Truck Driving Jobs

davidwleith · Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Ca

I was wondering if someone could help me with some questions?
First...what do I need as in tags, and liscense to get started in my own truck.

second......I have 4 tickets on my record, but would like to buy a truck and work as an independent contractor. Can someone tell me how this works....
my tickets are not from my truck, but my auto, and they are all over a year old, but still within 3 years.

Thanks for any help
Dave

classicxl · Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 1197 Location: Rosemount MN

It is going to be really hard to obtain insurance to drive a big truck with that many tickets that is the first thing you need to check with an insurance company if they will even insure you

Uturn2001 · Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:35 pm Post subject:

Insurance companies could care less if those tickets were on a skateboard. They were moving violations that you were convicted of, end of story.

On top of that if you do not have any driving experience in a Class A vehicle you are going to find it hard enough to get insurance with a clean driving record but with 4 tickets in 3 years you will probably find it impossible. Even if you did find an insurance carrier you probably could not make enough to pay for th truck, fuel, insurance and other operating expenses and still have any money left to pay yourself.

Your best bet is to let 3 of those tickets drop off, go get your Class A liscense through a CDL school, then hire on as a company driver for 2 or 3 years to learn the ins and outs of this biz before jumping into the deep end of the pool as an O/O or Indy.

And just so you can not say no one tried to answer your question you will find 99% of what you want to know about liscencing and such HERE and the other 1% you can learn by contacting your state department of motor vehicles and the commercial vehicle enforcement office of your state police.

GMAN · Joined: 13 Feb 2005 Posts: 9878 Location: Tennessee

Unless you have a substantial amount of cash, you are setting yourself up for failure, with no experience in this business. Right now, there are a lot of small underfunded independents and owner operators losing their shirts. If you do decide to pursue this you will need a base plate, SSR, IRP, IFTA. The cost will depend on where you live and license your truck. I would expect to spend from about $1,600-2,200. Before you will be allowed to get these items, you will need to pay a Heavy Highway Use Tax (2290), cost is $550, prorated from July. The first thing you will need is Motor Carrier authority. The cost is $300, but you will need liability and cargo insurance. You can check with Progressive for the liability. There have been some on this forum, with no experience, who have been able to get restricted insurance with them. I hope you have deep pockets. With no experience and so many tickets, it will be costly. Insurance companies look for at least 2 years experience and a clean MVR.

SteveBooth · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 3501

My suggestions would be to call Progressive right away and get a quote. They are the only company that will insure a person without experience. If your tickets are a problem they will be the first to shut you down and that could be the end of the story. If you make it past them go for the cargo which is the hardest to get. If you pass those two obstacles, you should have no problem with the rest.

Rev.Vassago · Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:59 am Post subject:

SteveBooth wrote: My suggestions would be to call Progressive right away and get a quote. They are the only company that will insure a person without experience. If your tickets are a problem they will be the first to shut you down and that could be the end of the story. If you make it past them go for the cargo which is the hardest to get. If you pass those two obstacles, you should have no problem with the rest.

If, by "the rest", you mean obtaining starting capital, a decent customer base, business sense, a lighter right foot, etc. :roll:

Be a company driver - it's where you belong, Dave.

solo379 · Joined: 14 Feb 2004 Posts: 3162

Rev.Vassago wrote:
If, by "the rest", you mean obtaining starting capital, a decent customer base, business sense, a lighter right foot, etc. :roll:

I hope you have a substantial income(other than trucking), to support that "rest"! :lol:

SteveBooth · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 3501

SteveBooth wrote: If you pass those two obstacles, you should have no problem with the rest.

I should edit the end and put "if you have the money". The customer base should not be a problem as I found out already. Many loads out there on the load boards and they only thing they care about is you having your authority and insurance.

LOAD IT · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 614

Give the guy something to work towards. 4 tickets is a problem, but maybe he has capital and customers and just wants some opinions, you guys are definitely giving him opinions.

LOAD IT · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 614

Dave, when you got your cdl, you became a professional driver and a target. You have to protect your cdl which is your livelihood. A good rule to follow especially with 4 tickets is to change your driving habits, in and out of the truck. Good luck and go for it!!! Trucking is not as easy as it looks, but it is a rewarding way to make a living.

Bigmon · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 703 Location: S. Cal.

Dave,

If you're in CA you can get Assigned Risk insurance from the State. It's around 8-10k a year.

coolbreeze · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 36 Location: CT

If, by "the rest", you mean obtaining starting capital, a decent customer base, business sense, a lighter right foot, etc. :roll:

Be a company driver - it's where you belong, Dave.[/quote]

Customer base?
What about the load boards? I see literally hundreds of loads moving in and out of everywhere everyday. Especially on Getloaded.com. Seems to be ALOT of work out there without needing a "customer base".

Rev.Vassago · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:19 am Post subject:

coolbreeze wrote: Customer base?
What about the load boards? I see literally hundreds of loads moving in and out of everywhere everyday. Especially on Getloaded.com. Seems to be ALOT of work out there without needing a "customer base".

If you are relying on load boards to keep your truck moving, you have failed before you have even started.

You're right about one thing - there is a lot of work out there. But you would be shocked at the amount of it that won't even cover your costs.

coolbreeze · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 36 Location: CT

If you are relying on load boards to keep your truck moving, you have failed before you have even started.

You're right about one thing - there is a lot of work out there. But you would be shocked at the amount of it that won't even cover your costs.[/quote]

So your saying load boards alone, you can not succeed? If the truck is kept moving 4,5,6 days a week then why not? Could you explain in more detail?
[/quote]

Rev.Vassago · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 3:57 pm Post subject:

coolbreeze wrote:

So your saying load boards alone, you can not succeed? If the truck is kept moving 4,5,6 days a week then why not? Could you explain in more detail?

It isn't about keeping the truck moving. It's about moving the truck for a rate that justifies it, and most loads off a load board do not justify it (on a regular basis)

First, let's take a load off a load board. The shipper is paying $1.22 per mile, plus $0.26 FSC. The broker is going to take a 35% cut of the per mile rate, dropping it down to $0.90 per mile.

Based upon 3500 miles per week
_______________________________
FUEL @ $3.00 PER GALLON x 6 MPG = $0.50 PER MILE
TRUCK PAYMENT OF $1500 PER MONTH = $0.11 PER MILE
INSURANCE = $0.095 CPM
TRAILER PAYMENT OF $500 PER MONTH = $0.036 CPM
PLATES, 2290, IFTA, ETC. = $0.012 CPM
DRIVER WAGE = $0.40 CPM
_____________________________________________
TOTAL COST PER MILE = $1.153 CPM

I can run 7 days a week at $0.90 per mile, plus $0.26 per mile FSC, running 500 miles per day, and earn $3,150 for the week, and earn $4060 per week, and have expenses of $4035.50 per week, giving my business a net profit of $24.50 per week.

__________________________________________
OR, how about this? Let's take that 35% that the broker from the load board is going to take off the top, and haul it directly for the shipper.

Based upon 2500 miles per week
_______________________________
FUEL @ $3.00 PER GALLON x 6 MPG = $0.50 PER MILE
TRUCK PAYMENT OF $1500 PER MONTH = $0.15 CPM
INSURANCE ($16,000 per year)= $0.13 CPM
TRAILER PAYMENT OF $500 PER MONTH = $0.05 CPM
PLATES, 2290, IFTA, ETC. = $0.017 CPM
DRIVER WAGE = $0.56 PER MILE
_____________________________________________
TOTAL COST PER MILE = $1.407 PER MILE

I can run 5 days a week @ $1.22 per mile, plus $0.26 FSC, covering the same 500 miles per day, and earn $3700. My expenses will run me $3517.50, giving me a net profit of $182.50 for the week.

And yes, I know I did not include maintainance or repairs in either scenario, even though they would have been higher for the first one. Consider that one a free pass. :wink:

99.9% of the time, you will get a better rate by working OUTSIDE of a load board. Why give a middleman a cut, if it is possible to go directly to the source (the shipper)?

I'm not completely dissing load boards - they can be a godsend in a pinch. But when you are constantly giving what amounts to ONE THIRD of your income away to a broker, then it just doesn't make sense.

Run smarter, not harder.

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