I have decided after months of consideration, to buy my own big rig. This will change my title from Truck Driver to Owner Operator. Many more headaches to come, but more importantly, job security, the ability to run how I want, when I want and for who I want. I am not going to buy a new truck, don't have a 100k laying around. I will probably pick up something for around 25-30k. The reason I say this now is because you guys might see me do some things here in the next couple of weeks that you might not agree with, or you may not.
Either way, to get anything in life that you really want, sometimes one must make sacrifices.

 

hmm, from the sounds of it...is ur 'stang goin up for sale? if that's the case, ya gotta put the good 'ole running pony emblem on the grill of the truck and we won't bust ur ***** too much. seriously tho, ya do what ya gotta do.

 

my dad owns his own rig its pertty cool he doesnt work that much either

 

You're gonna sell your Mustang aren't you?

 

As of right now.....no.

 

I bet he's thinking about it though

 

I did think about it, but I think I can swing a down payment without letting Barney go.

 

Woo-Hoo good to hear!

 

lol....BAN!

 

 

:lol:

Best of luck Mike. I hear the only problem with owning your own rig is the cost of fuel not being covered, but being your own boss and driving as much as you choose to is awesome.

 

Congrats.

BTW something I have always wondered.

If you take a load from say Texas to California - do you get paid for the trip there then you have to drive back.

Or do you take a load there and bring a load back, and get paid round trip ?

 

is truckin as cool as it seems? open roads...different towns...i'll tell ya....i've always had this dream of being a trucker...it sounds like freedom defined....

 

Almost EVERY company will have a "Backhaul" or return trip for you. Trucks don't make a company money if they are empty. As a company driver, I get paid loaded OR empty. As a future owner, I will only get paid loaded. Now, if I buy a truck and lease on with a large company then I will get paid empty too. For the most part, you will never drive back from California to Texas empty.

Freedom....INDEED!! When I am out on the road, it is the GREATEST experience EVAR! However, it can get kinda frustrating when you are at a shipper or receiver. It is not a lifestyle for everyone, but for me, I enjoy it.
Don't do it if you like working 9-5 though.

 

well if you ever need a bandit to get the smokey off ya...i'm the guy...i have "eastbound and down" on my cd changer

 

 

I see I see.

I was figuiring you made .25 a mile (guessing) on a 1800 mile trip - that would be $450, but if you get paid on the return also thats $900.... now that sounds pretty good for a weeks work.

Honestly this is something I would love to get into, how many days can you expect to be on the road a year though (not as an OO).

 

Well, I get .32 per mile and run between 2,500-2,800 on a good week. 1,800 or so on a bad one.
I get $15 for every stop, whether it is a pickup or delivery and the company I am with now, gets me home every weekend.

Most companies out there, expect to be away from home 10-21 days and home for a day or two.