I just became a motor carrier mid December 2021. I got a $25k loan, bought a $11,000 truck (1984 KW K100) and spent about $4000 to get my authority plus all the other little governmental taxes. I'm now hustling that money. My buddy who was the inspiration to pull the trigger, only had $2000 to his name, put it as a down payment on a 2000 pete 379 and has been making it work for the past year now. All I have to say is that faith in the Lord Jesus and the willingness to make it work is all you need!
@@Snakeshit294 🇺🇸 Are you finding loads harder to get right now, especially at $3.50/mile? I’m hearing a variety of things right now. There is usually a balance when being out on the road and the money you want to make to survive. I know it’s gotten a little rougher in the last 15 years. I think there’s still some good money to make, but you might need to tighten up your belt and be a little more flexible in areas. Who knows. Stay safe and keep them wheels a rollin!
@@the.porter.productions no not at all. I just booked a load from SC to Las Vegas for $4,89/mile. i used 3 apps to find my loads Uber, J.B.Hunt and Coyote. At the moment i try TruckSmarter wich combines almost all loadboards into one app. if i like a load i counter offer (you can't at the uber app). i run everything as long as it get's me atleast $3,50/mile and i end up in a area where i can get a good load within 80 miles deadhead. A big part of making good money was the transission to always drive new trucks, 5 years and the baby is gone. Can't afford downtime.
I financed my first truck. It was used. 5k down. After that I had no money until my first check with the truck 😆. So like you I gambled. And yes after 5 years I’m still an owner operator. Great video sir
I own my own truck and my own authority you have to register in Kentucky New Mexico and pay a bond in Oregon and then California you gotta register your truck in that state I love being owner operator but right now I’m sitting at the house with a $30,000 engine rebuild with my truck still being down till next week you guys that want to be owner operator make sure you got money saved because I’m gonna be down the whole month of February and it hurts with no money coming inLike your channel keep up the good work
Great advise about keeping enough money in the bank to cover the expense of the breakdown AND the complete lack of revenue during the breakdown. You are correct about in-frame engine rebuilds. Waiting for parts can make an engine rebuild take almost one whole month.
Kurt now I realize that this video was made couple years ago. And I haven't been in the trucking industry for more than a quarter century now. But the truth is I wish I had had someone like you that I could have talked to back when I was driving turning those gears and wanting to do something different but never really having the guts to jump off the edge of the bridge and make that commitment. Like I say it's been a lot of years since I drove a truck but there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about it and truthfully that's probably why I watch videos like yours. But thank you Kurt for some real talk. I learned a lot from you. God bless.
Kurt, I just went through a nasty 3-week bout with Covid and post-Covid stuff. In the hospital for two weeks. Not fun. SO darn glad to be up and on the mend, home, and being able to listen to you as well as those sweet pipes on your rig. Thanks for continuing to produce your great vids. Safe travels, Pal!
My father use to flip his battery box covers around so he could haul under his company then flip it back to the company he was leasing to lol the old days 🤣
When I was owned my own truck, I was leased to a company that had their name below mine. They furnished all of the permits, I pulled their trailers and their loads. They did all the paper work. At the end of the week I got a check. I owned the truck.
This was the best video for someone jumping into being a owner operator. You were talking about the size of engines. I started with a livestock owner operator at 21 and he put me in a Ford cab over with a screaming 238 Detroit with a tag axle. Very little heat in the winter and no air conditioning but a fan on the dash. Man I had the world by the tail. I was getting paid 7 cent a mile and my meals paid for. When I retired from hauling freight with a national LTL carrier I was making 65 cent a mile or about $29.00 a hour. I loved driving and I love watch your videos.
Check out a community college for truck driving school some are sponsored by smaller trucking companies running there used equipment. I learned driving truck by my father as he was a heavy diesel mechanic and drove truck some, but decided to go to community college to make easier for smaller companies easier to hire me with insurance cost. I ended up pulling dry van with a little regional and OTR company as my starter company.
Hi mate for the first time I see your vedeo this is was a first and I like how you talking the true about transport companies there in USA I import my pet 379 98model in 2008 and I sold the truck with a 2.920.000kms(1.900.000mls!) and just replaced a thermostat, rebuild a coolant radiator, of course I replaced a couple times a shoes brakes and 6brand new drums, winter tires I buying every year because we have 9months of hard winter conditions here in Norway and a normal maintenance grease, fuel and oil filters every 10.000kms and every year a air filters the truck have a CAT 3408 a beast V8 engine👏👏👌 not used that adblue shitt!! this truck makes money👏👌 we loading normal 50ton! it's a maximum loading for semitrucks here in Norway this engine used approximately 43liters per 100kms(9gal. per 62mls!) it's around 2liters more than the other new trucks but in ALL year the guys have a new trucks they dispend around 10.000usa dollars on the workshop 😃😃 so fucking the new equipment we can making much more money with a older trucks without fucking electronics stuffs!! 😏 of course I will do everything my trucks never ever touch a workshop floor 😃 but unfortunately I sold all my equipment trucks and trailers because this Europe not aceptes a american trucks anymore about the truck sizes 😐😕🙄😒 that's a reason I'm a quite! Now I driving for a friend of mine and if I have a possibility for driving in USA I really enjoyed because I'm tired of this fucking Europe 😡😝😝 I wish you luck mate and take care on your KW900 this is a great truck for makes money and it's a great equipment 👏👏👌👍 cheers from North of Norway 👋🤗🤗
Farming is a lot like you described trucking. When I started my first tractor was Brand X with no cab. Summers were hot, dusty and winters either cold or bitter cold. But we survived and some those guys who bought fancy John Deere had farm sales in the 80s because they over extended themselves. Thanks for the very practical lesson. You are a great teacher. I hope the young guys watching you take your advice seriously.
@JOSHWONDUDE Zero, bank would not loan enough money to buy any, but my folks loaned some of theirs to me. We were able to pay them back a few months before Dad died which I'm thankful for.
As a former business partner we ran apportioned plates, if I recall here in Ohio they cost 1200ish per year. Still had the heavy haul tax and ifta too. I think out of 30 plus years we only got audited one time. Having a good tax/accountant makes a huge difference. Thanks for sharing your personal thoughts and for giving good advice. Keep safe out there.
I avg 1800 2200 yr for apportioned tags . I don't drive alot of miles either . I work on avg 6months a yrs total. This yr I only logged 140 days per diem. Paid my tags 3days ago 2002.38 Ohio
My first truck was a big cam 4 also. Only 315 horsepower. In a 1988 Ford LTL9000. Paid $12000 cash for it in 2020. If the tranny didn't go out on it before I had banked enough for repairs, I'd still be running it. It's still sitting in the yard like your FL. I can't get rid of it. My current truck purchased last year is a 2014 Mack that I paid $26000 for. It's only a day cab like the Ford. Prices went stupid over COVID and you really are lucky to find anything road worthy or not a ticking time bomb on mileage for less than 60.
Back in the day, I axed an old timer the same question, "How do I get started in the trucking business?". He told me = 1st win the lotto. Take the money and buy a large-car with a lot of lights and travel the country. Keep going 'till you run out of money........ At $200,000 for a new rig, seems the advice works today.
Great video Kurt. Sure learned a lot about being an owner operator. I think back in the 7o's when I had a flair for trucking (still do, I'm just a bit older now) and talking with a few drivers at our local truck stop. Sure sounded easy back then, Today I can see how much it has changed. It is not easy being an owner operator today, but that seems to be where the money is at. I see a lot of company trucks on the road, and personally I would feel safer in my own truck. Granted there are some good companies out there that maintain their trucks however. some of their drivers and trucks they drive need some serious cleaning. As far as the rules of the road and all the taxes you have to pay, you can thank the politicians for that. I'm old school when it comes to buying a truck. Sure the new ones are nice, but I would think you would have to haul goods from Ft Knox to afford the payments, Thanks again, be safe,
You forgot to mention D.E.F.. Or should I say the cost of down time waiting for parts and mechanics to get "Your" 1 month old $180.000.00 KW or Peterbilt back on the road. While you still have that payment due in a week.
A couple guys I watch run older trucks. "Moseyin' Moses" and "Flannel Philip" both run awsome older Petes, and really have very little down time, compared to others with all the DPF problems. Take care Kurt. Todd Konoske the retired trucker.
I had a good laugh when you going to release the fifth wheel and dropped your puller, sorry. A lot of what you say applies to a lot of people going into business for themselves. When I started my woodworking business, my first job was a large commercial job. Well my table saw broke down, I couldn't find an air compressor to rent, so I had to borrow one. I rented a nail gun but couldn't find the correct size nails. So I bought a new one , which I hadn't planned on either. Then borrowed a trailer to deliver the project in multiple loads. I also had my Father in Law and my wife's cousin helping to finish building the job. But when I got paid, I paid my bills and bought some new equipment and made repairs. You have to be diligent if you want to succeed.
Just got my 07 international 9400i eagle I’m proud of it no payment but I plan on putting it to work as soon as I got off deployment (active duty) can’t wait
Amen brother, I have a 1995 international 9400 and iam happy, you are completely correct my friend, I paid cash on this one ,thanks for the good information God bless you and the family LC ,El paso tx
Thank you for another great video. Different States than ours. Like Oklahoma, never been. There is a lot of good information for anyone looking for it !!!!😅😅😅😅😅. Don't blame you on no gas from IL. That's smart.😅😅😅😅
Definition of think smart. Or play safe. Plus brutally honest. I am not a mechanic neither I want to be but u found yourself turning a ratchet or play with some bolt(paraphrasing). God bless You man, You and your love ones. Marry Christmas and all best for You(and for all of us). Play safe.
kurt , love the videos and been a subscriber since october when i started getting the idea of becoming a truck driver instead of my 22 year job as a concrete worker . now i have started my career at TMC and am in training on the road for a few more weeks . your videos are part of my inspiration for this career change so i just wanted to thank you and keep up the great content and i hope to see you some day out on the road . you and opie stay safe out there
Kurt, I did the same, my first truck was 12k, a freightliner century. Good old truck, just kept moving up until I got my Coronado! I took a chance with very little in the bank.
I'm sure I'll get crap for this comment but I just leased onto a company 2 weeks ago. Been around trucks since I was 18 was a diesel mechanic before OTR and I got tired of being owned by companies for all the reasons we all know them. With that being said my first truck cost me 75k with a fresh overhaul (less than 1k on it) new clutch, new steer tires 568,550 miles on the clock total. Not bad in today's current market and these ridiculous prices on used trucks. It may not be a w9 or 379 but it's mine and it's a start and it's a 13 speed no more POS automatic
Great informative video...You answered a lot of the questions I always wanted to ask an OO...I spent the last 6 yrs as an OTR Company refer driver, and was fortunate enough to retire, a year early, at 61.....Thanks again, enjoy following you on your channel...take care and travel safe out there...
It helps not being a cowboy gear jammer also. An old o/o told me, see that stick and those peddles ? They're hooked directly to my billfold ! Nice n easy. U hang in there
I'm glad your trucking on your own terms, you must be in your comfort zone, not everyone is that smart, you can make it hard or easy its your call, work smarter not harder. 🤗
Great video Kurt! Great info for new guys. I almost made that mistake in January. I got new truck fever and custom ordered a new 389 with 300” wheelbase full custom everything. 256k you name it I added it. Luckily I had 3 months to think about it and came to my senses. My insurance and truck payment was gonna be about $6,300 a month. Needless to say I backed out. Instead I dropped a new factory reman 12.7 and 13 spd tranny in my paid for truck along with all new brakes,drums,drive tires, shocks,brake chambers,airbags and slack adjusters for about 57k. And it’s still paid for!
I paid (well me and the bank) $50,500 for my new W900 back in 1978. Had the then big engine which was a Cummins Kt-450 with a 15 speed. It was geared out at 78 mph, though the national speed limit was 55 mph. Redline was 2000 rpm. Due to maximum overall length laws of 55' in many states back then, the longest reefer trailer was a 42'. I don't know how you guys maneuver in old cities like Chicago, NYC, etc. with 53' trailers and much longer wheelbase on your tractors. Good times.
Hey Kurt as always loved the video!! I do appreciate your insight on being an owner operator! I've been driving for 4 years and have tossed the idea around about being an owner operator. Also loving the longer videos as well!! Be safe!!
What i found when I owned and operated an international that I bought at a postal auction and used as a trucker(local deliveries). Most "repairs" are really just adjustments that I could do myself with my motors truck repair manual. As a truck ages it needs "tune ups" more often and this preventive maintenance will avoid major break downs.
My first truck was a glider kit KW which at that time could be tagged as a new truck. I bought a salvage complete chassis from insurance company, built it and went trucking till I sold that truck and did it all over again. It was a good way to go in the middle 60s for me. I wont go into the whole story. Times are different now though. You cant tag a kit as new anymore so that changed the game completely. You were a very smart guy doing it your way. Havagudun Kurt And stay safe.
Hey Kurt,your info about o/o was right on I was driving for a small family business I was there for 25 yrs,loved it,saw how the business ran,etc.i ran the road long distance I drove that truck like it was my own it was a freightliner,big bunk,blah blah,I took very good care of it when it went in our shop for service they could tell how I ran the equipment,and they would comment on how nice I ran my truck compared to the other 2 yes 2 other drivers,made me feel good,anyways thanks for sharing what you go through,well like always c u next time keep truckin up,whoop-whoop!!
People say the same thing about pickups. "You'll either have to make a pickup payment or maintenance payment, so you might as well drive a new pickup." My Silverado is 22 years old. Bought it new. Haven't had a pickup payment in 17 years and I probably spend less than $300 a year on repairs and maintenance. 420k miles and still has original engine and tranny. I'm in Drive Away. I deliver a lot of new trucks to dealers. Top-of-the-line units. They are really nice and ride like Cadillacs. But I could never imagine paying $225k for one! You'd have to be humping it hard every week! I'll eventually move back into freight hauling, and when I do, it'll probably be some old FLD or something thereabouts. Keep the videos coming, this was one of the most informative and insightful videos on becoming an O/O that I've seen!
So it took me a few days to make myself watch a 48 min video!! As a old schooler just wanted to be just like my dad! He TALKED me right out of being a O/O! The cost of tires/brakes! Not to mention the cost of a overhaul of a motor way back in the 80s! Kurt you are the Man. One of the best jobs i ever had paid by the hour from the time we left the shop until we got home or the motel/ Oh yeah we had sleepers just to wait in if there was a delay! And they paid for the motel and a meal for our days out.
Hi Kurt. My first truck I 1987 cost me around 5k. Looking at a scania v8 750 bhp, 4 years old 145, 000.00 with 300 thousand on the clock. New one 185,000. Its got to do some work to get your money back. I've been an owner operater for around 40 years. Love my trucks and my motorbike. Enjoying your channel. Keep safe. 👍Peter from the 🇬🇧
Kurt that was a eye opener for starting your own trucking business iam now retired from trucking and loved everything about it but now with fuel Costs going up and electric being introduced 😉 it's becoming a different situation for young truck drivers 😉 stay safe my friend 🙏
Imagine before IFTA ya had to register in every state you ran or buy a "bingo stamp" at the scale! Some states (New Mexico, Oregon and Calif) still require you to register in that state (as far as I know)
Great video, Kurt. One thing you didn't mention, or at least not yet, is work. I tried tramping, getting loads from whoever was offering. Not good, very stressful. Then I worked for one guy who gave me all the work I could handle. That was great, and very profitable; and that's what it is all about at the end of the day; making money. Keep up the good work. Stay safe.
Spent 3 years + in the army running heavy equipment and when I got out went into a local company that had semi's and talk to the owner of the company. After 1/2 hour he reaches into a drawer and pulls out a set of keys and says that will start that Ford in the yard, Go hook up to trailer and come back in. That was my schooling.
If you find the right school there's no worries. Our rate at Midwest truck driving school never changed and we don't plan to. The gov changed the rules because the accident rate has sky rocketed for new drivers, but what they over look is many of these fly by night schools and mega carriers are not properly training people. The use their schools as a cash cow and just push them through weather their ready or not. They don't care because these people sign contracts and the gov gives tax help to them for training during the supposed driver shortage. I also agree that till you learn the ropes you should wait to buy your first truck, or at the very least find yourself a mentor to help you navigate the system.
I started out in 1981 bought a used cab over a trans star international with a 350 Cummins 13 speed with 411 rears i pulled tankers for a dairy to make ice cream every run was just over 200 miles a round they unloaded me and clean the tanks I did 2 loads a day for 5 days I made great money I bought that truck for 3 grand it only had 286 thousand miles when i bought it had it for 5 years the work i put into it besides oil changes was 2 sets of tires 1 set of batteries and new king pins for the steer axel it wasnt the most pretty ist thing but was a great work truck , Y biggest mistake was selling it , but i wanted to cruse the country so i went to Fla hauled Tropical Plant loads delivered to all the Franks Nursery in the country at my time , but i wish I had the old girl now lol, stay safe and steady
I started w/27k 88 freightliner in 95 and a bank check of 7k that came in the mail, sign here. Just plain lucky . Thank you Jesus . Retired now it was fun.
Kurt that good you beat virus and that good back work and I had to Kurt God bless me and you and taking care of your family and a pro on truck and make look easy
You are right!!! You get what you can afford. example A new dodge TRX top of the line pickup truck bases at 70,000. You can buy a house in some states for that.. CRAZY!!! STAY WELL STAY WARM STAY WELL FRANKIE LONG ISLAND
I did the leased onto thing for a year wasn't happy and moved on to my own authority pulling others wagons like you are doing. Big mistake of mine was getting my own wagon. Reason I said that was broker's, but in the end of it all I sold out and now living semi retired. Looking at it all now was I smart or stupid is yet to be determined.
When I was pulling a reefer, I would sweat with any load above 44,500. Only because if you get a preload and the shipper didn't know how to distribute the load; I'd be over on my drives or tandems every time. Keep up the great content, makes me miss the road, some days.
I just became a subscriber in the last few weeks.. you should buy Opie a cheeseburger he got me to start. You do some great videos. Now watching this video I see how far you have come and why you built up such a following. You have really come a long ways in your skills as a content provider.
This video has to be the best, most honest, and informative out all the other drivers that have explained this. Glad your that type of individual while keeping it clean. With that being said....when do we get a video on how you detail the interior. As I have struggled to find any good tricks and or instruction to really keep the interior show room clean. I do the basics but the ol green 379 needs a deep clean. Any help would be much appreciated.
What's up Kurt , I've been a OP. since I've been teenager , I would never drive somebody's truck and for no company , You have to run a 150,000 miles a year to make any money driving company , I only run 70,000 to 75,000 miles a year and of course pay my taxes , Not gonna say what I net , But I get to do what I want to do Not when somebody tells me what to do , be safe take care yourselve
LOL, my first truck (not counting the 2 lease/purch ripoffs I tried) was on old International with an M11 cummins with 300hp. I paid $5k for it and was pulling containers grossing anywhere 60k-90k# .
No argument here, I actually fully agree with everything you said. I've paid $10,500 or less for every truck I bought except my last one I bought a 1998 379 Pete with a 3406E with new rubber in 2011 for $16,500 and I'm still driving it today and I haven't really had to do anything to it until last month I put a new transmission in it. I do most of my own wrenching because yes shops get expensive but if I need any major repairs my nephew is a mechanic at a big shop and he does all of my major repairs at my shop on nights or weekends and it saves me a ton of money. Also getting a fuel card helps a lot to get you by until you can start collecting your checks.
Thank you for the great info. I'm working on getting my ducks lined up so I can drive. I've already retired from 2 other careers and now I'm planning on doing something I've wanted to do since before I graduated high school.
Re power of the truck: unless you're running in really hilly country, you can run a lower powered truck just fine, you'll just be changing gears more often and getting overtaken on the hills. Unfortunately, here in Australia, our used truck market is really expensive. You're at least up for 35k or more to buy a usable truck. Most used trucks (with 1 million plus km) are up over 70k, many over 100k. It just depends on your circumstances and where you are.
Great content! I agree with you on getting an older truck. Not only because of the cost, but also the DEF issues, sensor or chip shortage. I am on my 7th truck and never hauled a load yet. Just buy them and then sell them after fixing necessary things. My authority went active start of the year and will put the last truck to work. Stay safe and God Bless!
I have my wife do the paperwork. She was a good worker and now she is disabled and can't work it took a toll on her mentally so she keeps track of everything and puts it in the computer every quart then it gets pulled out of my account that I have set up for our state
You can be a "Leased Owner Operator " and own the tag and purchase your owner "Bobtail Insurance". I started out 38 years ago and back then you could "Trip Lease" your truck to companies. I have always done all of my filings and with everything online it's easy.