When is the best time to get into trucking?

[LOAD IT]

I'm already in but I ask because I've never heard anyone say now is the time. They always say now is not the time (i've been hearing this for 10 years). I just wanted to hear from some experienced guys to see if you know the answer and have some humor added to this sometimes depressing industry that we are in.

[Sonny Pruitt]

when you feel its time for a divorce

[GMAN]

OK, I'll bite. It depends on your individual situation and which aspect of the business you want to enter. If you are talking about becoming a driver, entering the business during a slow time can be good because you may not feel as pushed to hurry and learn everything. You can have a little more time to learn some of the basics. If you are talking about becoming an owner operator, a slow down could be good if you are flush with cash. If you have the money or decent credit, you can probably get a good buy in a good used truck. A slow time is not necessarily a good time to buy a new truck. You don't want high payments or debt when the economy is slow. If you can find a good deal in a good used truck, it can work to your advantage to get into this business during a slow down. When things pick up, you will be ready to run.

[Cam]

When you've just spent the last four years of your life examining whether or not you exist and you finally just agree with your parents that you do indeed exist and you are taking up space and you are eating food and you cost money and you need to get your be-hind out of the house and get a job. That, or one of the millions of slight variants of it.

[special k]

I say get in when it's slow if you can survive the tough times the good times will be gravy and you'll what to expect. That being said I agree with Gman about used equipment. My theory on used stuff is buy it old enough that you can pay cash for it so if you have a bad month you don't have a payment hanging over your head on top of your repair bills. Either that or buy new enough to still have good warranty coverage.

[solo379]

Are you kidding?
When it's the best time to be born, or die? Win, or loose?
There is no such thing! :P

[LOAD IT]

Are you kidding?
When it's the best time to be born, or die? Win, or loose?
There is no such thing! :P

This is my opinion also, but i also agree with used equipment and slow times. I always hear people say now is not the time, however, I bet they have never owned a truck tire, let alone a truck. Thanks for your replies.

[Back on the Road]

Well, its my time now after a hiatus of 26 years. I start refresher tomorrow morning in hopes that this will be the first step back into Driving that I left many years ago and the goal of ownership within 12 months.

I am definately taking the advice of a low truck payment ( 700-900) and a decent amount of cash reserves for the tougher times...

[Bigmon]

I think whenever you have the money. Slow times will wash out a lot of people. If you're set up and ready you can take advantage of the situation by having cash that the others don't.

Are you kidding?
When it's the best time to be born, or die? Win, or loose?
There is no such thing! :P

This is my opinion also, but i also agree with used equipment and slow times. I always hear people say now is not the time, however, I bet they have never owned a truck tire, let alone a truck. Thanks for your replies.

Hey LOAD IT!! We have not argued in some time?! Pick a subject, its your turn. 8)

[LOAD IT]

Are you kidding?
When it's the best time to be born, or die? Win, or loose?
There is no such thing! :P

This is my opinion also, but i also agree with used equipment and slow times. I always hear people say now is not the time, however, I bet they have never owned a truck tire, let alone a truck. Thanks for your replies.

Hey LOAD IT!! We have not argued in some time?! Pick a subject, its your turn. 8)

Fancy rims on a work truck. Do you spend all of your tree money on chrome?

Are you kidding?
When it's the best time to be born, or die? Win, or loose?
There is no such thing! :P

This is my opinion also, but i also agree with used equipment and slow times. I always hear people say now is not the time, however, I bet they have never owned a truck tire, let alone a truck. Thanks for your replies.

Hey LOAD IT!! We have not argued in some time?! Pick a subject, its your turn. 8)

Fancy rims on a work truck. Do you spend all of your tree money on chrome?

Thats how I roll!!!

[LOAD IT]

Are you kidding?
When it's the best time to be born, or die? Win, or loose?
There is no such thing! :P

This is my opinion also, but i also agree with used equipment and slow times. I always hear people say now is not the time, however, I bet they have never owned a truck tire, let alone a truck. Thanks for your replies.

Hey LOAD IT!! We have not argued in some time?! Pick a subject, its your turn. 8)

Fancy rims on a work truck. Do you spend all of your tree money on chrome?

Thats how I roll!!!

Roll on player!!!

Are you kidding?
When it's the best time to be born, or die? Win, or loose?
There is no such thing! :P

This is my opinion also, but i also agree with used equipment and slow times. I always hear people say now is not the time, however, I bet they have never owned a truck tire, let alone a truck. Thanks for your replies.

Hey LOAD IT!! We have not argued in some time?! Pick a subject, its your turn. 8)

Fancy rims on a work truck. Do you spend all of your tree money on chrome?

Thats how I roll!!!

Roll on player!!!

Thats PLAYA!! You should learn how to speak jive!! 8)

[Big John]

1970!

[T * Storm]

tfmotors


Great truck!! I wonder if Swift will let me put Spinners and Hydraulics on my Freightliner and a 1000 watt stereo in my cab with the base boost cab between the twin stacks?

Mind you, I would be playing Snoop Dogg, but ZZ TOP/Aerosmith/Van Halen/Living Colour would sound just as good to me at that volumn. Or...better yet, how about some Conway Twitty running thorough Detroit on a late Friday night cranked to 11?8)

tfmotors


Great truck!! I wonder if Swift will let me put Spinners and Hydraulics on my Freightliner and a 1000 watt stereo in my cab with the base boost cab between the twin stacks?

Mind you, I would be playing Snoop Dogg, but ZZ TOP/Aerosmith/Van Halen/Living Colour would sound just as good to me at that volumn. Or...better yet, how about some Conway Twitty running thorough Detroit on a late Friday night cranked to 11?8)

I hope you would play..... Sharp Dressed Man.... Dance the night away.... Cult of Personality.... and Darlin' theres Tiger in these tight fittin' jeans

[T * Storm]

tfmotors


Great truck!! I wonder if Swift will let me put Spinners and Hydraulics on my Freightliner and a 1000 watt stereo in my cab with the base boost cab between the twin stacks?

Mind you, I would be playing Snoop Dogg, but ZZ TOP/Aerosmith/Van Halen/Living Colour would sound just as good to me at that volumn. Or...better yet, how about some Conway Twitty running thorough Detroit on a late Friday night cranked to 11?8)

I hope you would play..... Sharp Dressed Man.... Dance the night away.... Cult of Personality.... and Darlin' theres Tiger in these tight fittin' jeans

Wha...no Aerosmith songs?

[Longsnowsm]

I think whenever you have the money. Slow times will wash out a lot of people. If you're set up and ready you can take advantage of the situation by having cash that the others don't.

If talking about being an owner operator then Bigmon is right... Cash is king! Underfunding your business out of the gate is sure death, and especially if the economy hits the skids or a soft patch.

I have heard Gman and others here recommend:
1. Either pay for your truck with cash or owe as little as possible(this implies a used truck)
2. You should have a healthy maintenance or breakdown fund to cover the problems that are going to come up with the truck
3. You need some float money which covers the time it takes to actually get paid for the loads you hauled/delivered
4. Have set aside your daily expenses to carry you for a few months

I know there are a whole lot more to this list, but that should help you get the picture of the cash reserves that you should have to hit the ground with a running start. It takes a while to build relationships with brokers, and know the best places to run or not run. Give yourself the best shot you can at being successful. Long live the King!

Longsnowsm