Profile For Judge

Now I'm home and on the big computer, I'll give you an insight on expenses, this year expenses, I change oil once a month/10-12k miles (fuel, oil changes, breakdowns/Maintence, then I'll add truck payment that isn't included not including small change I round up) Jan $6250, +truck payment $7296.43 Feb $5975 + Truck $7021.43 March $6100+truck $7146.43. $21,464.29 for 3 months. Net=29,754.78-expense left is $8290.49. Divide this by 3 months $2,763.50 divide by 4 weeks $690.87/week. This is after the so called, "ducks fly away" Now you have you House payments/lights and so on. I try to stay around $4000 gross/week, doesn't always happen, but after your expenses at a $4000 Gross, I Net around $2700 not counting Taxes, that you are now responsible for, you can pay Quarterly, or yearly with a penalty, but you keep your money in case you need it for expense later. The good part of being an owner operator, as I see, you can drive a company truck, but you'll never own it. If you run 70+ mph, remember for every mile per over 60, you're blowing profit out the stack by 0.1 mpg so the difference between 7+or - mpg at 60 or 6 +or- at 70, and at $3/gallon so that's 15 more gallon or $45 per that 600 mile estimate/day you wasted. I usually split the difference and run at 65, mine stays around 6.5-6.3 depending on wind/road asphalt or concrete (yes that matters)

I own my truck, leased to a company hauling a tanker for out and back loads, worked there for two years as a company driver learning their customer base, load pay and so on. Trucking isn’t just a job, it’s a way of life, you’re stuck with a truck more than anything or anyone else. I have been in a truck for 18 years, pulling everything from a flatbed to hopper, auger trailers and now tankers/isotanks. When it’s your truck, it eats before you do, repairs/fuel upkeep. A lot of the ones outspend their means, thinking they have to drive a brand new truck, and have a $2500+ truck payment per month, ($625+ per week)plus tags/insurance ends up around $3200/month or more. My payment is $1046.43/month or $261.61/week on a three year note, still 2 more to go. 13 Pete 587 But no matter how down you are, back goes out, pneumonia, or any unseen illness or problems that arise, that payment is there and goes on. While you do make more, you spend more, an egr valve for the isx Cummins is $1295+$650 to be put on by someone with a computer because it has to be programmed or truck derates to 5 mph. You worked that week for an egr valve. I made $16 after fuel/breakdown that week, but I work and keep my money for an unexpected expense, and just use enough to eat in and pay house things, I basically work for the truck and to have something to eat. I bought shocks, all cab too, and spent last Saturday putting them on to save $400 to pay someone else, although it’s tax deductible when they work on it, you work on it for free, well to save the $400 you’d pay someone else. Bobtail/occupational insurance is $138/week It’s a heck of a life, and if you don’t outspend your means, you might make it, if you’re with a good company that has good freight rates.