Any commercial truckers here?
 

Any people here who make their living driving big rigs?

How much money can one make doing this, given they own their own cab?

Like a big one, Peterbilt, Mack, etc.

Just curious.

Long or short haul.

Thanks,

DT.

i work for a small refrigerated and dry van carrier in NW PA, about 40 trucks, all company-owned. we do local, regional, and long haul. some of our top drivers will make 60-70k this year. i don't know much about owner-operators but i don't know how some of them survive, there is so much cheap freight out there and the industry is so cutthroat it's sickening. add to that fuel prices and insurance. if you could make a 5% profit you'd making a killing. i don't drive full time, still in school, i hope driving a truck is one of the last things i ever have to do. i must admit it is not for everyone. are you thinking of becoming an owner-operator? have you ever driven before? i don't want to discourage you, it can be a great career, just not something hovisimo particularly enjoys. i guess geographic region plays a big role in this, i would like trucking more if i lived in the south or out west ;)

check out classadrivers.com

I worked as an operations manager for one of the largest Midwest Intermodal carriers before I stepped off on my own. I wasn't directly involved in the recruiting efforts, but I know what my trucks were grossing...

In a perfect world with a truck leased on to a carrier;

3000 miles per week x $1.25/mile (current rate) to the truck (includes the fuel surcharge.) = $3750.00

$3750.00 x 4 weeks = $15000.00

$15000.00 x 12 months = $180000.00 annually.

Maintenance was generally figured at $0.05/mile a few years ago.
So, 144000 miles annually x $0.05/mile = $7200.00


Now consider fuel at a recent average of about $3.00/gallon with an realistic economy of about 5.75 mpg with idle time at 3000 miles driven for the week.

522 gallons x $3.00/gallon = $1566 in fuel alone.

Average truck payment of $1500, but could be way more like $2100+ if you don't put any $$$ down...

$1500 x 12 months = $18000.00

Plates typically are between $1200 - $1500 annually for a Class 8 truck.

I'm not sure about insurance, but a Class 6 truck currently runs me about $1500 annually on the corporate policy. I think Class 8 trucks are more like $2500 annually for bobtail only.

So....

$180000.00 - fuel cost of $75168.00 = $104832.00

$104832.00 - vehicle cost of $18000.00 = $86832.00

$86832.00 - insurance cost of $2500.00 = $84332.00

$84332.00 - maintenance cost of $7200 = $77132.00

$77132.00 - registration cost of $1500 = $75632.00

$75632.00 - taxes at 22% for a cost of $16639.00

and after all that you are left with $58993.00!!!

A lot of time away from home and on the road, very stressful delivery times, very stressful driving through varying weather conditions, meticulous record keeping (DOT log book), and there you have it.

I've driven just about everything my first 7yrs out of 30 so far. Never owned my own all though I did come close but backed out. For the last 23yrs I've been hauling fuel for a small oil jobber. I work 4 days a week 10hrs a day only work overtime if someone is on vacation, home every nite 3 wks paid vac. 6 paid holidays & gross $50,000 a year.

HID just bought a Freightliner... And I haven't seen him lately now that I think about it.

Yeah, i noticed that too.

Im not a truck driver but my dad is one. He owned his own truck and trailer so income is around 70-90k. Depend on how hard he work. 137k total gross income before expense, but this is like 4 years ago I haven't read his latest tax income file. Today could be less due to high oil price, my brother inlaw(also a truck driver just start out though) remember him talk about how oil price effect his income. [eyecrazy]

I think he is busy making up for his few weeks down!

Hope he is doing OK and the new truck is treating him well.

The reason I asked is that yesterday I called Webasto (makers of a coolant heater) trying to find an installer in my area. They didn't list one close enough on their website so I was hopeing they knew of others in my area.

The Webasto guy told me to call a Peterbilt dealer/service center and ask them.

So I went to their website and found this:

http://www.peterbilt.com/387_specs.pdf

What a vehicle!

After reading some of the responses trucking is probably out for me but if I ever hit the lottery I'll buy one of these bad-boys and use it to pull a super-RV/Trailer!

DT.

yeah the pete 387/KW T2000 is a nice rig, aerodynamic with a huge wide cab. also check out the new pete 386 if you want aerodynamics but prefer a narrower cab and longer hood:

http://fleetowner.com/peterbilt386.gif

What's the difference? Engine mounted sideways in the 387 vs. front to back in the 386?

Just for the heck of it I called a tractor driving school in my area and for CDL-A license training and road test they want $4995.00.

I could get it done weekends for 8 weeks.

Maybe someday if I have 5 grand to burn I'll do it up!

How much do these things cost anyway? I figure they gotta be north of 100k but by how much I don't know.

Thanks,

DT.

nono, only difference is styling, they all share the same engine and drivetrain layout, engine and transmission are mounted just like in our trucks. owner operators seem to prefer the classic style truck, long square hood, narrower cab, big chrome air cleaners and exhaust stacks. like the pete 379 which has been around forever. only downside to classic style trucks is that they are not very aerodynamic. peterbilt and especially kenworth are more of a luxury truck and come at a premium price. the cadillac of trucks. for fuel economy, a lot of fleets run the newer style aerodynamic truck, shorter sloped hood, rounded fenders and air shield. a good example of this is a freightliner columbia, which i see as more of the honda civic of trucks. the new peterbilt 386 is an aerodynamic adaptation of the classic style truck. the 387 just has a much wider cab than most conventional tractors. i drive an international 9200i which has a mid-sized cab and a huge 72" condo sleeper and i was surprised at how narrow the cabs are on classic style trucks.

not sure what the exact price of a big pete or KW is, but i know we priced 2006 international 9200i aerodynamic tractors, with all the goodies and a big sleeper list price was $150,000, dealer's best offer was $99,000.

where do you live? some places offer paid training, my company paid me to get my CDL. CDL schools aren't your best bet, it will take a while to make back 5 grand as a new driver. i'd really check out classadrivers.com they can tell you who will train you.

for comparison...

http://www.freightliner.com/download...columbia_l.jpg
freightliner columbia

http://www.peterbilt.com/images/gal_l_379_8.jpg
peterbilt 379

my favorite big rig has to be the 379 pete's. They are awesome looking and if i ever bought a big rig (dump truck) it would be a 379.

I second that... the 379 petes are very impressive truck, i've always liked the look of them and the w900 KW's. The quality of both of them if far better than freightshakers, i work on a fleet of columbia's, boy are those things junk! Everything on them falls apart and looks cheaply made. Thats just my opinion though.
matt

Owning your own truck can make good financial sense but it all depends on the type of hauls and how you run your business. Long haul often pays more per trip, but you're on the road a lot, and your fuel and maintenance costs are higher. Short haul lets you stay closer to home, but the rates are usually lower.

With a truck like a Peterbilt, Mack, or Kenworth, your earnings can range widely, maybe $100,000 to $200,000 a year, but you’ll need to subtract costs like fuel, insurance, repairs, and payments for the truck itself. Owner-operators with efficient planning and good contracts can do well, but it takes work to manage expenses and keep the truck running smoothly.

Research freight rates, insurance, and how much maintenance your truck will need to give you a better idea of what to expect.