I'm back, somehow my user account was deleted on here (arrgh).. anyway started working again this week with the Transfer Truck and let me tell you this work is cake! I don't think I'll ever go OTR again, lol. Anyway some misc. thoughts/ramblings/info for ya'll.
The truck: 2000 Freightliner, former fuel truck with a 236 wheelbase when purchased. Price $24k + tax and licensing (another 2k). Had frame shortened and axles moved to a 225 wheelbase, installed transfer hitch and PTO, cost $5800., boxes are leased through my company and they paid for install and wiring, so cost to build this truck was about 30k. About 1/2 the cost of purchasing one that was already build (they run 65k out here for same year without boxes).
Fuel: My OTR truck would need filled up every day (200 gallon tank), this truck used 50 gallons over 4 days of work. Huge savings for me, couldn't be happier.
Pay to the Truck: My truck earns $80 a hr. Today I worked 8.25 hrs, for a total of $660 to the truck. My OTR truck when running with MCT would get $562 for an average day with a full 11 hours of driving. This transfer truck should walk all over what my OTR truck would make in the summer, winter is another story depending on the weather here and if I can run or not whereas a OTR truck can run pretty much year round with no setbacks.
Some Costs: I pay 12% of my gross to lease the boxes, and 5% for a broker fee. Insurance runs me about $500 a month (much higer than the OTR truck!), fuel is much less, my maintance is the same.
Verdict: This job is sooo freakin easy. Takes about 10 mins to do a transfer, no more fighting with 5th wheels, tandems, no long waits to get loaded, ect. I'll be working for a couple of more months until I'm too big to drive (I have a baby on the way) and will purchase a 2nd truck to run down the road when I am ready to go back to work.
I'm new to this and by no means an expert but I'm happy to answer any questions you may have if your looking to get started in this business.
Some history on me: Licensed 1 year, 1 mo. Purchased first truck 10mos into my license, sold 3 mos later and purchased this transfer truck to run local. Haven't lost my ass yet, been running smart and making a good living and most of all I LOVE MY JOB!