I think I may be done with Walmart loads.


This is only hard when you first get started. If you're relatively quick on your feet, it doesn't take long. Just understand your operating costs. And don't look at the line haul as a whole. Look at the profit per mile and the amount of deadhead in between loads. This isn't rocket science. You got this, man.
I tell him the same thing and suddenly I'm the bad guy.

Incredible
 
I would never try to do anything to discourage anyone in this industry. But are you sure that hotshot is the way you want to go? I'm only asking because the operating costs for those guys per mile is higher over time than a semi. Just food for thought.
Yeah it's as likely to succeed as anything else around here.

Lot of tractor dealers, farmers, etc.
 
I tell him the same thing and suddenly I'm the bad guy.

Incredible
No you literally talk down to me as if I'm doomed to fail. You harp on it as if I don't already know about operating costs, and you repeat it as if I need to hear it a million times.

There's a difference between advice, and talking to someone as if they're an idiot.

You have never broken down your exact costs on here so why would you expect me to just to prove I'm not dumb?

SO ONE LAST TIME.

THERE ARE OPERATING COSTS. I GET IT. I KNOW THEY EXIST. I KNOW I HAVE TO MAKE MORE THAN I SPEND.

I AM NOT STUPID!


Now STFU.
 
Right on. The one major advantage you'll have is the amount of "oh crap we need this shipped RIGHT NOW!" loads that are available for you. Expedited freight pays well if you get the right hookups.
I already know a lot of businesses that I can work with directly. A couple right around the corner from my house and plenty more within 15 miles.

So one expense I probably won't have is brokers, or at least they'll be a smaller portion than most.
 
I already know a lot of businesses that I can work with directly. A couple right around the corner from my house and plenty more within 15 miles.

So one expense I probably won't have is brokers, or at least they'll be a smaller portion than most.
You'll be fine, man. Like I said, it's only hard at the beginning. There's a lot to this but it becomes as natural as breathing after a while.
 
I already know my approximate fuel cost per mile. I got some tentative insurance quotes but they were before I got this Ram so I'll have to call again. I know the going rates for hauling for Amish, Mennonite, etc. They even pay a decent rate for using a little 10k trailer. A gooseneck would be about douvle or triple depending how full it is.

People buy high end tractors from an auction constantly and pay well to have them delivered.

There are a bunch of car auctions and several RV dealers.

The list is endless.
 
No you literally talk down to me as if I'm doomed to fail. You harp on it as if I don't already know about operating costs, and you repeat it as if I need to hear it a million times.

There's a difference between advice, and talking to someone as if they're an idiot.

You have never broken down your exact costs on here so why would you expect me to just to prove I'm not dumb?

SO ONE LAST TIME.

THERE ARE OPERATING COSTS. I GET IT. I KNOW THEY EXIST. I KNOW I HAVE TO MAKE MORE THAN I SPEND.

I AM NOT STUPID!


Now STFU.
Because over time, you've changed how I care to address you.

And you deserve every bit of it.

You're even too stubborn to admit that some of it's actually started to sink in and now you say the same thing I've told you for years.

images.jpeg
 
Because over time, you've changed how I care to address you.

And you deserve every bit of it.

You're even too stubborn to admit that some of its actually started to sink in and now you say the same thing I've told you for years.

View attachment 52781
I've always said the same thing.

The stupid part is I've never disagreed about business expenses etc etc but you've talked down to me as if I'm oblivious to them.

I've never been unaware of the importance of knowing all your costs. Yet for some stupid reason you assumed I was/am.

Maybe because I've always said I don't give a damn about Schneider's costs? They hire me to drive, I drive, they give me parameters to work within, I do so. Everyone's happy. I don't need their details.

I don't own Schneider. I just work there.

That doesn't mean I'm not aware of the need to mind it, how to calculate it when you own it.

Why do you think I do those seemingly retarded towing tests? Because I need an MPG baseline. I don't have the goose YET so the closest I can get for now is my 10k trailers. They're a little bit like deadheading with a gooseneck due to similar weight, so the drag is similar.

Fuel is the single biggest expense so having at least an idea what deadheading will cost is a start to figuring out what your per mile fuel bill is going to be. Pulling load will be worse but I can't simulate that. If I find a gooseneck for rent I'm going to load it up and run some miles with it.

I have an idea from others but the truck configurations aren't always identical. I also won't know about tire wear until I go to do it, but all 6 are the same unlike a Class 8 which means I can rotate. And they're significantly less expensive to purchase than Class 8.
 
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Hey, guys? I feel like I've somehow ended up in a weird part of this forum. But I'm gonna throw my two cents in here and risk the retribution I guess. I feel the frustration on both parts. But we're all out here doing the same job. We're all on the same team. The only thing that separates one of us from another is time and experience that brings wisdom. We should all be willing to both offer and receive help. I think that's all that's needed here.
 
People there are cool, and there's parking everywhere which is lovely. Those frontage roads scare the absolute bejesus out of me. Only reason I won't go back. If you're used to the setup and traffic flow I'm quite sure it's better than most places. However, I am not. I cant even guess how many close calls I've had there. When I was a company driver I was there maybe 10 or 12 times. Only once since I got my own truck. Went to Austin so that I could take an unregulated truck on the bypass. It was worth the toll. Speed limit is 85, had my girl up to 90. Worth every penny :)
My truck on tall rubber turns 94 mph at 2050 rpm :D
 
I've always said the same thing.

The stupid part is I've never disagreed about business expenses etc etc but you've talked down to me as if I'm oblivious to them.

I've never been unaware of the importance of knowing all your costs. Yet for some stupid reason you assumed I was/am.

Maybe because I've always said I don't give a damn about Schneider's costs? They hire me to drive, I drive, they give me parameters to work within, I do so. Everyone's happy. I don't need their details.

I don't own Schneider. I just work there.

That doesn't mean I'm not aware of the need to mind it, how to calculate it when you own it.

Why do you think I do those seemingly retarded towing tests? Because I need an MPG baseline. I don't have the goose YET so the closest I can get for now is my 10k trailers. They're a little bit like deadheading with a gooseneck due to similar weight, so the drag is similar.

Fuel is the single biggest expense so having at least an idea what deadheading will cost is a start to figuring out what your per mile fuel bill is going to be. Pulling load will be worse but I can't simulate that. If I find a gooseneck for rent I'm going to load it up and run some miles with it.

I have an idea from others but the truck configurations aren't always identical. I also won't know about tire wear until I go to do it, but all 6 are the same unlike a Class 8 which means I can rotate. And they're significantly less expensive to purchase than Class 8.
You're right......
 
Hey, guys? I feel like I've somehow ended up in a weird part of this forum. But I'm gonna throw my two cents in here and risk the retribution I guess. I feel the frustration on both parts. But we're all out here doing the same job. We're all on the same team. The only thing that separates one of us from another is time and experience that brings wisdom. We should all be will to both offer and receive help. I think that's all that's needed here.
Well part of the problem with mndriver is he claims to be a hotshot expert on it since he claims to have researched it and decided NOT to do it.

He doesn't know any more about it than I do, having not done it himself.

Heck, I at least have an idea and am getting a better idea of my fuel costs for my particular truck. He didn't even get that far.

Success is not guaranteed, of course. But a lot of Class 8s are failing too. Doesn't mean Class 8 isn't worth pursuing at all ever again for anyone.
 
Well part of the problem with mndriver is he claims to be a hotshot expert on it since he claims to have researched it and decided NOT to do it.

He doesn't know any more about it than I do, having not done it himself.

Heck, I at least have an idea and am getting a better idea of my fuel costs for my particular truck. He didn't even get that far.

Success is not guaranteed, of course. But a lot of Class 8s are failing too. Doesn't mean Class 8 isn't worth pursuing at all ever again for anyone.


What do you THINK I was doing this past year? Your definition and my definition of "looking into" something are entirely different.
 

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