New To Trucking Box truck or Bobtail

gsr46r

Member
Hello,

I thought I was gonna get fired from my job today- I have a desk job, missed a few emails, and they were gonna have my ass on a platter. But, I didn't. I was prepared to dump my savings into a non-CDL box truck and start getting loads. Since I will have my full time job for at least 6 months more, I will be able to save more money and do more planning. I want to post my ideas and get feedback and suggestions.

1. Box truck. It seems like going to a dealer and financing through a dealer is a rip off, because many of the trucks are overpriced. At least 30 to 50 grand for 26' trucks. I was planning instead to buy one from an auction (i am a mechanic, i am not worried about doing repairs or paying someone to fix a beat up back door) or private seller. At auction, I can get a decent truck for $5 to 10k.

I am a mobile diesel mechanic on the side and have heard nothing but good things from box truck drivers. They are happy with their work.

I can also get a feel for driving loads and the industry.

2. CDL Class and Semi truck. I am surprised that many used semi trucks are actually less than box trucks. I saw a 600 mile load that pays $1,500. How could I say no to something like that? That is stupid money. The only problem is I would have to endure school (I hate school) and pay $4k, and this would take more time. However, it looks like I could get more money doing this in the long run.

I don't want to buy a trailer, but will if I have to. Another bonus of having a semi is I could use it in place of a camper. I don't have a family, so I could take it to a camp site and sleep comfortably

What are your opinions? I also have a tire business, so I was thinking I could use either of my trucks to haul large quantities of tires and expand my mobile fleet service.

Please tell me which is better.
 
A tractor is not an rv. I sure wouldn’t want one pulled in next to me with the truck idling all the time for air conditioning.

might want to consider being a company driver for a while just to see if you like the job with less risk than buying.
 
Do your research! I've learned a lot from being on this site and I can tell you, your in pretty good hands. But my question is, why do you want a box truck? non cdl reason?
 
I think i am going with a CDL- I found a company with lots of hands on training that only charges $1,750.

The main reason i was going with a box truck, is so i could avoid the CDL and make some quick money. I work with truck drivers (I am a mechanic) and a driver told me I will get paid better doing power only loads than I would with a box truck. Plus, I was factoring $5k for training, but it seems like many people are on the boxtruck bandwagon, and the used prices of those are more than used semis.
 
I think i am going with a CDL- I found a company with lots of hands on training that only charges $1,750.

The main reason i was going with a box truck, is so i could avoid the CDL and make some quick money. I work with truck drivers (I am a mechanic) and a driver told me I will get paid better doing power only loads than I would with a box truck. Plus, I was factoring $5k for training, but it seems like many people are on the boxtruck bandwagon, and the used prices of those are more than used semis.
I was talking to the guy who delivered my fridge. He was leased to XPO like I am. He's in a box truck and I'm just in a day cab. I gross about 2x what he grosses on any given day and I don't have to manhandle appliances.
 
Yessir. That's the plan

Where do you recommend I buy the truck? I have an account with insurance auto auctions. Was also gonna try richie brothers auctions. I am looking for an older, pre emissions truck, like the FL columbia.
 
Are the older trucks powerful enough? I could get a loan and buy a used one from Rush, but they overcharge like a bitch.
 
Are the older trucks powerful enough? I could get a loan and buy a used one from Rush, but they overcharge like a bitch.
Depends what you get and where you're running. Some are, some aren't. Just like new ones.

My old truck was 315hp and about 1050 torque but geared short on tall rubber.

My current truck is 445hp and 1700 torque but geared tall on short rubber.

They feel about the same on the same routes, but I stayed away from really big hills with the old truck just because of how old it was, and don't really think too much about them with the newer one.

It's the comfort of a modern truck that makes all the difference really.
 
When you run 500 miles on springs and then do it on a full air ride tractor, you'll go the air ride route in half a heartbeat. Even an air ride truck with a spring ride trailer will jar your bones.

I drove a COE Ford 9000 with the air ride cab. Talk about a wild ride to get used to! Even an air ride steering axle takes some getting used to.
 
When you run 500 miles on springs and then do it on a full air ride tractor, you'll go the air ride route in half a heartbeat. Even an air ride truck with a spring ride trailer will jar your bones.

I drove a COE Ford 9000 with the air ride cab. Talk about a wild ride to get used to! Even an air ride steering axle takes some getting used to.
We pull spring ride chassis and that's probably one of my biggest irritations about this line of work. Most owner ops have the longest wheelbase they can get away with to help.
 
When you run 500 miles on springs and then do it on a full air ride tractor, you'll go the air ride route in half a heartbeat. Even an air ride truck with a spring ride trailer will jar your bones.

I drove a COE Ford 9000 with the air ride cab. Talk about a wild ride to get used to! Even an air ride steering axle takes some getting used to.
No truer words have been spoken.
 
Even my day cab with the 270" W/B doesn't ride all that great. The cab air bags are right underneath your butt and the pivot point is under your feet. All of our new trucks, if we ever get them, will have the 36" bunk on them to extend the length of the cab and improve the ride. Plus it will offer up some more room other than the tiny Pete cab that it already is. I barely have room to put my lunchbox between the seats.
 
Even my day cab with the 270" W/B doesn't ride all that great. The cab air bags are right underneath your butt and the pivot point is under your feet. All of our new trucks, if we ever get them, will have the 36" bunk on them to extend the length of the cab and improve the ride. Plus it will offer up some more room other than the tiny Pete cab that it already is. I barely have room to put my lunchbox between the seats.
Yeah I've already set my mind to the next truck being a sleeper. Doesn't have to be a hoss, just to move the bags and shocks further behind me.
 
Be careful buying box trucks or vans at auctions. Sometimes the speedometer/odometer has been replaced with either a new one with zero miles or a used one with less miles than the original one in the box truck/van.
There are ways to buy a new odometer, then run the miles up to make the truck look like a low milage used truck.
 

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