Life Changing Decision

[wtfdskin]

Hi all. Been lurking for a while, doing alot of reading and searching. I have alot of serious questions and I'm hoping I can get some answers to guide me in the right direction. I have about 15 years of driving expericence, everything from hauling log homes everywhere east of the Mississippi to regional tri-axle dump truck work hauling off the barges and terminals in Pittsburgh. The last 16 years I've been working as an operator in a wastewater treament plant, while still driving truck on the side for my brother in law. Driving is something I have always loved and miss doing it on a full time basis and am weighing the options of becoming a straight truck o/o.

Problem is, the difficulty of walking away from a mundane but extremely secure $26 and hour job with full benefits including eye and dental. Thats why I'm trying to gather as much realistic information I can get before making the plunge.

I know the downsides from what I've read here. Away for weeks at a time, long overlays waiting on a load, breakdowns, and of course the normal pitfalls of being on the road dealing with um, not so skilled drivers. Lol. I have enough experience in the trucking industry, where I came from we worked on our own trucks whenever possible.

I guess in a nutshell, what I'm asking is for some real world income numbers that the straight truck drivers are pulling in. The ones that like to keep the wheels turning. I am the kind of person that likes to "turn and burn" and am planning on signing on with a company that will let you pull some of your own freight and give them a cut. I think I'm decently located in dead center PA and hopefully close enough to a good freight lane.

I understand that it takes time and experience to understand what loads to take and what not to take, but I also feel that tires that arent turning make nothing but flat spots.

I have the paperwork sitting on the desk waiting for my signature for panther, have some contacts out for a few of the other well known companies (load 1, landstar, etc.) If I take the plunge, plan is for a used Class 8 truck, tandem or lift-axle, liftgate, possibly temp controlled if I come across one. I want to have the equipment to haul whatever freight rolls my way.

I know some feel that the income thing is a personal question and I'm not intending to be rude, but if I cant replace my current income this isnt worth the time. I know I wont get rich, but dont want to lose my house either. Also would like to know what most straight truckers are doing, leased to one company and haul only their freight, leased and hauling both thier frieght and finding extra, or have your own authority and doin it all yourself? If you have a good carrier to lease to and some to stay away from that would be appreciated also. (Without cheerleading or badmouthing please) We are all professionals.

Sorry for the long post and I know these questions have been asked 1000 times here, but alot of what I find searcing seems to be related to vans and sprinters.

Thanks and stay safe
Skin

 

[EnglishLady]

Hi and welcome to EO

You are correct with your title .... it will be a life changing decision and you do need to think very hard and seriously about what you will be giving up.

Expediting is a gamble every single day.

Some days you win, some days you lose even if you are in a usual hotspot area.

Hope that helps somewhat

 

[ebsprintin]

Will you be able to get the $26 an hour and benefits job back if expediting doesn't work? Dollar for dollar I don't think expediting can compete with what you have now.

eb

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Will you be able to get the $26 an hour and benefits job back if expediting doesn't work? Dollar for dollar I don't think expediting can compete with what you have now.

eb

we are out here 24/7 on duty....168 hrs a week....you'd have to make $1680 just to average out to $10 an hour.....and that is before the expenses just to make that much.....

 

[paullud]

If you have kids I would try and stick it out with the boring job until they are done with high school. If you don't have kids I would talk it over with your significant other if applicable and be gone yesterday. Even if you have the cash for a truck I wouldn't want to learn the industry or company you chose with my money. I would find someone else to drive for and let them guide you through the ins and outs of the company and industry, then in 6 months to a year take the risk with your money. I would also make sure you get rid of any big bills like car payments, credit card debt, loans, etc and have money in the bank to pay bills for a couple of months before you do this.

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[Kristi]

I completely agree with everybody prior post. The decision u have before u is a very big one. My husband and I jumped in head first and loved every second of it. Just recently we had some very unexpected heath issues come up and had to come off the road.

U have a really good thing going right now. Something u need to keep in mind when making ur decision is what u will gain and what u will lose. I wish u the best of luck no matter which way u may chose to go.

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[x06col]

Hi all. Been lurking for a while, doing alot of reading and searching. I have alot of serious questions and I'm hoping I can get some answers to guide me in the right direction. I have about 15 years of driving expericence, everything from hauling log homes everywhere east of the Mississippi to regional tri-axle dump truck work hauling off the barges and terminals in Pittsburgh. The last 16 years I've been working as an operator in a wastewater treament plant, while still driving truck on the side for my brother in law. Driving is something I have always loved and miss doing it on a full time basis and am weighing the options of becoming a straight truck o/o.

Problem is, the difficulty of walking away from a mundane but extremely secure $26 and hour job with full benefits including eye and dental. Thats why I'm trying to gather as much realistic information I can get before making the plunge.

I know the downsides from what I've read here. Away for weeks at a time, long overlays waiting on a load, breakdowns, and of course the normal pitfalls of being on the road dealing with um, not so skilled drivers. Lol. I have enough experience in the trucking industry, where I came from we worked on our own trucks whenever possible.

I guess in a nutshell, what I'm asking is for some real world income numbers that the straight truck drivers are pulling in. The ones that like to keep the wheels turning. I am the kind of person that likes to "turn and burn" and am planning on signing on with a company that will let you pull some of your own freight and give them a cut. I think I'm decently located in dead center PA and hopefully close enough to a good freight lane.

I understand that it takes time and experience to understand what loads to take and what not to take, but I also feel that tires that arent turning make nothing but flat spots.

I have the paperwork sitting on the desk waiting for my signature for panther, have some contacts out for a few of the other well known companies (load 1, landstar, etc.) If I take the plunge, plan is for a used Class 8 truck, tandem or lift-axle, liftgate, possibly temp controlled if I come across one. I want to have the equipment to haul whatever freight rolls my way.

I know some feel that the income thing is a personal question and I'm not intending to be rude, but if I cant replace my current income this isnt worth the time. I know I wont get rich, but dont want to lose my house either. Also would like to know what most straight truckers are doing, leased to one company and haul only their freight, leased and hauling both thier frieght and finding extra, or have your own authority and doin it all yourself? If you have a good carrier to lease to and some to stay away from that would be appreciated also. (Without cheerleading or badmouthing please) We are all professionals.

Sorry for the long post and I know these questions have been asked 1000 times here, but alot of what I find searcing seems to be related to vans and sprinters.

Thanks and stay safe
Skin

26 buks per hour plus benies is actually 725 take home plus bennies , not an exceptional number. What are the bennies worth to you?? Many giving advice so far would jump at the boring job to my way of thinking. As a rule, for me, asking for advice such as yours is not for this site....too many vanners with nothing else to do, or, newbs with a cookie cutter truck with nothing else to do. Back ground on myself expedited from 1996 - 2008, leased to fedup, then fedup Landstar at the same time (nearly killed me), did some local p&d as a contractor, then.......started my own company with some "working" trucks that could do everything but refrigerated. Curtainsides with liftgates, thirty footers with liftgates and quad axles that could CARRY 32-33,000lbs......equipment for most any shipper, from cargo van to semi freight. Was very successful. Now..... there is not much I can think of that is more rewarding than what you are thinking about...and fun also. I'd just do what you wanna do, watch your dimes, either way, stay or go, and enjoy life. Bottom line NOBODY can advise you.

 

[cranis]

My opinion would be to see if you can take a leave of absence from you currant employer for around 3 months, and, with the intent of returning, Then go with a person driving their vehicle. just to be sure this might and might not work. Just make sure you plan ahead before doing this.

 

[xiggi]

26 buks per hour plus benies is actually 725 take home plus bennies , not an exceptional number. What are the bennies worth to you?? Many giving advice so far would jump at the boring job to my way of thinking. As a rule, for me, asking for advice such as yours is not for this site....too many vanners with nothing else to do, or, newbs with a cookie cutter truck with nothing else to do. Back ground on myself expedited from 1996 - 2008, leased to fedup, then fedup Landstar at the same time (nearly killed me), did some local p&d as a contractor, then.......started my own company with some "working" trucks that could do everything but refrigerated. Curtainsides with liftgates, thirty footers with liftgates and quad axles that could CARRY 32-33,000lbs......equipment for most any shipper, from cargo van to semi freight. Was very successful. Now..... there is not much I can think of that is more rewarding than what you are thinking about...and fun also. I'd just do what you wanna do, watch your dimes, either way, stay or go, and enjoy life. Bottom line NOBODY can advise you.

Many people can advise him but no one can tell him what to do. Seeking advice is a wise decision.

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[EasyDoesIt]

I'm just a wannabe that has also been doing research. Maybe look at it this way and let the more experienced make corrections to my thinking. I read somewhere in here that a straight truck ran 61,000 in a year. I think running team would add 25,000. According to this site deisel average is now $3.96 a gallon. Bolt advertises on this site $1.80 a mile (includes FSC) for straight trucks. I will give your class 8 straight truck 9 mpg. Gross is $109,800. Divided by 3 equals $36,600. You get to keep $36,600, Taxes gets $36,600 or $9150 a quarter, Truck gets $36,600 minus $26,840 (61,000/9 mpg x$3.96) fuel equals $9,760 for for Qualcomm, insurance, plates,oil change. Now if we can get the correct numbers in here you should have a realistic idea. I think $26 an hour with bebefits and pension look pretty good. Call up and get a quote on health insurance. I think I am talking myself out of expediting lol.