Anyone run more than 1 truck?

[Brown67]

Does anyone run more than one truck? How do you do it? Load boards or lease on with a company? What kind of money do make or not make?

[GMAN]

I have more than one truck. I have leased them to a carrier and did fairly well with them. I run my own authority and do better. I have my own customers and use the load boards. I also have several brokers with whom I do business. I use my customers first, then brokers with whom I am familiar, then the load boards.

[rank]

3 trucks with authority here.

One acts soley as a private carrier and the other two are private carriers outbound and use brokers for backhauls. Still use load boards quite a bit but starting to get more repeat business from brokers calling me.

For me, there is a few ways to measure how much money I'm making but the one that I think best suits my situation is what I call "extra profit". Basically all the revenue from the backhaul is extra profit (except for the extra cost I incur for permits and out of route miles).

For the 6 month period ending April 30, 35 backhauls were responsible for $58,000 in revenue. We drove 16,000 extra miles and bought $1,600 in OD permits for a total extra cost of $23,000. Extra profit is $58,000 - $23,000 = $35,000 before tax.

Obviously, being a private carrier is different than being a carrier for hire so, for the sake of the discussion (and possibly criticism) that will undoubtedly insue regarding my "extra profit" metric, all backhaul miles for the same period were 33,000 (includes dead to/loaded/dead back to the yard).

No way anybody can operate more than one truck exclusively off load boards and make enough money to support a family, buy and maintain a house and fund retirement. I doubt that it's even possible with one truck.

[tootie04]

Been there done that got the T-shirt.....NEVER again!!

tootie

The only drivers that are not idiots (for the most part) already have thier own trucks

tootie

[marylandkw]

The only drivers that are not idiots (for the most part) already have thier own trucks tootie

AMEN!

The biggest mistake I ever made with a truck was to think a hired driver would be willing to work as hard as I am. At one point I had 3 trucks, now I have one.

[GMAN]

I have several friends who have owned several trucks. One had about 30 at one time. All but one of them is down to a single truck that they drive themselves. The last one has 4 and is trying to get rid of all of them but the one he drives. As you consider building a fleet, you may want to consider why so many fleet owners have gotten rid of all of their fleet except for the one they drive themselves.

[allan5oh]

Sounds like a full time job to me.

I could see a guy doing maybe 8-10 trucks and doing all the work yourself.

You might be able to make it then, but I'd want to stay home that's for sure.

[pepe4158]

I might get a second, but only if the wifes brother wants to drive it, he is from a third world country and thinks were all rich..... ;-p
So would be doing it just to help him.

[coastie]

I might get a second, but only if the wifes brother wants to drive it, he is from a third world country and thinks were all rich..... ;-p
So would be doing it just to help him.

Pepe, You better make sure he knows he has to stop at Stop signs and redlights, unlike how they do it there where he is from.....

[pepe4158]

Hmmm there is actually only one traffic light in the whole town, doubt he even notices it :twisted:...0 stop signs

[coastie]

Least they have a traffic light, Ormoc has no trafic lights, but they do have stop signs. Here they just slow down and blow the horn and keep on going.

[GMAN]

The primary problem with having more than one truck that you drive yourself is drivers. If you could find qualified drivers who would take care of your equipment you could do well. That is the rub. Very few drivers will take care of your equipment and do the job they are being paid to do. It is unfortunate this is such a problem. If it were not such a problem, I would probably own many more trucks myself. I had an opportunity to to purchase several trucks and trailers about 1 1/2 years ago. It was a very good deal. I hated to turn the deal down, but finding quality drivers has become such a problem that most who own more than one truck have decided to get out of the business or at least sell most of their trucks. That is the reason this guy wanted to sell his equipment. He decided to do something else which did not involve dealing with drivers. You can make good money with good drivers. A major problem is that most drivers will change jobs at least once per year. This industry has a turnover rate of about 136%. That means that the average driver will stay with a company about 8-9 months. Sometimes drivers will change for a penny per mile. Other times, they leave because they have a problem with their dispatcher. Rather than trying to work problems out, they leave. I don't think it is mostly about the money when a driver changes jobs. In my case, I pay drivers very well. Most owners I have known over the years pay their drivers well. It isn't about the pay. Regardless of the reasons, it is expensive to keep replacing drivers. Theft is a major problem with carriers, regardless of size. I think we should prosecute more drivers when they steal. It might help to reduce this activity. Unfortunately, many carriers are so glad to get the driver out of the truck that they don't want to go to the expense of prosecuting them. Those drivers who do steal just go to another unsuspecting carrier where they do the same thing all over again.

[tootie04]

I might get a second, but only if the wifes brother wants to drive it, he is from a third world country and thinks were all rich..... ;-p
So would be doing it just to help him.

Trust me NO friends and NO family!! I dont care how good it will seem to be.....you are fooling yourself!! But like us, most people have to find out on their own...

tootie

[floored]

I might get a second, but only if the wifes brother wants to drive it, he is from a third world country and thinks were all rich..... ;-p
So would be doing it just to help him.

Trust me NO friends and NO family!! I dont care how good it will seem to be.....you are fooling yourself!! But like us, most people have to find out on their own...

tootie

Amen!! I hired my brother to drive my truck and it was a huge mistake. No respect what-so-ever for my rig, my fuel costs, or even the job in general. He lasted a month, now I have an outstanding driver in the truck, and no more headaches, lol!

[tootie04]

Hey floored, glad to hear things are going better for ya now!! 8)

tootie

[pepe4158]

I might get a second, but only if the wifes brother wants to drive it, he is from a third world country and thinks were all rich..... ;-p
So would be doing it just to help him.

Trust me NO friends and NO family!! I dont care how good it will seem to be.....you are fooling yourself!! But like us, most people have to find out on their own...

tootie

Hated to dissapoint you all, but its asian family (I married into)and its expected of me, different culture radically.....you guys all seen the asian markets all owned and worked by 1 family?

[coastie]

Hated to dissapoint you all, but its asian family (I married into)and its expected of me, different culture radically.....you guys all seen the asian markets all owned and worked by 1 family?

Pepe,

Not trying to bust your bubble, for the most part your right about these asain families. They have strong Family ties.

But I'm going to tell you about something that happen to my wife and here business eventures here dealing with Family.

Leah was selling some odds and ends that can not be bought out in the Mountains. She'll buy and take them to the mountains and sell. Her Cousin wanted to help and already had a store set up. So Leah would take her stuff and next trip collect the money. Leah lost out, No product, No Money. Her Cousin said Hey you do not need the MOney, you have an American BF.

If you do bring your wifes Brother, Just becareful. They may think you Owe them everything. I hope not the case.

[pepe4158]

Yeah....her Hubbies a rich kano lol....you
Always the part that confuses me, who the hell is family that wont screw you over, an asian sister will run over to her sis with her last bottom dollar, if the sis needs it, maybe even her cousin if she is considered family, but just who the hell n what makes them family really gets blurry to me sometimes.

[Markk9]

What do you look for in a driver? How does a driver prove to you he is not a jerk and will take care of your equipment?

Mark

[Mackman]

i think PAY has alot to do with keepin good drivers. I drive for a outfit with older run down trucks and we have alot of BS to deal with. I drive an 01 mack and the A/C dont work god only knows when it will get fixed. Thats was an upgrade from a 89 r model. There is a place not even 4 miles down the road from are yard that run all 2003 newer petes 379's and 357's but your allso getting 15-17 an hr. Are place pays 18-20 an hr. I would love to drive them nice petes but i like my paychecks better.