Hotshot Connect Forum :: APPROXIMATE START UP COSTS.

Phil

I have been trying to get my Ltl company going for a couple of months now and I just wanted to put my .02 in on what I have accomplished so far. First of all when I first started looking at this business I got tangled up with a guy back east, I dont remember a company name. It was around the first part of December. This guy told me to buy the truck and the trailer and give him a call. I would be making 4-5000 dollars a week. As you can imagine that got me very excited. Every day doing searches under Hot Shot hauling and driving and what not, trying to get as much information on it as I could find. I bought the truck and had the trailer lined up over at Hefty Products. Bart over there says they always keep one 40' flatbed gooseneck in stock ready to p/u. So I called this guy that I was going to be working for and told him that I was picking up the trailer and truck the following weekend. That was going to be January 1st. Then The guy tells me that he payed a flat $.80 per mile. Do the math, a prson would have to drive 5500 to 6500 miles a week to make the kind of money that he promised. And I had to sign a lease to drive for him. Thank goodness I came across Gary at MH logistics. I learned more from Gary in ONE PHONE CALL, than I learned from the other guy in the 8 or 9 times that I talked to him. Then I got a dose of reallity. This is not going to be as easy as that other guy made it out to be. I have a job that is paying the bills but I was really tired of working for other people. I have been driving truck for about 8 years and now I dispatch for the same company. It doesnt leave a whole lot of time to research and get MY company started. But this is what I know so far.

1. You will need your own authority, and insurance at the same time. Applying for my authority was $300.00 on the fmcsa website. Insurance was very difficullt to find. It took me three weeks. My agent told me that it may not have been so difficult if I would have left the term "HOT SHOT" out of the conversations while looking. Any way I found it, and it cost me $2200 down and it will be $734.00 a month, with a "SPOTLESS" record. That is for $1,000,000 liability, $100,000 cargo, $30000 truck and $10000 trailer. After you get your insurance they will electronicly file it with the fmcsa and your Authority becomes active. It will then take 10-14 days to get your papers in the mail.

2. You will need Apportioned plates. When you apply for the plates, make sure that everything is perfect, to the letter, the way that you set up your insurance and authority. All the paper work must match or they will just mail it back to you and you will have to start all over. I have heard rumors that this can take up to 90 days, so you really do not want to start over. The cost on the plates to run all 48 in AZ go from $1500 to $3000. Shocked

3. You will need IFTA and IRP if you are registering for 26001 lbs or higher.
this is $12 for a year. You take care of this at the same time that you apply for your plates at the Motor Carrier.

4. My trailer was special order from Hefty Products. It is a 45' gooseneck low boy with three 7000 lb axles. I was going to buy the 40' gooseneck, but this trailer is set up better for ltl freight. It also has a 5' deck on the neck. it is going to be @ $9500.00, I pick it up Jan 25-26.

5. My straps, chains, rachets, tarps, and bungies all together were around $1100. I ordered all of my straps and chains through Gordon over at Talco.
He really took good care of my order. 12 4" 30' straps, 6 2" straps with ratchets, 3 sets of tire straps witch include 4 straps each (12) and 2" ratchets for each, but I only ordered 6 ratchets because i can use the others also. I also ordered 8 chains and 8 binders and got it all for @ $800.00 shipped. I got a pretty good deal on my tarps too.

6. I bought a lap top coputer with an air card for internet service on the road. The computer was $1500 and the programs I bought were @ $300.00
Quick Books and a Microsoft Map program with GPS. The air card was $180.00 and $60.00 a month.

Now remember I am new to this and I am missing some things that I will be sure and post later, but i figured that I would give the info that I know now. So far out of pocket I am @ $18592.00 and I havent even started running yet. I financed my truck, and payed cash for everything else. I know that it can take quite a while, up to two months, to really start have the money rolling in, and I am running out of money quick!

You will also need an employee file for yourself, an equipment file for your truck, and one for your trailer. You will need to be part of a random drug testing program. And the fmcsa will audit you at some point in time during your first 18 months. Please feel free to add to this, because I know that there are alot of people that know ALOT more than I do.

mhlogistics

Good Post! This will help alot of folks comming into the business. What you ran into with the other company seems to be common with most companies that lease trucks on. They mislead people from the start. It really makes
me mad hearing these lease on stories, I hear them way to
often. I don't claim to always have the right answers but my advice is always free to Independent Owner Operators. Phil if you work with me and you get short funded out of the gate just let me know and I'll put as many cod's on you as I can find. I've had a few people come on that ran low on operating capital getting started. I just gave them as many cod pieces as I could find to help them build there operating capital back up.

TGPILOT

Boy....tell you about my secret...Gordon and Talco and you tell the world. Your bad as joyce on those secrets.....lol.

Anyway, he was a good guy to deal with, I need to get back to him. Still gotta find some good light tarps though. Hope to be pulling out of Kingman in an hour or so. They may give me that load in Phx. another guy had it, but had not got back to them on it.

Later.

Tom

Phil

http://www.lightweighttarps.com/
Tom, check this website for your tarps.
Just so you you know its raining pretty good in Phoenix today and tomorrow. Drive safe.

TGPILOT

That's what I hear. Just talked to a customer there. Suppose to pick up there tomorrow. Then head East. Brent said its slick in W. Texas. What a trip this has been.

Thanks.

Tom

Gocart

One thing everyone forgets to ad in there is that you stand about a 20% chance of success. Ask for confirmation when people start their sales pitch, if there doing so great letem prove it. I don't mean, " you can talk to my drivers", makem show you in black n white.

I won't even talk to anyone that is going to do me these wonders without some sort of proof of their capablities. Remember, when it comes down to the perverbial nard cuttin, you stand alone.

Am I pesimest? You bet, I ran into every hister you could run into, all promising me the moon. I'm working on my second year and I can't even begin to tell you how far indebt I am. I'm the norm not the rarity. My second year looks a lot better than the first since I finally run into a decent dispatch service. Yes, she did provide me with black n white documentation of her capablitities.

If their reluctent to send you confirmation of what they can do cause it will give there sources away, there is such a thing as redacting.

All this other stuff everyone is talking about is simple, you can go to FMCSA, this site etc and get all the info you need to know how to get started. It's the between the lines stuff no on wants to talk about. The hotshot driver featured on OOIDA said it once. You need a 7-10k reserve for the lean times and you need to get it asap.

Btw, ask questions...................esp to those that are braggin on how great their doin, 9x out of 10 there retired from one job and doing this to stay busy. Easy for things to look great when you another income coming in.

Tom Cobb · Site Admin

Phil

If you are not going to registered over 26K you don't need drug testing or apportion plates or the IFTA.

I believe you paid way more for the tie downs, etc. than they would have elsewhere. Go to Northern Tool and spend half of what you paid. All their straps are DOT certified. If you included tarps in that amount then you would be about the same but just for staps and chains I think that is way high. I never found a need for more than 4 chains and binders. Carried 12 sets of straps and ratchets. I need them more. Add some corner protectors for using staps on sharp corners, especially steel. It will cut your straps without them.

Your post was good. Check out this website for more info. Go to the Hotshoting How To section.

http://www.hotshothauling.com/wowbbs/

Tom Cobb · Site Admin

Gocart

Quit talking about me. Just because I am retired does not mean that I don't need to make money. Just because I have 3 retirement checks doesn't mean I don't work hard and I darn sure don't paint this business as easy and making a killing. I work as hard as the next person in this business.

Phil

Did you by chance talk to Sumner & Sumner back east. It sounds like his typical pitch. There is another one that Gocart had an experience with that was just like Sumner. They talk a big talk but never prove out to do what they say.

Phil

Tom,
I am registering my truck at 36000 lbs. So I do have to be part of a drug test program and IFTA.

Phil

I did include the straps and tarps togehter. I checked locally here in Phoenix at Auto Saftey House they were about three hundred higher for everything that I ordered. I am a dispatcher for a building materials supplier in Mesa and I even checked my supplier that my company gets discount pricing through and they were @ $150 higher. I am not saying that there arent any better deals out there, but I did some checking around before I bought.

diesel

i sure am glad i am not the only one with start up costs like this, i was lucky to be able to pay for my truck and trailer from the get go, but it seemed like every time i turned around there was something else i needed to do. i have been at it [ hotshot ] for 10 months and it is getting to the point where i am starting to have fun, making money! i know i am not the only one driving along thinking, am i doing the right thing? diesel ky freight service

Phil

I recieved my authority papers today, still waiting for Motor Carrier though.

Phil

Bart from Hefty products called today and my trailer is ready to be picked up. $9475.00, I cant wait to see it. I will be leaving Wednesday night 1-31 to go and pick it up.

Gocart

hahahaha.....I just call it as I see it.

Tom Cobb · Site Admin

You have eye problems. Get some glasses or change your prescription as appropriate. Rolling Eyes

Phil

Well I picked up my trailer on Thursday, Its flippin HUGE! Any way, all I am waiting for is the plates from Arizona Trucking Association. They are the company doing the apportioned license plates. I scaled out at 18,188 lbs, full of fuel, no straps or tarps or chains. The trailer pulls great! All it needs is a good set of rollers on the tail. I got hung up in Texas! Not cool! I am not used to having so much trailer behind the rear axle. I am almost ready to roll! Maybe another 5-10 days. I understand its slow Gary, but I just want to get out there!

TGPILOT

Phil,

Word of advice, becareful where you park, and how you turn around. Your blind side will be your pax side. Make sure, if you are parked between two trucks, that you pull all the way out as far as you can before starting the turn.

If not, you will clip, or swing the back of the trailer into a truck or whatever is next to you. If your not sure of your clearance, get out and walk it, twice even before making the turn.

That extra larger trailer will take some getting used to, but done right, you will make money with it. Get Gary out of the fish pound and get him busy.

I hope you had J.D. add those marker lights along side rhe trailer like I have. If not, you will find it hard to know where your trailer is when passing someone, or on a dark street trying to make a turn. Beleive me, they really work. I call them bullet lights. I have about five of them down each side. The front half are markers, the back side are turn signals. Sure lets people know when your going to turn.

I should be ready to roll next week, getting the truck serviced.

Tom

mhlogistics

Phil it is slow right now but I should be able to get you rolling anyways. Wensday we will be closed for the day to attend a funeral. Just let me know when your ready.

Phil

THANKS TOM, I FIGURED THAT OUT PRETTY QUICK. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR @ 8 YEARS IN TRACTOR TRAILERS, BUT THIS TRAILER IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING I HAVE EVER DRIVEN.
GARY, I AM LOOKING AT MONDAY RIGHT NOW. I GOT MY LICENSE PLATES WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Very Happy

THE COMPANY I WENT TO WAS ARIZONA TRUCK ASSOCIATION. MAN! FOR $40.00 THEY HAD MY PLATES IN FIVE DAYS! I HAVE A LITTLE CAKE ON MY FACE TOO. THE $1500 TO $3000 IS FOR VEHICLES REGISTERING @ 80000. IT ONLY COST ME $850.00, YOU WERE RIGHT. THANK GOD! I GOT MY DECALS FOR THE TRUCK @ $110.00, THAT INCLUDED SOME TRICK DECALS FOR MY TRAILER ALSO THAT ARE 82" LONG AND 5" TALL. I INSTALLED THEM MYSELF AND SAVED $65.00. I GOT MY IFTA TODAY, SO ALL I NEED IS TO GET MY EQUIPMENT FILES CAUGHT UP, AND CALL SOMBODY FOR A DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROGRAM AND WE WILL BE ROLLING. OH YEAH THE PLATES FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL TRAILER, ANOTHER $850.00 Shocked

THAT CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD. ANY WAY, IT WONT TAKE ME UNTIL MONDAY TO GET READY BUT I JUST PLANNED ON THAT BEING THE DAY. IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING CLOSE BEFORE THEN PLEASE, GIVE A CALL AND I WILL GET IT DONE.

TGPILOT

Phil,

It should not have cost you anything for trailer tags. At least, in Texas, they give you a token trailer tag for free. Look into it.

Tom

rebenterprises

my god that was heavy for the trailer tags. Mine cost 28.00 and after this one they are going to a lifetime at almost the same price.

LBZ

Each state varies on how they charge for plates. I know Illinois has two different directions one could go. One puts everything to the truck plate and a $20 charge for the trailer or splitting the fee's over both. The first one mentioned seems to be a bit cheaper if one is going to have the trailer for several years while the split fee's are cheaper the first year.

Not sure why this is, but it is what I could gather from the IL DOT. With that said, My appointment with the DOT is this week so I will find out exactly how they define what and how hard they are charge for things. Shocked

LBZ

Other things that are a good idea to have on board that don't cost alot on a single basis but add up after you have depleted the expenses noted above.

1. Carbon dioxide detector

2. First aid kit

3. Small printer for pc noted above

4. Triplicate invoices if not using printer

5. Heavy duty gloves if you use chains

6. Hand wipes & 12 pack of bottled water

7. Spare drive belt for motor

8. various fluids oil/antifreeze etc.

9. fuel filters (seems mandatory)

10. Tool kit to work on tow vehicle including a pipe wrench for things that frustrate you Confused

11. Tire Chains in the winter? <~I would rather park than have to use, but may get you out of a bind

12. Safety triangles and Fire extinguisher(mandatory)

13. Lockable fuel cap~Matter of fact, make everything lockable that you can

14. 12-20 ton cylinder jack and maybe a small block to change tires on the trailer. Some with tandems/duals can limp to the next town. The triple axle trailer guys will usually have to change the tire right then and there.

These things were noted to me by someone else, but thought they had their use, and am sure I am missing some things as well.

On the other hand, no matter how much one packs on the truck, there will always be an instance where you wished you would have thrown on that one last thing. Smile

Good luck

mhlogistics

Good post, You just want to make sure you don't put to much weight on. Number 13 is a very good idea. In the last few years we're seeing an increase in theft of fuel, tarps and tiedown gear. And don't think they won't steal your trailers if you leave them sit somewhere. Happened to me once. the sad part about it is it wasn't my trailer it was a freinds. This happened along time ago I unhooked for 30 minute to change the oil in my truck. I kept walkinging around the corner to make sure it was ok and in a flash it was gone. Never seen it again.
I woke up one morning parked in a wide spot and crawled into the drivers seat. While I was sitting there waking up I glanced at my mirror and noticed some dude walking down the side of my trailer pulling bungie cords off and laying them over his shoulder. This guy was so calm about it I thought it was his trailer for a second. I opened my door and started running after him with my winch bar in hand. I guess were both lucky he was a faster runner. He dropped all the bungie cords as he was running away.

Phil

Well I have not had a whole lot of time to get on this website since I have been up and running, but I really should update a couple of things. First of all I AM UP AND RUNNING! In case you missed that. I am having a great time out here running freight. This weekend I have my first actual "hotshot" piece. Its some kind of a drill rig clamp going into Haword CA.
Any way, my truck tags didnt cost $3000. That is the cost if you are registering for 80000 lbs. I am reg at 36000 lbs and the plates cost @ $800.00. I returned the maps program that I bought and purchased a Garmin c550. I call her Betty. No I am not lonely out here as I have my fiance with me THANK GOD! I just needed to give that pleasant little voice a name so that I can yell at her when she sends down a JACKED UP STREET and I end up dragging my brand new trailer down a flippin hill. Witch was another expense, $150 for a great set of solid steel rollers. Dont draw any conclusions, I know how to drive. If you buy one of these low boys, put rollers on the tail. They save the streets and the tail of the trailer. Sorry I got side tracked. The GPS was @ $700. You can get cheaper ones but mine has blue tooth that I thought would be handy. Crying or Very sad

I cant hear a damn thing over my Cummins with a 5" flow through turbo back exhaust! But you will need one, so buy the cheaper one for about $400. I really makes finding the cities and addresses ALOT easier. I still use a truckers atlas to get the big picture, $30.00 at any truck stop.
I have a set of jack stands and a 2x8 that I put under the rear of the trailer to load the heavier vehicles, @ $20.
I have a fax service that is $10 a month. Very handy, I recieve my faxes on my laptop. It was a little tricky at first, but Im getting used to it. www.myfax.com.
Dont forget to put a headache rack on your truck if you get the "deck on the neck" of your trailer, @ $300.
Decals on the truck and trailer were @ $110, but I installed them myself. The trailer is not required I just think that it looks trick, and incase they miss the writing on the truck that just passed them, they cant miss it on the trailer.
Dont forget to buy tire chains, BEFORE you need them, and end up scrambling around Redding CA in 70 feet of truck looking for them, because there is a sign on I-5 that says that there is a chain inspection 9 miles north of Redding. I know somebody that did that! Cool

I bought three sets of chains, two for the truck, and one for the trailer. Go to a Les Shuab?, @ $280 for some cool chains that install in about 30 seconds each, no joke.
Go to Office Max and buy some three ring binders. I use, on a daily basis, three 1" binders for filing reciepts neatly, 1 2" binder for all of my load info, and 1, 1 1/2" binder for all of my truck papers. (ie registration, ifta, insurance) If you get called into a scale house its real easy if everything is neatly organized in one book. I also bought a pack of 3 1/2" note pads for note taking. You never know when Gary is going to call with that extra $400 partial going in the same direction, and setting up my laptop and printer isnt exactly a "while your driving down the road task".
Carry cash! Im not talking thousands of dollars, but every time i turn around in Northern California some grumpy toll booth chick sticks her hand out of the box with that dont give me any crap look on her face and takes a $20 bill from me. I usually get some change but they do charge by the axle, and Ive got plenty of those.
Dont forget the strap protecters, you can get them at Grainger or White Cap alot cheaper than Flyin J.
VERY IMPORTANT, if you like keeping your equipment looking good like I do, DO NOT take your eyes off of these forklift operators for a second. I did in Salt Lake City and it cost me a bent rub rail and a gouge out of my brand new wood deck! (JERK!) Its about 1" deep and 3" wide and maybee 2 feet long!
Nobody ever told me to put an auxilary fuel tank on my truck, and man alive I stop for fuel 2-3 times a day. That is the first thing going on the truck when I get a little down time. I dont know when that will be, but I am not ready to head back home yet! Set aside $600 to $2500 for that depending on how extravagent you want to get. On the higher side of the coin is a tank by Transfer flow that you dont have to pump the fuel, it empties itself, and $2500 is the installed price from Simpson tool box in Phoenix. The motel and fuel bills add up quick. I have gotten pretty lucky, and had three decent paying C.O.D.s on one load to get the operating funds built back up a little. But everything else is 30-40 days to pay. Keep that in mind.
The truck is long, very long. You cant always get close to whatever you are picking up or dropping off. In Alameda CA I literaly Jogged about a mile to pick up a 1995 Nissan Altima, with my truck parked in a TURN LANE. You have to have a just get it done attitude, because you have commited to get that car where it needs to go. Then when I got to Bellevue WA with the car, I couldnt get into the complex that It was supposed to go to. I parked in a no parking zone and called the guy and asked him to meet me to pick the car up, and luckily he did. Well those are some of the things that I know so far, and I still learn alot every day. After all is said and done I LOVE THIS STUFF!

mhlogistics

Phil shop that transfer flow tank. I found one last year at an RV dealer here in California for $1300.00 installed. Still couldn't bring myself to spend that much cash on one. There's one out there made by handy indusrties that sells for around $600.00 with all the plumbing and it also has a nice tool box on top, looks good and suites the purpose but it doesn't shine. There's also cheaper ways to go. I still haven't installed one in our truck yet. Another important aspect to consider is the more fuel you pack along, the more weight your packing along. A 100 gallon auxillary tank sure is nice until you realize that 100 gallons of fuel weighs around 800lbs. I've made up my mind that I'm going to hunt down a 35 gallon alumn auxillary tank for our Dodge. That'll give us about twice the distance we have now and only be about 280 lbs more weight. We get 12 to 14 mpg under a load with our set up so that should take us between 840 to 980 miles before we run out of fuel. I reckin we can make a pit stop before then.
The old timers use to drill a hole in the floor board, run a hose thru it and keep on truckin as long as they had fuel. I don't think your fiance is going like that idea though! LOL

Saturday I had my brother pull the trailer out back and we emptied the tiedown box. He had 12 chains and binders packed in there? We pulled six off becuase we just never use that many. We thined out our straps, He even had some portable 4" winches in there? Kook! The whole box got re organized and thined out. I figure we lost about 500 lbs of dead weight. That will make a huge diferrence in wear and tear over time.

We have a headache rack on our truck it's built tuff and it looks awsome. We purchased it from pro-tech the same guys that manufacture the alumn head boards and boxes for big trucks. Paid $850.00 for it then we drilled 6 holes in it for LED marker lights. I'll try to take some close up pic's of the head board later today and post them on here.

TGPILOT

Hey Phil, Gary. Haven't been on her in a while. Think I may have walking "P Monia" Keep hacking up weird stuff out of my lungs. I think I caught some of that flu going around this year.

About 400 people in our area got it this year. Phil, Send to FAX is only about ten bucks a month for a hundred inbound and outbound FAX's per month. Works great.

Talk to you all later.....got to get me some more decongestent. Or roto rooter.

Tom

mhlogistics

TG, I tried calling you today on both numbers didn't get any answer. Now I know why. Have some stuff not far from you going west. Not a problem though I have a new Owner Operator out of Houston I might put it on if he can get ready fast enough. Freight is still very slow all over? Had that same sickness myself a few years ago. I went down to Nogales healthy and came back a sick man. Hacked up stuff for about a month. You may want to go to the doctors and see if they can give you something strong to help you kick it.

Phils a busy busy man, I loaded him out of Northern Cal today heading south. I need to find him something for tommorrow, I better get back to hunting. Talk to you later. Gary.

TGPILOT

Thanks Gary, I will be checking with a doc as soon as they can get me in. Hate going to them. I don't know what I have in my lungs, but it's nasty when I cough it up....some black stuff too.

Had walking "P" years ago. That was bad to be so sick and still on your feet. I was even flying airplanes at that time......rough six weeks.

Phil, I bought a tank that was a combo tool/fuel tank from American tank. They are now North o Dallas. I have the address somewhere. But you can also find his ads in Trailer Life Mag.

Mike is a great guy, he might have a scratch and dent he will let go of cheap for cash. Mine is a 90 gal. tank. I've had it in two fords and a dodge. About 5 hundred K all together. With no problems at all. Love it. Just flip a toggle switch and it pumps fuel to the enging just like the factor tank. Also reads fuel level on the factory gage.

Mike handles all sizes. 45 gal. would probably work for you with tool box.

Tom

Tom Cobb · Site Admin

Check with Northern Tool for the fuel tank or fuel tank/tool box combo. They have the best price and you can also buy a kit for installing the tank. There are two kits. One has a 6 port valve and ties into your truck fuel system and you can keep track of the fuel in the aux tank on your truck gage. The other is a gravity flow into the truck tank.

I have had both. I had problems with the aux tank gage that I could not get fixed and it caused me to run out of fuel in the aux thinking there was still a quarter of a tank. My engine shutdown on me at the wrong time. This is no fun. It had 3 or 4 times. I had enough of that and installed the gravity fill kit. I added a solenoid valve to turn the aux tank on and off rather than fully trusting the check ball valve that is in the kit. You can overfill the main tank if the ball valve does not shutoff at the right level.

After installing the solenoid valve (available at O'Reilly Auto Parts for $35.00) everything is fine. I get all the fuel out of the aux instead of leaving some in the tank to prevent running out.

LBZ

That is good to hear about the tanks from Northern. I had seen these before but wondered with the price difference if they were something ya could rely on or need to stay clear of. May have to check into one now!

BR3026

Great info, please keep us posted. I'm thinking about getting started, and your post has already helped!

BR3026

Phil - How is the Dodge on fuel mileage? I have a Ford, and a fellow posted that the Ford is a poor performer.
LBZ - Great extras list - some I would not have thought of and are now added to my list should I move into the business. Thanks!

dixierose

hi phil(and everyone), i haven't read all messages on this topic ,so forgive me if i bring up a subject already covered.

i have a couple of ?'s...
is your company up and running good? if so are you looking for any drivers?
do you have to retain your own authority if you are leased to a company?
what are the chances of being leased out to a good company?
do you know if this is good business to get into if you LIVE in the area of memphis?

Tom Cobb · Site Admin

Welcome Dixierose.

Spend some time reading the Hotshot Startup section. There are pro's and con's to the subjects of your questions. Some reading time will help you to focus on the questions to ask.

Welcome again. Glad to have you here.

bth9461

Phil is not on here much any more it seems, he checks in once in a while. LBZ seems to talk to him now and then. As far as I know Phil is still running but has switched to cars only.

Tom Cobb · Site Admin

Nobody is on her much anymore. I sure would like to see some folks here that will participate.

How have you been Brian? Haven't heard from you much. I haven't been in the calling mood lately so I haven't called anybody. I did talk to Melvin a couple of times over the past 3 months or so. He was checking on Stroker. Nobody has heard from him and he doesn't answer his phone. TG can't get him either.

Hope everyone will come around more often and speak up when they do.

bth9461

Hey Tom things are tough, but I am hanging in there, just got stopped in OH for a headlight, it was working the morning, but it was out, gave them a reason to pull me over 8 miles from the MI border. Heading back empty to the shop to have my hydraulic beaver tail fixed. I think it is a electrical problem. OH Dot sited me for a couple of missed drop lines on my log and a missed milage total. Piss ass stuff but I was wrong. If you get a by the book guy they will wright you up.

Hey I was just a Little "Sloopy", us peons just do not get the breaks the ruling class gets. Sandy Burglar he was Sloopy too. Just a little Sloopy.

Just a note my log for weeks before was just fine, don't move the truck unless you have it right, you just never can count on a stop/stickler for detail DOT guy. It is the nature of the business. Be prepared.

This site just has no traffic I checked out Gary's the other day he has quite a bit of traction. HotShot Hauling I do a little research and PMing over there but they seem to be down over there, for different reasons. If you know what I mean.

I have spent a lot of time on CDLofit, but that is mostly a Big truck site, since going up to the larger truck, it helps me out more. It prtains to my operation better. Still a small truck guy at heart though.

I am so busy trying to hold things together though, I see me being less active this year. I am going to have to be very focused on business to make it through this year. I am expecting to have to change my out and back operation, to a out and back home maybe in 2-3 weeks operation. So when I do get home no Compuiting for fun, need to really be focused on family and I will be doing online stuff with the family on the road.

I expect it to be a tough year.

I think I can make it, the truckers that do will be ok, even in a down economy, but many will be forced out of business. I expect the economy to get worse not better. The name of the game is to survive right now.

Brian

Tom Cobb · Site Admin

I know things have to be tough for all the owner operators. Taking care of the family is the first priority after God.

I guess a lot of the oo have shutdown. I suspect they have lost interest in the forums also. I know it is difficult for me to be interested in the trucking sites. I hang around to keep in touch with friends and to help where I can.

God bless you and all of you guys hanging own by you finger nails. May God provide for you.