I have my clients that I take care of and they take care of me. I have a older truck with no payments. I make a good living and wouldn't change anything
This guy doesn't know anything about being an owner operator with one tractor like most of us out here on the road. The last thing you want is a new truck. When they break down they have to go to the dealer... wherever that may be. You can't just take them to any shop. ...if you do you may loose your warranty. When they brake down you can't just nurse them into any shop... you usually have to call a wrecker and that's 3-5 thousand dollars out of your pocket. Then the dealer won't be able to get your truck into the shop for one or two weeks... during which time you are out of operation and loosing money. Then the parts are frequently on national back order and you will be stuck again. God help you if you have a load in your trailer especially if it's a perishable load in a reefer. Secondly, new trucks attain their 8-9mpg primarily because of the computer that shifts for you and that means you have an automatic transmission. ...automatic transmissions almost always need to be towed a repair takes weeks and costs 15k replacement will run 30k. ...if you have a warranty maybe you'll get out for the cost of the tow. ...but you'll be shut down for a few weeks loosing money again. Not to mention a new truck with a warranty will set you back 200k+ along with the extra cost of full coverage insurance you will have to pay for if you didn't buy it outright. The answer is to buy an older truck for 10k or so and rebuild it from the ground up just the way you want it. If you order a new truck just the way you want it it will cost another 50k. You can buy an older truck and have it completely gone through with a new 18 speed transmission, new differentials and a rebuild engine for about 50k. And if you want full coverage on it you'll be paying for 50k in coverage, not 250k. ...but the fact is that you get to decide if you want to spend the money in full coverage or not. I don't have full coverage simply because I would never make a claim on my insurance because if you do, (as an owner operator with one truck) when you try to get your policy renewed it will be too expensive to stay in business. ...if you have a 50+ truck fleet it's very different! Just the savings alone on your insurance will cover the cost of fuel. Also, if you do it right you will have an 18 speed transmission,(the reason you want an 18 speed is so you can split gears in the lower deck on hills, you can't split the lower deck on a 13 speed transmission) connected to a couple of differentials in the mid 2's... like 2.64 or 2.21 and you can do about 80 mph at 1250 RPM's and that is where you save your engine and get the best mileage. ...like 7-8 mpg. Now that HUGE FUEL SAVINGS of 8-9 mpg isn't so huge any more is it. The next thing to do is to make sure you have a Cummings ISX engine. Not because it's the best engine ever built... ...but because it's the one engine left on the road right now that anyone and everyone can fix and anyone and everyone has parts for. ....and the parts are cheap. Never forget this! ....the only thing you do is MOVE FREIGHT! ...and if you're not moving freight, YOU'RE LOOSING MONEY AND GOING OUT OF BUSINESS!!!! that's what new trucks do to single owners. BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ANOTHER TRUCK TO SLIP INTO WHEN THE DEALER KEEPS YOURS FOR 3 MONTHS!!!! ...but a fleet does. This guy has just enough knowledge to be dangerous. And now you know
The problem for many O/O is they went out and bought toys instead of saving and investing. Not a clue about running a business. Then look at the aftermarket upgrading businesses, some of them on UTube. They have shops full of brand new square hood inefficient trucks, $300K+, not even taking delivery of these new trucks until they get new wheels, chrome, paint and custom interiors. It’s insane. Who are these truckers who can afford these trucks?
I semi agree with you. If you are just starting out as owner operator, and you can make it work, then you are going to make so much more profit when the bull markets come. Bear markets are times not to rely on savings, it’s time to invest in markets that are traditionally reliable but currently experiencing a dip. For example, gold is plummeting, so now is the time to start investing in gold to be there when it rallies. Same for new owner operators. If you have the money, purchase a truck while rates are low, but make sure you are putting down a large down payment. If you don’t, then it’s only the bank that will be making huge profits when the market rallies not you. You want to make sure that truck is paid for when the markets do rally.
Most truckers with old iron do not have truck or trailer payments they can sit it out. When you are married to the loan you can not. You have to decide do you and your family want to eat or do you want to keep pissing in the wind with the payment.
Hi I am an owner operator with 2 trucks we are still busy but Fules price is taking a toll on profit we have seen hard times before don’t Give up it may take a few years until the economy even’s out just Stick it out and the strong will survive and be careful hue you work for regards John from Newcastle Uk 🇬🇧
You can beat your head against the wall figuring the cost per mile doesn't do anybody any good when you are not in control.You are not setting the standard, you are taking what comes your way.Basicly you have to pay to play.
Most drivers don't understand freight prices aren't dropping..its the fuel surcharge that's dropping..guess what?? 98% of brokers keep the fuel surcharge anyway..brokers are keeping more money per load because, the freight volume isn't the same rightnow..The bottom line is they're taking more money from owner operators to make up for freight the shippers stop giving brokers..I have documentation to prove what I'm saying I'm not just talkin..
I'm an owner operator that just sold my semi because I believe it's going to get much worse starting February and the government is working on getting diesel trucks off the road
I bought a 2007 E-450 cab and chassis for hotshot... I'm restoring an old gooseneck trailer... I'll have around $20,000 Investment in this setup.. I think it's a good start in these difficult times because everything is paid off as far as equipment... Insurance is extremely high but doable for now... I'm hoping I can be on the road by the end of this year...!!!!
Progressive shifting fixes the fuel economy with a manual truck. It’s a matter of experience and knowledge. An automatic slams the gears into place. Floating gears, skip shifting, etc. I know this due to a test a buddy of mine with 15+ years of class A experience who refuses to drive an automatic truck and also trained me. The automatic truck got less fuel economy than the manual. I was feathering the throttle, not aggressively hitting it, using cruise control around 65-72 mph. 2019 Volvo VNL 760 635000 miles on it, 465hp vs a 2007 Volvo VNL 780 with 650 hp 2100 lbs of torque. I averaged 7.5mpg with loads averaging 30,000lbs. He was getting around 8.5mpg with the same loads and we ran east coast. We averaged the same speeds. I’m simply going say with personal experience it’s not always the case.
I am a owner operator with paid off equipment. Pull dry van i drive 2001 kenworth when ship hit the fan i park my truck and learn how to do flatbed company driver average 2500 a week. So not worried because truck is paid for.. Now in my kw i average 6.5 miles when loaded. The company truck i drive average 6.9 in 2018 Volvo.
Where you’re wrong on new vs old trucks and manual vs auto is my 2000 n14 cost 1/3 to maintain compared to a post emissions truck also my manual trans is half the cost to replace compared to an automatic it probably works out even in the wash but the old school truck looks a lot better
The trouble with Canadian trucks. Are mostly all foreign drivers. I haul out of a place and most of the trucks are junk. Ch Robinson is a cheap outfit. I get good rates from them. The guy I deal with tells me Canadian trucks will haul stuff for next to nothing. I’ve been getting six dollars a mile. He said they bid on loads for three dollars us. So that’s there own fault. Screwing it up for everyone else.
Bshit on spending $2000-3000 more on fuel per month on old trucks. Another owner operator I talked with. His brand new truck 2022 cascadia ran 15000 miles a month, cost him 15000k on fuel. No difference than my 2007 columbia. We both ran similar routes. This guy is such horseshit on new vs old truck when it comes to fuel economy
I listen to your video. I am waiting to buy my truck. The hotshot with F-550 trucks and 50 feet trailer are almost low balling the big rig. One company asked me to buy a 4 or 5 wheels flatbed trailer or they have no business for me. Do you think heavy haul is better ?
I think I learned before I gotten in trucking business I set tight and make all expenses one by one, and that’s the good thing you never regret yourself,
They rolled out Monkeypox but overestimated the amount of people in the country having anal sex so it's not really gaining traction. Bring on the next virus. Surely Fauci has something in mind.
Wait till you see what that piece of crap plastic truck is worth when you go to sell or trade.. Also those Peterbilt square nose for the most part are hauling for much better rates than you because mostly those are your most experienced drivers and the shippers know there freight won’t end up in a ditch. Let’s be honest, you buy plastic crap because there cheaper, but u also can’t get good drivers to sit in your seats.
The thing about my old iron is yes I spend a lot in fuel due to I have a 600hp cat engine, and 3.90 rears because I mainly do RGN, I still have my step deck but rarely use it. People need to stop being lazy and get in open deck. Freight rates in open deck are amazing no rate drop on our end at all
If you never had your own authority, and want to start it now then you want to know this… - no matter how long you’ve been a CDL driver, your a new authority and your insurance rate will reflect it - booking loads might be tough the first 90 days - you are not familiar with your lanes and it may be tough to figure it all out in the bad freight market
U seem 2 demonize older trucks.. But what about this scenario just 4 kiks sake... 03 frieghtliner classic 60 Series, paid for in cash, in mechanical good shape. No def and im getting 6 mpg. My mortgage is 1700. Per month plus my bills . Im running 2.50 per mile. How am i loosing. I do my own maintenance. I do my own small repairs. Why would I add a truck payment at 3k a month just 2 get an extra 2 mpg. This doesn't make money sense 2 me. Hope you get what im laying down
He is doing this because ET is a shit company that pay shit to their drivers. They rip them off of everything. They are always advertising looking flying catch some new drivers, and therefore he is doing these videos. He said in last video that long haul flat bad driver made 3600$ in two weeks , and I made 5600$ pulling dry van. This guy is nothing but a bait for a drivers that want to work cheap, and that he profits the most. I wouldn’t work for them if they pay me in gold!!!
For 9mpg you'll want a fairly new Cascadia, 579, T680, or LT. Get them with the full aero package, a 13 or 15L engine at 400 to 450hp with a 12 speed overdrive automatic, Michelin or Goodyear super single drives tires, drive wheel covers, and aerodynamic skirts and tails for your trailer. Stay on top of your tire pressure, keep the gap between cab and trailer as small as possible, and keep your cruising speed low in your overdrive gear. (The newer Volvos and Macks might be able to do it too but I don't have any experience with them personally.) (Also this is assuming you're working with Reefer, Van, or Conestoga trailers at 80klbs or less.)
@@omarh4694 if you're driving 75mph everywhere, you're correct. If you spec the truck properly and drive 55 to 65mph, you can absolutely get 9mpg at 70 to 80k gross. I've driven 2015 and 2016 old style Cascadias that could average 8 to 8.5 with the Eaton 10 speed manual, and I've driven 2019 and 2022 Next Gen Cascadias with the DT12 that averaged 9.5 and 9mpg respectively, all 4 trucks with the DD15 400hp. (The 22 didn't have super singles or the full aero package so it didn't perform as well as my 19.) There are entire fleets whose whole thing is speccing trucks for 8+ mpg at 80k gross, it blows my mind that so many of y'all think it's impossible.
This guy is incorrect and so many things he says !!!! that old iron (in value) will bring more money !! A newer truck with DEF won't !!! the freight rates bottomed out when Biden open the border and all these illegals are running freight insultingly cheap ! And the freight brokers are taking advantage of that !! I can't compete with dirt cheap freight rates !! I parked my 05 379 xl c16 cat ( inframed by Holt cat 150 tho mil's ago) with American class interior that I can sell for $ 190,000 !!! Try to get that type of money for anything other than a W-9 L that year..
