Originally Posted by Double L:
I've always wanted to do things different, I love the Columbia's every since they came out which what I been around old and new style's. I like the 05 and newer style and I've always liked to see areo trucks with chrome and chicken lights. Oh yeah I'd more than likely invest in super singles for the tractor and trailer as well. Isn't the weight savings 500 per wheel? Don't get me wrong I like large cars but I like to see something different to a fleet type of truck. I'd like to have a green Columbia 70" midroof XT with yellow lettering.

then you could change your name to John Deere.

Uh....Load It,I'll take that Marmon........ 8)

Originally Posted by LOAD IT:
What if someone gave you a Marmon tomorrow morning, would you run it?

PICK ME PICK ME

I plan on it when the time is right, one of the many reasons I like Freightliner besides being partial to them and growing up around them is the Detroit/Mercedes. I've always like the areo trucks for many reason besides saving fuel I like the turning radius and the ability to get in tight spaces. Oh yeah can't forget the visibility! You can't go wrong with a Freightliner. I've heard people say Freightliner are throwaway trucks, I disagree because any truck can be a throwaway truck if you don't care of it, I've seen 10 year old FLD's still running STRONG and seen newer Freightliners that have been abused rattle like crazy. Now I will admit the early Century Class and Columbia's were not the best built and were made of cheap plastic but atleast they got the job and did it well and saved the drivers/company thousands in fuel each and every single year. Plus super singles will help in the fuel bill and weight department alot.

LL- what do you think about these fuel prices?

LL- what are your views on driver retention?

LL- Employee or True Independent Contractor?

Fuel prices-It's hurting everyone, but I think $2.00-$2.50 will be the norm for here on out. While fuel is at what it is now I want to SAVE money in the short and long run. Fuel milage is important to me cause that could make or break me. That is one of the reasons why I like areodynamic trucks especially Freightliners so much cause it'll save me money especially if I decide to run super singles which will also allow me to haul more weight! The only fuel saving device is the drivers right foot.

Driver Retention-Treat them the way you want to be treated, don't screw them around and get them home when they need to be home or when they request, don't run them to death. Safety is my top priority if and when I do hire drivers and for myself as well.

I prefer true independent contracter, I always wanted to do everything myself and be a one man operation, but I know later on down the road I'd have to hire drivers. But I'm gonna try to hold off on hiring drivers until I'm close to retirement or I get swamped with too many loads. I'd rather hire owner operators instead of company drivers because that would be less money I'd have to spend on equipment and I could use the extra to benefit the driver like more pay for tarping their loads or milage/% pay and etc.

I know alot of drivers are skeptical of super singles and you got to weight the pros and cons, I already went over the pros but the cons are if they blow out it'll cause alot of damage and they are hard to find.

I'm gonna run my business as a business not a hobby to where I'll go out and buy a decked out Pete or KW and chrome and light it out and then next thing I know I'm broke because I can't afford the payments on it. There is more to running a trucking company than just buying a truck and trailer and hauling loads, I'm gonna have alot more responsiblity because I'm gonna do my own book keeping and all of that stuff, I don't trust people with my money and make sure it's done on time so it won't come to bite me in the ass and that way the only person I got to blame incase there is a mess up is me!

Nice White Freightliners, I want to say those are powerliners by the grill but I say it's an early 70's year model. I heard the 70's model Freightliners were the best trucks built, but I know for a fact the most popular tractor at the time was the International Transtar and Transtar II.

I just read a post about LLC and incorporating, I'm just curious which one would benefit me the most? I know Gman can answer it.

Originally Posted by rank:
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1200459844045181643oQSPMu

Is that the type of fleet your going to own??? :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol: If the EPA wasn't so worried about emissions then yeah I would.

Originally Posted by rank:
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1200459844045181643oQSPMu

I saw one of these today hauling a bullwagon, and i thought, old school

Until you have employees, incorporating in any form (C corp, S corp, LLC) won't do much for you. Carry extra insurance, maybe a personal general liability policy too. There's some advice out there that incorporating would shield your personal assets in the event of an accident. Some questions: would the company or you get the tickets for any moving violations associated with the accident? The ticket is a pretty strong opening indicator in court of who's responsible. And in a one person company there's not much to stop a judge from putting personal assets inplay to satisfy judgements.

Attorneys like deep pockets. Carry insurance.

Having said that, I could see some benefit to a S Corp if your planning on putting more than $10k a year into a 401k.

My advice if you're going to consult an attorney about incorporating, consult a civil liability lawyer and ask how well your assets would be protected if you run into him/her in court. Or better yet, a judge.

Good luck with everything!

Originally Posted by Double L:
I just read a post about LLC and incorporating, I'm just curious which one would benefit me the most? I know Gman can answer it.

LLC is a limited liability company. It is treated more like a partnership than a corporation. I considered changing my corporation to an LLC or LLP, but decided to stick with the standard corporate structure. If I remember correctly, there are a few things you can elect under a LLC, one is protection of personal assets. I think the standard corporation is the simplest way to go. Perhaps that is because I have owned several over the last 30+ years. If you go with a corporation and then file the sub chapter S election then you have the protections of a corporation but taxed like a partnership. I think the most important value for the smaller operator in having a corporate structure are the tax advantages. There are a number of things one can do to shelter ones income under a corporate structure. All things considered, I prefer the standard corporate structure.

Thank you all for the answers.

Originally Posted by Double L:
Not many 17 year olds are mature enough these days anyway. Alot of them are disrespectful, rude, no manners, back talk adults like they are with their friends. I know I'll take some heat from this but alot of that has to do with the way the child was raised by their parents!


BREAKING NEWS, Evel Knievel is dead!!!! http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071130/...s/obit_knievel

Double L

I was at first amused by your questions after I discovered you were only 17 but then I kept reading and realized that you have a real desire to drive (just like I did at that age) and you are better informed than I was back then. I started out hauling Miller Beer in a straight truck and then a ""gas"" powered single axle semi with a 24 ft box delivering groceries in 3 countys near the Ill--Ind st line on I-70 !!! I stepped in a lease purchase deal with NAVL in Sept of 79 and became a OO with a single axle GMC cab-over hauling van freight until 85 and left them with a paid off IH 4070B cab over and went into the flatbed hauling bussiness and never looked back.

If it was me I'd buy a combo trailer with a side kit with tall bows. I would worry to much about being super light because all those heavy loads only got you hauling the extra for free anyway. I really liked my side kit and used it a lot. A lot of the old steel haulers never take their kit down. I got to the point that if it would'nt fit in the kit I did'nt haul it ?? Or else they paid me to take it down. I'd also find a real fuel efficient truck and would'nt worry much about the age of it doing the steel hauling bussiness. Get some-thing that has just been over-hauled and had recent driveline work.

You can make allmost anything look good if you put a little effort into it. The sleeper size is again some-thing I would'nt worry to much about. I'd probably get some-thing like the 63 or so. You want to be comfortable with your sleeping arange-ments because your going to haft to live with it for some time?? But be warned steel hauling ain't fer sissys !!! It's one of the more dangerous trucking jobs out there. Shit can come loose n slide or come off of the front of the trailer n crush you !!!

I'm getting ready to try some-thing a little different next year . I have bought a RGN and I'm going to try the oversize--tall-wide heavy haul routine. I've been over here in Baghdad for allmost 4 years now and I will be takeing my ol-Pete to Atlanta for a out of frame in a couple of weeks. This has been a long awaited-christmas present for my 359 with a Corvette Dash Cat powered truck that I promised it I would do!!!

I admire your enthuseasim and drive to do this but I don't envy you haveing to face all the changes in the trucking industry for the next 50 years while you are trying to ""drive your life away"" like I have.. Give me a e-mail address and I'll show you a picture of a ""REAL"" ol school Peterbuilt !!!!

Thank you Ash I added you on yahoo, but my email address is [email protected] I appreciate all the help you guys have given me. But before I do any of that I got 1 year of diesel mechanics to do and 2 years of business to do as well. During those 3 years I'm gonna save up money.

I agree with you double L. The lighter you are the more you can haul for nothing. Its been my experience, but not always the case.

Originally Posted by Double L:
... before I do any of that I got 1 year of diesel mechanics to do.

Now THAT is smarter. :D

Just think of how much I'll be saving by doing my own PM's. Instead of getting my own authority I'm just gonna lease to somebody. I rather just pay truck payment, fuel, and insurance!