Someone on this forum sent me email and asked some questions that I thought everyone might like to read.
Just wanted to check in with you and see how things are going overall? I've been following your thread faithfully. I saw where you said in Spring you'd run a little harder but that you didn't think that a guy could make it if he had a house payment and truck payment. What do you think you could do different if anything to be able to make it if you had a truck payment or house payment? Be more choosy with loads or is there anything you could do to make it? I ask because someday I would like to give it a try. May be sooner than I think. What steps would you recommend to me that you'd do different from the way you started? Do you like finding your own loads or do you think if you were to do it over you'd lease on to someone? Is the lifestyle everything you thought it would be and do you like it? It wouldn't bother me to live out of a truck for extended periods of time. Guess it would take some adjusting to find what makes you comfortable and what is most convenient. Having the electronics such as GPS and laptop and fax ability really make it a lot easier. Do you have a dish set up yet? I see them on a few trucks that come through our place.
Have you considered an APU unit? They seem to be the way to go. Wow what a convenience and fuel saver and idling saver on motor.
Things are going pretty good overall. I just got my truck back from the shop and another big surprise on the bill. Everything is much more expensive on the truck. I had my 5th wheel rebuilt and a few other things fixed and a nice $1,700 dollar bill.
I said I didn’t think someone with a mortgage could make it the way I’m running. I’ve been going out for 3 weeks at a time then spending a week or 2 at home. Way too much time off. Also, I tend to deliver my load then take a day or 2 off before getting my next load. I also tend to take it pretty easy when on the road only running 350 to 500 miles per day. I don’t see any reason that someone with a mortgage and truck payment couldn’t do it and have plenty of money left over if they ran the way most people do instead of like me at the moment.
I don’t think you need to be more choosy about the loads, just do your honest 10 hour day driving and schedule your next load on the road and not take 2 weeks off every time you came home and I think you would do just fine for sure!
What would I do differently about the way I started? NOTHING!!! I had the ability to get my license, truck, trailer and all the goodies before I quit my job. My last day of work was on Friday and that day I had my first load to take on Monday. There was no stress or wondering. I jumped right from my desk into the drivers seat.
Finding my own loads is easy but I’ve found it easier to just post my truck and wait for the phone to ring. It seems the better paying loads are the ones that aren’t on the load boards and when a broker sees my truck posted and calls me it’s because they need a truck NOW!
The lifestyle is much better than I expected. I have had no desire to stay in a hotel and I have everything I want in the truck. I spend lots of time keeping the inside spotless and organized.
I have GPS, wireless internet, cell phone, fax, scanner and printer. Everything except for the GPS is a must to book a load. I have been out in the middle of nowhere and was able to receive a fax, sign it, scan it and fax it back for my next load. I don’t have a dish and tend to watch DVD’s. I sort of don’t last too long once I get into bed. I’m a good sleeper and am usually out like a light in 5 minutes.
I am considering an APU and will most likely go with a Rigmaster. This winter I have idled my truck for days when I was sick or waiting for a load.