owning you own truck?

[chevy454]

is there any advantages or disadvantages owning your own truck while working for a company?

 

[Duster]

Well, at the moment...I guess all I can say on this is that, fuel prices are higher than they have been ever really, and Freight is low at the moment, so I guess my opinion is that owning your own truck right now isn't such a wise idea. Also, are you going to lease through a company or buy outright from a dealership? And, are you buying a trailer. if so, then you have to deal with brokers. and that's a whole nother headache. Anyway, there ya go...hope this helps

 

[lunachic]

good part, if you lease on most pay tag, insurance, and even give ya a fuel card.
bad part, you get left over's short runs ect, and they whack ya any way they can.

 

[chevy454]

do in other words its better to drive the company truck? and i been hearing a lot of people saying freight is low because of the economy do you guys think it will speed back up? if so about how long

 

[Duster]

Chevy, I can't tell ya how the freight is gonna be in the future. I'm no psychic, and certainly don't want to lead you into something that will end up destroying you. I will tell you that if you have this many uncertanties...it's best to just stay in a company truck. That way, you know you will get a pay check. Weather you drive 1 mile in 1 week, or 4000 miles in a week, your getting a paycheck. Plain and simple. There is no prestige to being an O/O. None. period. It's much harder, more more responsability, and you have to do twice as much work to make the same ammount of money.

Bottom line is this...If ya want to own your own truck and feel that you can afford the gamble and it's something you just really really want to do, go for it, if not, then don't

 

[patriciajnsn]

is there any advantages or disadvantages owning your own truck while working for a company?

I don't think i'll ever own or lease a truck.Too much responsibility.I'll just stay a peon company driver.

 

[chevy454]

Chevy, I can't tell ya how the freight is gonna be in the future. I'm no psychic, and certainly don't want to lead you into something that will end up destroying you. I will tell you that if you have this many uncertanties...it's best to just stay in a company truck. That way, you know you will get a pay check. Weather you drive 1 mile in 1 week, or 4000 miles in a week, your getting a paycheck. Plain and simple. There is no prestige to being an O/O. None. period. It's much harder, more more responsability, and you have to do twice as much work to make the same ammount of money.

Bottom line is this...If ya want to own your own truck and feel that you can afford the gamble and it's something you just really really want to do, go for it, if not, then don't

im not going to try to get a truck after my first year of driving i will wait and see how everything works in trucking...but i know eventually i would want one i been in love with the peterbilt 379's since i was little

 

[lunachic]

I think at this point it's wait and see. even after the big E some r saying it could be up to 3-5 years befor the economy starts to flip. It's going to get worse befor it gets better.
My husband is a o/op so we look at the industry in a different light.
He also does most of his own mech. and p.m's on the truck.
And horse trading to keep it going. You can't just load it from joe_the_broker, he might be gone befor ur paid.
When the T.R.U C.C. act is passed it will help the Industry. untill then we r taking a different view. RATE TO THE TRUCK...Bottom line...then yes or no.

 

[Mike]

I wouldn't advise anybody to go out and buy a truck right now.

Freight will pick back up eventually, but it will probably be several months before it picks up much.

If you decide to buy a truck at some point, don't do it unless you can pay cash for it. Start out with a used truck if you need to. Do not finance it because finance charges take away from your profit.

 

[Tn. Truckers Wife]

I wouldn't advise anyone to buy a truck now...o/o are struggling to survive without a truck note... When we bought a truck it was financed for four years and the payments were $1,150 a month and that was for a used truck..Then you throw in repairs, oil changes, tires.. etc.. It costs a fortune to keep the truck running..

 

[HoundDog55]

On the other hand, if you have some disposable income setting around, there are some really good o/o spec trucks on the market for a really good price. Just depends on when you want to see it making money. A lot of millionaires were made due to the great depression. Unfortunately, I'm not one that has much of any income right now much less disposable money laying around.

 

[lunachic]

we are all on the same boat, er say truck. BROKE. Not a good Idea to buy a used truck just to let it sit around.
When the turn around comes age matters if you lease to alot of companies.
And now the A.P.U. 7 to 10 grand ouch.........
not to mention they can't just sit.