Most profitable loads

[Colts Fan]

Which trucks make the O/O the most money? What combo of truck, motor, transmission brings the best fuel efficiency, low maintenence costs, etc.?

[no_worries]

Trucks don't create profit...freight does :wink:

[GMAN]

A truck that is paid for will make the most money for the owner. As far as specs are concerned I would look at something aerodynamic such as a Kenworth T600, T2000, Peterbilt 387, Volvo, Freightliner (except the Classic), International 9400, 9200. If you get a new or newer International the ProStar is supposed to do well with the mpg's. The gearing, transmission and engine would have more to do wit the type of freight you haul and where you run. For most general applications I would probably look at gearing around 355, 10 or 13 speed transmission. I think most people seem to get better fuel mileage with Cummins, but I do pretty well with CAT. I prefer torque to fuel mileage when the difference is inconsequential. One truck that I own is a T600 with a super 10 and CAT engine. The last several times I have checked it under a load the mpg was around 6.91. That is pretty respectable. Volvo engines are supposed to be fairly fuel efficient, but there are also drawbacks such as finding someone who will work on it and parts availability. It could be better these days. I tend to stay away from the barnd specific engines, such as Volvo and Mercedes.

[BigDiesel]

Trucks do not make you money..... Knowing how to run a business, is what makes you money.

[Chiefwhatdahey]

My most profitable truck is the one I currently own, it has been the most fuel efficient, has had the lowest cost per mile and has been the most reliable of the four trucks I've owned since 1989 8)

[allan5oh]

The number one cost right now is fuel, so speccing a fuel efficient truck is very important. Even buying a 5 year old classic vs. a new aero, the new aero may have a lower overall cost due to better mpg.

After that consideration, you want a truck that depreciates the least. What trucks depreciate the least you ask? The oldest ones, and the ones you keep for a long time.

After that, you have to consider maintenance. Doing work yourself is always cheaper(and better!) then paying someone else to do the work for you. Reliability is important, and doing your own work should increase that reliability.

[Orangetxguy]

The number one cost right now is fuel, so speccing a fuel efficient truck is very important. Even buying a 5 year old classic vs. a new aero, the new aero may have a lower overall cost due to better mpg.

After that consideration, you want a truck that depreciates the least. What trucks depreciate the least you ask? The oldest ones, and the ones you keep for a long time.

After that, you have to consider maintenance. Doing work yourself is always cheaper(and better!) then paying someone else to do the work for you. Reliability is important, and doing your own work should increase that reliability.

LOL....I'm man enough to admit that I am unfit as a mechanic. I can do simple stuff yes..like swap out batteries, lights, fuses...simple stuff. If it requires anything more...I take it to a shop.

I'm just not that mechanically inclined...never have been.

[allan5oh]

But even that simple stuff, doing a quality job on wiring, and checking battery connections every so often, you'd be surprised how some people won't do that.

Then the ECM connection to their battery corrodes, and loses connection, shutting the engine off.

200 mile tow bill, $1000+ between the tow and repair job, all because someone was too lazy to take a 9/16 wrench and tighten one connection.

[BigDiesel]

It is amazing that so many think it is the " truck " that makes you money....


The truck and trailer are just tools in a toolbox... It is the person who is running the biz that determines the best and most profitable use of these tools.......


Don't let the kevin Rutherford so called business model cloud ones thinking.....

[GMAN]

BigDiesel is correct about the truck only being a tool to allow you to make money. On the other hand, any cost savings, such as increased fuel mileage, is money earned. Managing your business efficiently will make money regardless of the type of truck you run. Perhaps a better way to look at it would be the type of truck you select can save you money. Hauling well paying freight and managing your costs will earn you money. Just because you generate revenue doesn't necessarily mean that you are profitable or successful. You need to show a profit.

[allan5oh]

The most successful business work on revenue as well as cost, as much as possible.

[Chiefwhatdahey]

Trucks are definately tools, I've always likened mine to a hammer. You buy a tool, you use the tool to earn, over time the money you make pays for the tool, everything after that is considered profit therefor the tool is a profitable expense.

[allan5oh]

There are some that treat their truck as an "investment".

I don't know of any investments that depreciate as much as trucks do.

[tracer]

The question should be not "most profitable trucks", but "most profitable loads". Even if your truck does only 1 mpg (like a tank), you can still make a killing if you haul an oversized load that pays 50 bucks per mile

[PhuzzyGnu]

There are some that treat their truck as an "investment".

I don't know of any investments that depreciate as much as trucks do.

"Capital Investment"

-p.

[Walking Eagle]

There is no such thing as "The most profitable truck". It all depends what you are using it for. You get a truck, the same as you get a rifle, for what you want to do with it. If you want to hunt Squirrels you don't get a 458 Mag Weatherby or 500 Nitro Express (well some might ) the same with trucks. If you are going to pull light vans regionaly you don't need a 600 Cat or Cummins with an 18 speed but if you are going to haul 150,000 lbs coast to coast with a 300 FL and a 10 speed you may need a little more Look at what you want to do on a regular basis then find the happy median. My truck gets 2 to 2.5 mpg on a regular basis and is real profitable so I am real happy with it.

[lostNfound]

There are some that treat their truck as an "investment".

I don't know of any investments that depreciate as much as trucks do.

"Capital Investment"

-p.

More like "Capital Punishment"

[felix5oh]

I'm not an O/O but i worked for an independant with a small fleet hauling boats. The combination of a late winter, fuel prices and a staggering economy almost put him out of business in late 2007 witch forced me to get another job. His regular customers just wern't moving thier boats south anymore and new/used boat sales almost came to a hault. Not to montion every other starving boat hauler was doing the work for so cheep he was forced to take 2 trucks off the road for a while. He has 2 stingers and 2 conventionals. He was able to get it going again but tells me he's not making the same numbers like when i was there. He is a smart businessman.

Although it's been said you need to be a good businessman to make money not have a cheep truck. I agree 100%.

Here are the numbers:
1998 Volvo 770 with a Cummins N-14 and 13 speed did about 6.3-6.9 mpg.
1998 K-dub T2000 with a Cummins N-14 and 10 speed did 5.1-5.5 mpg

[Colts Fan]

The question should be not "most profitable trucks", but "most profitable loads". Even if your truck does only 1 mpg (like a tank), you can still make a killing if you haul an oversized load that pays 50 bucks per mile

Ok, topic changed.

What is considered cheap freight? I assume that when I see a TMC flatbed hauling straw or hay, that is a cheap load. When I see flatbedders hauling oversize heavy equipment, my mind tells me that is probably a high dollar load. Break it down if you can. For each type of truck, what is considered good paying freight?

1. Flatbed
2. Reefer
3. Dry Van

What type of loads will you not touch with a 10-foot pole? What parts of the country have the highest paying freight?

[Bigmon]

I'm not an O/O but i worked for an independant with a small fleet hauling boats. The combination of a late winter, fuel prices and a staggering economy almost put him out of business in late 2007 witch forced me to get another job. His regular customers just wern't moving thier boats south anymore and new/used boat sales almost came to a hault. Not to montion every other starving boat hauler was doing the work for so cheep he was forced to take 2 trucks off the road for a while. He has 2 stingers and 2 conventionals. He was able to get it going again but tells me he's not making the same numbers like when i was there. He is a smart businessman.

Although it's been said you need to be a good businessman to make money not have a cheep truck. I agree 100%.

Here are the numbers:
1998 Volvo 770 with a Cummins N-14 and 13 speed did about 6.3-6.9 mpg.
1998 K-dub T2000 with a Cummins N-14 and 10 speed did 5.1-5.5 mpg

Felix,

The back of that boat in the pic must catch a bunch of wind killing the aero affect of your truck.