008

I'm getting the idea from you guys that I can get into the field for a LOT less than I had initially thought. Why spend $50K when I can spend $30K for a good truck? Why take the risk on my dime when I can learn on someone else's? I like that idea. Of course, I'm attracted to risk, stress, and being my own businessman, so it could only go up from there.

jaminjim said:
My question is if you are going to drive a "D" why get an "A" license? If your going to get an "A" why drive a "D"? Most carriers will require at least six months of recent verifiable OTR experience. So if you get a "A" and drive a "D" you will have wasted your money.

I think I'd do this so I could be versatile...I guess maybe the idea of Tractor-trailers still isn't out the window yet for me. Plus, seeing how the other guys do things wouldn't be bad. Didn't I see that some of the larger carriers require a class A CDL with a Hazmat endorsement even if you're driving a straight truck (i.e. Fedex CC?).

Someone asked if I'm a salesman - yes, I am, that's what I have been doing for the last 14 years. Where does that apply in the field? Being an O/O with my own authority? As in, I need to sell myself to companies looking to Expedite stuff?

On another note, is an APU a "must-have"? I mean, I can't imagine that loitering for 2-3 days somewhere with no A/C or heat would be fun.

Thanks!

greg334 · Mar 11, 2008

NO you don't need no APU, unless you like to roast and freeze

Yes I would look at one, but I would also think if you are going to go to the big CA, maybe look at one of the new alternative systems that are now coming out. You know that they are crying out there because of CARB.

kwexpress · Mar 11, 2008

yes thats why i asked if you are a salesman.so if in the future you may want to get your authority its a must have talent.

Kyreax · Mar 11, 2008

greg334 said:
NO you don't need no APU, unless you like to roast and freeze

Yes I would look at one, but I would also think if you are going to go to the big CA, maybe look at one of the new alternative systems that are now coming out. You know that they are crying out there because of CARB.

Huh? CA is outlawing APU useage? Are they implementing "shore power" systems yet?

greg334 · Mar 11, 2008

Kyreax said:
Huh? CA is outlawing APU useage? Are they implementing "shore power" systems yet?

Well, CARB has truckers by the neck and they are squeezing hard. I won't go into the explanation of what is acceptable and what is not but I would consider getting a gas generator instead of a diesel generator if you plan on being in the BIG CA for any time.

LDB · Mar 11, 2008

Get a pet. if you have your dog with you then you can do anything you want because they can't be expected to do without climate control, only the truckers.

Kyreax · Mar 15, 2008

Already have a pet. I don't think that taking a crazy fat cat with me on the road is a great idea though.

dieseldiva · Mar 15, 2008

LDB said:
Get a pet. if you have your dog with you then you can do anything you want because they can't be expected to do without climate control, only the truckers.

If we knew this to be correct and legal in all states, we'd have our answers to the problem!!

LDB · Mar 15, 2008

I'll never have a pet with me. I just won't go to those places. If enough drivers would refuse to go so the people there have to go hundreds of miles for groceries etc. you can bet the law would change fast. I do believe PETA etc. have been all over this and you can idle for animals where you can't for humans. There's something patently wrong with that but that's a soapbox thread, not here.