[sup]

Congrats on running now from a fellow FL carrier.
We run reefer and it's really horrible down here.
You should sign up for the loadboards though, ITS has the better paying ones. JMO.

[RostyC]

Congrats merrick4, and good luck to you. Business can be fun and rewarding, also frustrating sometimes. Always be willing to learn.

[no_worries]

I'm pretty impressed with the price you got for the unit. The trailer price is higher than I remember but that was almost 18 months ago, before the manufacturers instituted significant increases due to higher prices on commodities. For a good overall unit, $58,000 is certainly in the ballpark of what's reasonable.

[person]

You have done a lot here getting started. An excellent accomplishment.

Did you have $7200 a year in your budget planning for finding loads? I don't think many single truck companies pay that much for that single task. Does that amount include anything else?

[geomon]

With a year's experience, how difficult was it getting liability insurance? Who did you end up going with? Did you have to sell the house to get it?

[merrick4]

Originally Posted by person

You have done a lot here getting started. An excellent accomplishment.

Did you have $7200 a year in your budget planning for finding loads? I don't think many single truck companies pay that much for that single task. Does that amount include anything else?

Actually my plan was to lease on to CRST Malone flatbed, and I got to talking with the individual and he pointed out, which is true, that if I got paid 75% of the load which is what they paid, then I'd be paying a hell of a lot more then $7200 a year. I forget the figures we went with but figure if I grossed $100,000 a year, well that's $25,000 right there I'd be paying CRST.

Actually I didn't want to go with this guy for the simple reason is I knew him and liked him and I never get involved with people I know. You know the saying "good fences make good neighbors".

As to if it includes anything else, well I mean I got my equipment with him as a reference. I don't think I would have paid the prices I paid if I went there alone. I bought the APU at the same price he got for buying 5 at a time. Also basically if I have any questions whatsoever about anything, then I call him.

You make a good point though, but yes in short I did plan on that expense.

[merrick4]

Originally Posted by geomon

With a year's experience, how difficult was it getting liability insurance? Who did you end up going with? Did you have to sell the house to get it?

It's late now and I want to get to bed but to answer real quick (I will post exact figures later), I paid about $13,000. Liability was with a company called Aequicap. I think they are out of Florida though I'm not sure. Progressive handled the Comp and collision. I see Lloyd's of London on my policy too but I'm not sure what they are for. That might be for the cargo.

Wait I just looked real quick, total for liability and cargo was $7860.69. For the truck and trailer was actually about $6000 more. I will post later the exact figures. Remember this was higher as I have newer equipment.

[merrick4]

Originally Posted by no_worries

I'm pretty impressed with the price you got for the unit. The trailer price is higher than I remember but that was almost 18 months ago, before the manufacturers instituted significant increases due to higher prices on commodities. For a good overall unit, $58,000 is certainly in the ballpark of what's reasonable.

no_worries, I think I read you are from Florida, if so and you are going to buy the reefer unit, PM me if you want and I'll give you the place where I bought the stuff from. Real nice guy. Actually I paid by credit card and then the wife called me and she was apologetic but said that the fees would be too much and that the husband shouldn't have said I could pay by credit card. She thought I would be mad but I understood. I was surprised that he let me do it.

I actually saved money by getting the trailer and reefer unit separate. Wabash would have done it for me but then obviously marked up the price. I see a lot of Utility trailers out here (in my big one week ) but I went with Wabash as the walls have some material (I forget the name) that are less prone to punctures. Also they have some type of material on the top that I believes dissipates heat.

[merrick4]

Okay I finish unloading tomorrow AM. These six stops weren't bad at all. I did five today real quick. Honestly I pulled up and they pulled the pallets. No wait whatsoever.

So my first week, I billed $3600 plus $90 for unloading. I've spent about $1300 on fuel which was a bit higher as I started out on empty from the dealer, well not empty but low. This leaves about $2300 but I need to figure out my expenses. It's a little hard to figure out as I got creative with the finances. Technically the insurance is paid for the year and I have no payment for the trailer and APU, I do owe the money but like I said I got creative. I forgot to add the total miles I drove this week (hub miles) was 2900 for a total of $1.24 a mile. I have been trying to figure out this Drivers Daily Log program. It has a lot of features that help to track a lot of stuff.

As for my expenses remember that I have all newer equipment with less than 2 years on my CDL so all that coupled together and my expenses are going to be higher than a lot of other people.

I'm hoping this week will be better though I've enjoyed it. I like being out here and seeing new things. Also went to a Meijers tonight. Never been in one of those. Think they are a lot bigger than even Super Walmart.

[glockboyz]

MAYBE THIS MIGHT HELP.

Pickup Location: LUDINGTON, MI
Drop-off Location: ROSENHAYN, NJ
Mileage: 846
Pickup Date: 7/27/2007 (Friday July 27th) Any Time
Equipment Types: Reefer, Van
Load Quantity: 1
Load Size: Full
Load Weight: 45000 lbs.
Oversized: No
Overweight: No
Team Preferred: No
Payment Amount: $1650.00
Company Name: DEER LAKE TRUCK BROKERAGE
Company Location: HOWARD CITY, MI
FMCSA Lookup: MC 409474
Contact Name: Bruce, Lori
Contact Phone Number: 800-430-0007
Date Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:05pm EDT

Pickup Location: GRAND RAPIDS, MI
Drop-off Location: BALTIMORE, MD
Mileage: 652
Pickup Date: 7/27/2007 (Friday July 27th) Any Time
Equipment Types: Van
Load Quantity: 1
Load Size: Full
Load Weight: 30000 lbs.
Oversized: No
Overweight: No
Team Preferred: No
Payment Amount: $1350.00
Company Name: ACTION PRO LOGISTICS LLC
Company Location: WEST OLIVE, MI
FMCSA Lookup: MC 445288
Contact Name: Rick
Contact Phone Number: 616-890-5153
Extra Information: No touch, Del Monday 10 am
Date Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:43pm EDT

Pickup Location: PALMYRA, MI
Drop-off Location: FOREST PARK, GA
Mileage: 702
Pickup Date: 7/27/2007 (Friday July 27th) Any Time
Delivery Date: 7/30/2007 (Monday July 30th) Any Time
Equipment Types: Reefer
Equipment Attributes: Refrigerated, Std Length 48'
Load Quantity: 1
Load Size: Full
Load Weight: 0 lbs.
Oversized: No
Overweight: No
Team Preferred: No
Payment Amount: Call
Company Name: PLATINUM LOGISTICS
Company Location: LINCOLN PARK, MI
FMCSA Lookup: MC 589616
Contact Name: Paul/ Steve
Contact Phone Number: 734-692-2900
Extra Information: Contact Denny 734-692-2900
Date Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:56pm EDT


Pickup Location: NEW ERA, MICurrent Weather Forecast
Drop-off Location: MONROE, GACurrent Weather Forecast
Mileage: 875
Pickup Date: 7/27/2007 (Friday July 27th) Any Time
Equipment Types: Reefer, Van
Load Quantity: 1
Load Size: Full
Load Weight: 42840 lbs.
Oversized: No
Overweight: No
Team Preferred: No
Payment Amount: Call
Company Name: JLI BROKERAGE
Company Location: MUSKEGON, MI
FMCSA Lookup: MC 578556
Contact Name: Heidi
Contact Phone Number: 231-638-7134
Extra Information: Delivers Sunday
Date Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:42pm EDT


Pickup Location: GRAND RAPIDS, MI
Drop-off Location: MANTECA, CA
Mileage: 2261
Pickup Date: 7/27/2007 (Friday July 27th) Any Time
Equipment Types: Reefer
Equipment Attributes: Insulated, Refrigerated, Vented
Load Quantity: 1
Load Size: Full
Load Weight: 39000 lbs.
Oversized: No
Overweight: No
Team Preferred: No
Payment Amount: Call
Company Name: WEST GATE LOGISTICS, LLC
Company Location: FRESNO, CA
FMCSA Lookup: MC 609481
Contact Name: Kenny
Contact Phone Number: 559-217-3096
Date Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:17pm EDT

call these brokers and try to get at least $1.80 a mile for dry and $2 for reefer.