Need your Honest Opinion
 

Hey fellow Driver's I'm currently in the process of putting a business plan together to become an owner operator. I'm looking for Suggestion's on weather to buy a used truck or a new truck. Now the run I will be doing is dedicated Form Ontario to Quebec averaging 830km round trip on average 20 trips per month. The rate of pay is per ton and i will be pulling a company trailer. This will be my first truck i do have the downpayment available. I currently do this run as a company driver and have made between 70k and 75k the past 2 years. The problem I have is the trucks the company supplies are light spec international pro star's with maxforce engine's. The company has agreed to bring me on if I can get my own running authority. I feel i can gain more out of being an O/O I do take pride in what i do. What are your suggestion's ladies and gentlemen. I'm currently looking at a 2015 Kenworth W900B with the Paccar MX 500hp.

Thanks
Ryan

We're missing part of the story here. Do you not have the option to stay as a company driver?

I bought a brand new 2009 truck in fall of 2008 and seriously regret it. But living in Winnipeg, I wasn't making 70K as a company driver. Had I been, I definitely would have stayed company.

The new truck emissions can be a nightmare!!! If things start going wrong, you can spend more money doing emission repairs than you used to spend rebuilding an entire engine on the pre-emission trucks.

I don't want to give advise; just hoping you know what you're getting into before you jump in.

$70k as a company driver? With bennies?

Why would you take the risk?


If you do, #1 rule of small business, keep your overhead as small as possible. You can't do that with a new truck payment compared to a used truck. There are trade offs, but it's worth it. IMO

Yes 70k as a company driver plus benefits and pension plan. Is it even worth the risk with the money i'm making as a company driver?

Thanks

I regret that I bought new, but you don't want someone else's headache either, tough decision.

Fuel is your number 1 expense. Do you realize a T680 would get about 1 mpg better than a 900? That's a lot of money.

Do you have XM or Sirius? Listen to Kevin Rutherford, midnight-1am nights, 4-7pm weekends channel 128. He might change your mind about buying new, or even buying at all!

i think the only way i'd buy new is a glider. i hope to get one in 2 years when mine is paid off.

Keep the ideas coming guys i need all the input i can get! It's a tough decesion.

You've got a pretty good advises here, but.... To fully access the situation, we need more numbers... Like a projected gross revenue to the truck, for example....

My projected gross revenue will be $224,640 not including FSC

OK! Let me get it straight;-20 trips per month, roughly 500 miles round, all in all comes to a bit under $2 a mile + FSC. Not too bad for power only, still not great considering weight you gonna pull.What are the other costs from you involved? Are you sure it's worth it? Considering your curent wages and bennies?
Are gliders OK in Canada?