Wow. Finally a thread that has the potential to make me grab some popcorn.
They are far and few between anymore. Too many good posters have retired and the colorful ones have been run off.
I like both Steve and John but am confused about what I think now.
EDIT. I had a vision last night on how this evil plot against the Expedite Empire was hatched:
3am in a smokey room just south of Nashville:
Steve: Hey John. Give me 18 months and I can build a vehicle that can lower straight truck rates.
John: Tell me about it, Stevearino.
Steve: blah blah blah.........
John: Excellent idea Stevenson !
Lowering straight truck rates in 2017 is on my list of things to do.
You know , almost daily we get calls asking for a hard to load, hard to unload, hard to secure, non dock high straight truck.
Stevie, Stevie, Stevie, You the Man !
First off, beautiful job Steve. I wish you would go do upfits and stop trying to re-invent the wheel.
Curious of why you assume this will be highly profitable. Any promises or dedicated freight?
That's the only way I see it profitable. We know when we target a vehicle for specific, non regular freight that it will result in more deadhead and downtime.
Would I drive it ?
No, unless there was a fuel cost adjustment.
Any fuel penalty and handling problems will be on every load, offset by an occasional premium run ?
Pricing. If John picks up Straight Truck freight for less than straight truck rates, does that make him a Penske style operator with better insurance?
If he gets straight truck rates, how do straight truck operators feel about competing against a straight w/o a logbook ?
Seems like a way to piss everybody off.
And I'm surprised the homemade body passes the insurance underworld.( s/b underwriters).
Lawyer at trial:
So Steve, you built it for profitability first, driver comfort second.
Any structural testing? Wind tunnel or skid pad testing ?
Steve:
We ran it to 7-11 for munchies after each phase.
Lawyer:
That's ALL you did for safety?
Steve:
Well we put $40 extra worth of reflective tape on the rear doors. We think it looks cool.
Lawyer:
Since you don't have a gazillion dollar product liability policy you can step down. We'll concentrate on your carriers policies. Pun intended.
The straight truck field is getting saturated like the van market. Friends tell me if they bid on any load that can be hauled by a van, they offer their regular price,( they can't compete with a van),and put the call out of their mind.
I hope this is about a break even deal for all involved. I don't want good guys getting hurt, nor do I want to see them prosper on this idea.
A year from now I hope we hear " It seemed like a good idea at the time" and "It was just more trouble than it was worth."
Back to retirement.....
Hey barkeep, another VO & Water.
And one of those 1/2 hot dogs.