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.

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

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.

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?

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?

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.

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.

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 :D ) 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.

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.

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.