[sc5952]

I own 3 trucks with my own authority. This past spring I traded a '98 Volvo in for '09 Cascadia, everything else is paid for. IMO I would never start off with brand new truck. I think you are setting yourself up for a failure to start. You need to think of insurance cost on a new rig. Yes interest in higher on smaller loan but much lower insurance premiums will make difference plus your overall payment a month still will not be as high. Before I got my '09 I pondered getting brand new Cascadia Evolution but I would have to team it and run the hell out of it to make it work and just not what we do. I am now looking to buy another 1-2 trucks but definitely not new. These will not be Cali trucks like my '09 so older is fine. Looking at $25k trucks. You can buy older truck but budget like big payments and "refurbish" older truck also. Just my 2 cents.

[Snowman7]

Originally Posted by freebirdrfd

What's your plan if you get sick, or injured? I may not be an O/O, but buying a brand new truck seems like a huge risk.

Good point.

[firebird_1252]

its a super bad idea to start out with a new truck. what a lot of people that are just jumping in to it do not understand is that when you apply for your own authority is that you need to hold insurance while you are applying. it takes about 3 months too. i got lucky when i started. i bought a used ryder truck (04 columbia), threw the warranty on it. i started running doing rain containers. i literally started with $90 to my name. i busted my ***** for a year. got my authority and bought my dry van. i had a real decent amount in the bank and by the time i was ready to run under my own authority i was back down to almost nothing in the bank. but it was the best thing i ever did. i have 2 trailers now and gearing up for #3 and another truck. BUT i'm very lucky, i got great customers and great brokers. you NEED money for the unexpected. in the past 3 months my truck has costed me about $7-8k in repairs. about $5000 last month alone.

[Scottt]

Originally Posted by CreepShow

Thanks for the tips on FedEx Ground and the LTL companies, I could be wrong but I think my best option is going to be O/O. I think one of my biggest weaknesses is that I don't know any seasoned well rounded owner operators to talk to for ideas and basic information on actually getting this going so I'm doing a lot of reading and taking in as much in as I can. .

I sent you a private message and you can call me if you have any questions. I bought my truck straight out of driving school and I took off from there and learned and as I went. It has been 6 years now and doing very well.

[CreepShow]

Originally Posted by freebirdrfd

What's your plan if you get sick, or injured? I may not be an O/O, but buying a brand new truck seems like a huge risk.

If I get sick or injured long term things could get bad quick.

Originally Posted by Scottt

I sent you a private message and you can call me if you have any questions. I bought my truck straight out of driving school and I took off from there and learned and as I went. It has been 6 years now and doing very well.

Hi Scott, I have no new private messages.

[sc5952]

Originally Posted by firebird_1252

it takes about 3 months too.

From start of forms til the time I became active was 21 days. Do the stuff yourself don't have these companies bend you over getting authority for you.

[Roadhog]

Originally Posted by CreepShow

Hi Scott, I have no new private messages.

Not to bud in, but I have been reading all the great posts.

I'm pretty sure you have to have a minimum of 25 posts to give or receive private messages.
That system is in place as a security measure.

Creepshow…make...

[Roadhog]

..a bunch

[Roadhog]

of messages to get to 25.

[Scottt]

Originally Posted by sc5952

From start of forms til the time I became active was 21 days. Do the stuff yourself don't have these companies bend you over getting authority for you.

Spend $25 and join OOIDA and have them guide you through it.