Well I made it out

[allan5oh]

I find it interesting that you're leasing trucks. From those that have leased, I've generally learned that they aren't maintained properly at all. More of a "we'll fix it when it breaks" kind of deal. I have over 2 million km on my 99 volvo and it is extremely reliable because I believe in fixing things before they break. Alternator every 2 years, air dryer every 2 years, batteries every 2 years, belts every 3 years, etc.. A little bit of maintenance makes all the difference.

On top of that with a lease you never own the truck, never ending monthly payments. I guess it does tend to keep cash flow more consistent.

But to each his own, it doesn't matter because our business models are different, I do not have employees (most here do not either). I wish you success in the future. Keep us posted.

[Mackman]

I think it pays to own. Everyone who i talked to that leases says in the long run its more money. Also all the bigger fleets around me. Own most of their trucks. But to each their own. What ever works for ya.

I was thinking about buying a 7,000gallon vacuum tanker. Then leaseing a tractor to pull it. So i can bid on sludge hauling. But im still thinking about that.

[merrick4]

I've always deferred to you with respect to mechanics allan as you know so much more than me. All I can say is they (Ryder) own the trucks so if they want to resell it than they should be maintaining it so they have better residual value. At one point I had 7 trucks of my own and was leasing 7 and made a comparison and it came out to be the same. However I always say, you can quantify breakdowns at the end of the year but how do you quantify downtime?

I've had clutches go in the middle of the night and still made on time delivery (with flowers to Walmart). It's a peace of mind thing. My payment includes insurance which my old agent told me that he hates to lose a customer but I will never get rates in the state of Florida like that from an agent. It includes the plate, the 2290. It even helps if it's my fault. For instance I had a truck hit a deer that did a lot of damage. They towed out a replacement and we kept rolling. I had to pay for it but again I made on time delivery with flowers to another Walmart.

You'd be surprised how many real big companies do this too. MBM is I think Ryder's largest customer. Ruan has a bunch of them. I was talking to a guy from TransAm I think it was or one of those big ones from Kansas that haul meat and he was telling me until they reached 50 trucks they had Penske. Seems like there are Ryders everywhere too. Actually just to give you another example, last week we broke down at 11PM in the middle of Vermont. We thought the clutch went, but we spoke to the shop and we decided to nurse it there as he was just getting on the interstate. He got there, they gave him another truck and we made on time delivery and they had his truck fixed by 11AM or so. It was some rod or something. This is a huge selling point with customers.

[allan5oh]

Awwww you're making me blush. I'm not a super mechanic or anything, I just really pay attention to details and always try to get my hands on shop manuals.

I understand where you're coming from completely. You'd rather take care of the customer service side of things than the mechanical items. We just have different business models. I don't know if I could handle that many trucks because I'm such a perfectionist, half of them would be off the road at any given time! If I were to build a fleet like that they would be all 2000-2003 trucks full restored and rebuilt before put in service. I'd have no problem putting 30k into each truck. The upfront cost seems absurd but this is the most cost effective way to do it long term.

I always try to avoid breakdowns and downtime. To me spending a little more and looking at things closer has paid off. As soon as you hire one guy to drive a truck, that special care disappears. But I certainly wouldn't hire a driver with at least some mechanical background. At a minimum they should be able to change lights and belts, and recognize certain problems like wheel seal leaks, hubs low on oil, brakes out of adjustment, wiring wearing through, air leaks, etc..

The problem is most of those type of drivers are owner operators already.

[Mackman]

The problem is most of those type of drivers are owner operators already.

My oldman told me years ago. The problem with building a fleet is getting good drivers. Cuz all the good drivers sooner or later will buy their own trucks. Just like we all did.

[firebird_1252]

i for one was iffy about buying a ex ryder truck because of what i've seen when i was a company driver in fl. my truck i have to say was really taken care of well by ryder! the location where we used to go when i was a company driver (riviera beach) was THE WORST. i can see both the pro's and con's to leasing. i think one of the biggest next to the pro's that merrick has stated is the write offs. that case alone i dont think he'll mind the never ending payments.

merrick i am taking notes and what not, i hope to buy my second truck by june of next year. i tell people all the time, from what i see the rates are down, but money is still to be made.. and a lot of it! continued success !

[rank]

I prefer an older truck too Allan (I drive a '98 myself) but the difference is the driver.

You and I an keep an older truck on the road because we hear every squeak and fix it. Merrick's drivers might not be as concerned with the truck as much as we are. Also, you and I likely have a shop to work in on weekends. Merrick would need a couple of mechanics working round the clock on weekends to fix everything that broke during the two weeks.....assuming the driver mentions it. What's Merrick going to do when the driver neglected to tell him about that growling clutch and now the driver is broke down day 1 into a 14 day trip?

Older trucks are fine, but there are no company drivers qualified to operate them IMO.

[RostyC]

(I drive a '98 myself)

That new!!!! You're one of those high faluten truckers.
Mines an 84'.

[Mackman]

That new!!!! You're one of those high faluten truckers.
Mines an 84'.

Hey Rosty remember that new one you were looking at 2 years ago. That would have been 1/2 way paid off my now LMAO.......

[RostyC]

Hey Rosty remember that new one you were looking at 2 years ago. That would have been 1/2 way paid off my now LMAO.......

True, but this old girl is starting to take shape now. It was rough, but I'm getting ahead of it now. I don't think I'd trade this b model CAT for anything new.

[Mackman]

what about a new 2011 with a 3406 E.

2011 PETERBILT 389 Heavy Duty Trucks - Glider Kit For Sale At TruckPaper.com&

[RostyC]

what about a new 2011 with a 3406 E.

2011 PETERBILT 389 Heavy Duty Trucks - Glider Kit For Sale At TruckPaper.com&

Not a bad idea but I'd hate to spend that kind of money to only be told you can't run it no more by the EPA.

[rank]

True, but this old girl is starting to take shape now. It was rough, but I'm getting ahead of it now. I don't think I'd trade this b model CAT for anything new.

That's the problem with an old truck...you never want to get out of it. Buy a new one and you and then you're counting the months.

BTW, you must be from the south. I don't see too many '84 anythings in the northeast.

[RostyC]

That's the problem with an old truck...you never want to get out of it. Buy a new one and you and then you're counting the months.

BTW, you must be from the south. I don't see too many '84 anythings in the northeast.

I'm from Maryland, but I don't go much farther north than that, PA and De for p/up or delivery sometimes. They don't like old smokers up there. (and I don't like their tolls) Hell, I got pulled over in Baltimore for a smoke test a couple years ago. It passed, but I thought "geezuz, ain't you got nuttin better to do?"

Thank God my life doesn't consist of checking peoples exhaust all day, same reason I wouldn't be a proctologist.

[firebird_1252]

Not a bad idea but I'd hate to spend that kind of money to only be told you can't run it no more by the EPA.

thats whats stopping me from getting a glider.. looks like my next truck i'll have to pay for exhaust fluid..

[merrick4]

Well for the first time in over 3 years I guess it's been I took a road trip. I went to Sterling, IL. Miserable the whole time. I mean I remember loving it, but I had 17 other trucks on the road at the same time. I had two people in the office but there's things that I can only do. When I was just driving, I just cruised and listened to the radio. No phone signal? Who cared. Now I was trying to get load info on an Ipad and couldn't get a signal. I was on that 74 in Illinois for what seemed like days and saw nothing but trees and grass. I need skyscrapers and palm trees not to mention high speed internet. I use to like that highway too.

Also I wasn't prepared for food and I can't eat junk food so I basically didn't eat on the way back. I left Miami Sunday and just came back empty. (was paid well enough to do that.) I needed to be back here. Seems like a lot less O/O out there; basically big companies. Also the technology has changed so much. I was driving a 2012 Volvo. USB port right on the dashboard. Also it was dark and I couldn't figure out the DEF thing. I didn't see the other pump. I guess I wouldn't mind it if I didn't have the other responsibilities, but as someone told me recently, "you can't dance at two different weddings at the same time".

Also to be honest, I love South Florida. I Just don't want to leave here. Except for the last 10 years here, I spent my whole life in the North East and never felt at home like I do here. If they would just put a D'Angelos sub shop (A Mass thing) here that's all I'd need.

Well I think another change also is I have a little girl now. I take here to daycare every morning and pick her up at noon. I never would have understood it before but I realize now how hard it is to be an OTR driver with a little one at home. But on the other hand on the way back I called home from Daytona Beach or so to see if they had a plate for me and she was crying and got on the phone and just kept calling out for me and honestly I felt like turning around and working five times harder so she has everything in life.

So I don't think I'll be doing that again for a while, but I got a lot out of it. I think it was good for the other drivers to see me out there working as hard as they were. They all seemed to have a lot of respect for that. They know I work hard in the office; answer the phone 24/7 and make sure they make a decent living but to be out there hustling is another thing.

[golfhobo]

Good post, Merrick. You seem to be doing good. Happy for ya. I know how nice southern FL can be. It's a whole nuther world. You did GOOD to show the other drivers that you can still do it. But, I can relate (sort of) to that kid's voice on the phone.

Sounds like you haven't forgotten where you CAME from. That's important in any business. Total kudos to ya!

[firebird_1252]

thats an awesome post! i'm trying my hardest to grow my business to get something like yours.. i doubt i can get out of the seat though. as much and as bad as i'd kill for a desk job.. i'd be bored fast!

[markk]

Well, I'm right behind you. I was in the trucking business in the early 80s for about 7 yrs. I never grandfathered my license due to I never thought I would EVER need it. That being said I needed to back to driving and yes it was a shock with all these new regulations. I ended up going to school, going to work ovr for 1 year. worked local for 4 mths now I just bought a truck. I checked on geting my own authority I the cheapest insurance I was quoted was $18000 per yr. Now I'm going thru the process of leasing on with a carrier. I'm probably 1 to 2 weeks out from going to work. I'm full of anxiety. I'll keep you posted on my progress. BTW i'm a flatbed driver. Worked with oversized,etc.