Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Trucking Industry

11thcanopy
We are thinking about trying to help a family member get into the trucking business.

He has been a long distance driver for many years. Coast to coast snow, mountains etc.

He has never owned his own rig and has always driven for other owners.

We feel that he is very reliable and trust him to do his best. However if the trucking industry is a poor choice at this point in time or if the future does not look for the trucking business then we don't want to get involved.

I feel certain that there are some GB members that can offer their thoughts and we sure would appreciate them.

Thanks, 11thcanopy
0

Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • dcon12
    A lot more than just driving goes into owning your own truck. Think long and hard then don't. Don
    0
  • spryor
    quote:Originally posted by dcon12
    A lot more than just driving goes into owning your own truck. Think long and hard then don't. Don
    Agreed. A long, hard road that is regulated near to death.
    0
  • elkoholic
    I've got to go with Don on this one. I know too many drivers who have been in and out of the ownership seat with nothing to show for it but more grey hair.
    0
  • Horse Plains Drifter
    Agree with Don. Vicious, vicious cutthroat business. I dabbled in log hauling and that was a lost cause, and from what I can see of cross country trucking, it is worse.

    Few fellas here that have experience in the business,(git-r-done, danlittle, and paredneck) I'm sure they will weigh in soon.
    0
  • 4440rk
    Spent 45yrs as a owner-operater>fleet owner. Their is lots more to it than driveing. You must be a penny pinching businessman first. Watching most new people buying their own truck they do not understand that they have to pay themselves only a portion of revenue as wages; and the rest of that is truck money. The truth of the matter is they cannot pay themselves as much money as they were takeing home as a driver. They don't realize they now have to pay 100% of social security, file quarterly tax returns and pay all of their health insurance. And this is just part of additional expenses IMHO.
    0
  • Permanently deleted user
    I too side with the don'ts!

    I drove for 16 years myself and am a 3rd generation driver.

    At one time a person could do pretty good owning there own truck. But today with the fuel prices and everything else it is not like it was. And unless you get into specialized hauling it is just too difficult to make any money as an owner operator.

    I say stick to driving for a good frieght company (like ABF, Yellow, or the likes) most of thier drivers are home most every day or every other day and they are makeing over $1000 a week. And yes alot of those companies are union. I learned that if you want the good home time and the good pay most of those companies are union. There are a couple that are non-union that are good as well but I chose to go union.

    My last job before I got hurt was with Martin Brower. We delivered to all the McDonalds in Northern California. I only spent 1 night a week gone from home (in a company paid motel room), worked a 4 1/2day work week and was makeing $1400 per week. We did do our own unloading but for the pay we got I was more than willing to do it.
    0
  • shoff14
    My sister and brother in law now own two trucks. They have found their way into very nice short hall business. It pays much better then long hall stuff it seems. They don't drive them very often, my brother in law's dad does and another driver they have hired. The more the driver drives, the more they make, the more the driver makes.

    You also have to take into account the cost of a truck, up keep, insurance, tags, ect.
    0
  • dbain99
    Maybe you should help get him out of the trucking business. At least as an owner operator, now you need to be tied in with a company who will provide insurance, runs, reliable rigs and take the hit if something should go wrong. Running as a hot-shot in the oil field can be very profitable if that applies to your area.
    0
  • bobski
    does he get fries with that career?
    another trucker. never could figure it out. its like another harley owner.
    should have stuck with trains.
    [xx(]
    its my opinion and its america.
    0
  • dbain99
    Fries sold seperatly.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity

Didn’t find what you’re looking for?