[rank]

Originally Posted by DD60

If anyone has 100k laying around to invest it would be a better idea to invest in anything else but a trucking company. :lol: You can buy a decent truck and trailer for around 60k if you are savvy enough and know what to look for. The 15k maintenance cost I agree with. The 20.00 a day to eat I also unfortunately agree with. :lol: It is showing in the cramming of my jeans. :lol: The 100k you need to start with I don't however. Most brokers pay within 30 days of delivery and being the shape the trucking market is in I doubt anyone is averaging 3.50 a mile on 10k miles in 30 days.

DD,

That's a theorectiacl 30 days from reciept of the mailed POD. Here's the fine print. You create the invoice, mail it, USPS does it's thing, broker pays on the first billing cycle AFTER the 30th day AFTER they recieve it, they mail it, USPS does it's thing, you get home to check your mail.....you're lucky if it's 45-60 days. Hence my $35,000 estimate.

We always have at least $25,000 oustanding and I have the luxury of invoicing the day after delivery.

[Sonny Pruitt]

Steve lucked out with no experience
And in opinion he put the public at risk
There are consequences for no experience
Read this article closely


It happened last week



http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnews...tal_crash.html

a rookie mistake


everyone makes mistakes
when they try to learn something
by the seat of their pants

you make a simple, silly mistake in a truck
you could wind up in prison
and a million dollars bail

[bransontripper]

That is really crazy!

[Blind Driver]

I've talked to seval o/ops who drive the FedEx Expeditated trucks. They seem to be making very good money. One driver I talked to said his Detroit is getting 7 mpg average, but his buddy is getting 12 mpg out of his Mercedes, Might be something to consider

[rank]

12 mpg? Must be bob tailing

[solo379]

Originally Posted by Sonny Pruitt

It happened last week



http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnews...tal_crash.html

a rookie mistake

I was there shortly after that happened! Thankfully going south bound on I-81! :sad:

[Doghouse]

I agree with the rookie mistake part, but the vast majority of trainers don't do the job that they are supposed to do ( I could tell you about my trainer, and then trainee partner,...I'm lucky to be alive). I think Steve did a fine job of learning as you go,...he probably did better than most.

[RostyC]

I don't see in the article where it said he was a rookie. He was 36, could have 10 years experience who knows.

And that's not a good example of a mistake. That's pure carelessness, hence the charges.

Also, I see drivers of all sort do stupid things.

Without defending (or offending) anyone, I will say this, who is more likely to be careless, someone in a company truck or someone that just spent their savings on their equipment to get started?

The above is not a jab at company drivers.

[slacker]

So I guess the point is, everyone should start with years of experience???? Or maybe they shouldn't let anyone start driving a truck unless he already has ten years experience??? lol

This would surely reduce the amount of drivers and increase freight rates I suppose. :wink:

The problem, imho, is not the lack of experience, but the lack of training, and drivers that are so familiar with trucking, they become careless, whether they have five, ten, or 20 years experience.

Statistics show that trucking fatalites are down, despite the newbies on the road, and many of the major accidents are attributed to carelessness more than lack of experience. I would like to see some stats comparing serious accidents against years of experience.

Rarely do I see a newbie tailgating a small car going 75mph, it's usually the so called "experienced", with enough confidence to pull of such a daring move, or should I say careless/wreckless move, depending on your perspective.

I would agree that no one should get a cdl and go out on the road without some really good training, although, that is the way a lot of the now "experienced", started.

The times were different then, I suppose.

musings of a misfit.

[Sonny Pruitt]

I am just pointing out there are consequences in trucking and if you want to take the "you don't need training anyone can drive a truck" route read the article and decide for yourself.