[usedup]

Use the five "P" system.............

1. Planning

2. Perserverance

3. Profit

4. Personality

5. Patience

If that doesn't work, put a bible in your left hand, keys in your right and the "Lord" will provide.........do you think??????????

[marylandkw]

Originally Posted by allan5oh

HOLY SMOKES!!!

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Twice with brand new trucks I have hit a dear on the first or second day....very discouraging. Makes me not want to buy another one. O yeah the flat was a steer tire

[merrick4]

Good luck to you Rosty and besides it sure beats swinging a hammer.

[matcat]

Originally Posted by marylandkw

Twice with brand new trucks I have hit a dear on the first or second day....very discouraging. Makes me not want to buy another one. O yeah the flat was a steer tire

Sound's like you have a curse .

[Longsnowsm]

RostyC,

Congrats... We would all love to hear the details for your plan, truck, cash you needed, and a general feel how things have gone so far.

Longsnowsm

[BigDiesel]

The only thing you will do in the first couple of months will be writing a lot checks ,warping the credit card and wringing your hans........ :lol: :lol: :lol:

You will second guess yourself nearly everyday those first two months also..... :lol: :lol:

But.... once you get into a rythym and invoices begin to be paid to you.... you will never look back..... 8)

[NotSteve]

Missed this topic.

Good luck there Rusty. I'm changing your name, I don't like Rosty.

I think a lot has to do with just plain luck at this stage in your adventure. I think the best advise I can give you is to tuck away your money and don't come home after being out for 5 weeks and see $30,000 in checks and go wild on stuff you don't really need.

I've come home many many times already with plans of getting something simple fixed as an oil leak on a splitter just to find out the whole thing is falling apart and a $1,900 bill.

I've found that in this business you can push yourself if need be or lay back if your doing OK. Sort of like unlimited overtime if you need it. I can very rarely drive 11 hours but I have if I need to. I tend to take the rest of the day off after I deliver even if it's 7am. I'm the type who needs to step back, restock and regroup after every long haul.

Just running for 5 weeks requires around $12,000 in fuel money. I'm at the point where I have at least $20,000 in outstanding money owed to me at any point in time. As fuel costs go up so does that $20k figure and that is running capital that I must maintain. Fuel prices are the single cause of new people not being able to enter into the game without the initial capital.

[RostyC]

Originally Posted by marylandkw

I can give you something to look forward to I suppose....

The day you wake up and you are upset because this truck driving stuff is like an old hat, no more surprises, no challenges just the same old boring routine. I think that happens after 30 years or so, I'll let you know when I get there.

Now for the first year you are gonna be on a roller coaster, get ready to spend some money as you discover everyone who wants your money!

When is the big day?

My first day as an O/O, I hit a deer, got a flat and finished it all up with a level 1 inspection. Hope yours goes better

I'm trying for middle of September. We'll see though.
If I have all that happen my first day I'll park it in the driveway and just polish it. :lol:

[RostyC]

Steve you can call me anything you want sep late for dinner. 8)

RostyC is short for Rostosolese Cornelious.

[Dejanh]

Originally Posted by allan5oh

Yup the first hump is tough to get over, and don't worry there'll be more to come.

Don't get complacent, the first couple years are easy. After that, your depreciation is gone, uncle sam wants money up front(quarterlies) instead of at the end of tax season, and you're still making the same truck payment!

It's time to pull up the bootstraps son!

Thats why you'll beat the Sam by getting a newer truck and taking on payments again..