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In closing I would just like to
say that you are obviously going to be the one to make the choice and
the one who will have to live with it.
Buying a truck is
definitely not something to do on the spur of the moment. Many
experienced drivers would be in over their head buying a truck so be
assured that you will really be overwhelmed. Obviously, I am
trying to dissuade you from even considering doing such a thing ---
but what else would you expect? :)
In one last attempt,
here are just a few reasons why you should wait until you've spent at
least one year and preferably two years over the road:
-
Getting a truck loan
will be difficult without job experience in the field. Getting
anything other than a bank loan is asking for stress and financial
trouble later. (Do not even think about getting in on one of
those "Lease Purchase" programs.)
-
Make sure that you
actually like it. Just because dad or brother drives/drove a
truck doesn't mean that you really know what the life is all about,
nor that you will enjoy living that life.
-
Learn the regions
that you like to run. Don't take other drivers word for where
the "good" freight is or where the "bad" freight is -- figure it out
driving someone else's truck.
-
You need to be at
least familiar with more than one brand of truck. The more you
know about it's tendencies and peculiarities, the more informed
decision you will make when the day comes that you do buy one.
-
Learn what different
types of freight are like.
-
Make sure that your
family will be able to deal with this new career.... Because it is
NOT a career, it is a LIFESTYLE. Is the ownership of a truck
worth the loss of a family? Not hardly.
-
In the first six
months or so, and perhaps on up to a year, a "newbie" is more likely
to have a fender bender of some type. It may not be "nice" to
say so, but wouldn't you rather have a fender bender with someone
else's $100,000 piece of equipment?
Did You Know That...a
-
Just because you own
the truck, you cannot necessarily and automatically have a legal
rider onboard? If the company does not have a policy, whether
it is your truck or not, it's no dice for the rider unless you want
to purchase your own policy. (Get out the pocketbook)
-
You will have to pay
your own: Health, Dental, Life and Vision insurance? You will
also have to pay at least some of the following (depending on the
carrier - some offer to pay some of these) Cargo, Liability,
Physical/Comprehensive, Bobtail.
-
Tire expenses alone
will cost you in the neighborhood of $3,200.00 each year?
-
Pallets can cost you
up to $7.50 or so each - and most loads require at least 25 of them.
Do you think the carrier absorbs this cost???
-
Your base plate can
cost you something over $1,000.00 per year, depending on the state
where the truck is registered and whether the carrier pays any/all
of this cost.
-
You can claim a "home
office" for purposes of taxes, but NOT if you live in the truck?
You must have a residence in order to claim this. There goes
any dreams of living in the truck and saving money on rent.
Otherwise, you are probably giving up a huge tax deduction.
Owner Operator Resources
There are a great many sites for the Owner Operator, but the two best are:
Try the
Owner Operator Quiz... |
