Drive-away Companies

Haven't been around in a long time, I have been driving Prevost tour buses in Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon and making money hand over fist..... however I'm sick of the crime in this city and I'm thinking of moving to Wausau, WI, I spent 4 years there and ready to go back. However because I haven't drove a tractor-trailer combo in a year and a half I'm finding it difficult to find a trucking job..... except Drive-away jobs... after doing research I have found the driver is like an O/O in that you have to pay for fuel and lodging and food.... But I talked to one guy making 65k a year working 3 week a month. Has anyone had experience in the field? will it hurt me in the trucking world in the long run?

Hey Dale, nice to hear from you again!

Personally I don't believe the person who claims they're making 65 grand working three weeks per month. That means they have sixteen weeks off per year! This goes back to the age old debate in this forum where, for some reason, truck drivers can't distinguish between gross revenues and net gains.

Did he say anything about what he pays to the IRS come tax time, because I can guarantee you that he doesn't get a W-2 in the mail come January, he gets a 1099 - ultimately he is self employed and paying that highest rate of the self employment tax.

Dale, to answer your question, it won't hurt you, but nor will it help you. When you get ready to take on an OTR driving job you will still most likely be required to take some sort of refresher.

Feel free to give it a shot, but I for one would love for you to jump back in here after having done it a while (and I mean for more than a year) and tell us how it measured up compared to what this other driver claimed.

If you are going to move to Wausau, Roehl has their main terminal near there in Marshfield, WI and I'm pretty sure they would give you a refresher course. Just food for thought.

Personally I don't believe the person who claims they're making 65 grand working three weeks per month. That means they have sixteen weeks off per year! This goes back to the age old debate in this forum where, for some reason, truck drivers can't distinguish between gross revenues and net gains.

I agree completely. And even if he was making that much money working on that schedule, how long would it last? Are you making that much because you finally paid off an old truck and now you're driving around an old clunker that's about to die any second? What happens to the money you were making when you have to pay up for a new truck or get that engine rebuilt?

A good rule in business is what I'll call the 5 year rule. Old School mentioned this in a recent post where he said he'd like to hear from lease drivers or owner operators that have been successful at it for 5 years or more. I agree with that. Anyone can do anything for a few weeks or a few months. But is it sustainable? That's what matters. It makes no difference how much money you've made in the past if you wind up broke in the end.

Not sure if there is confusion or not on the term "drive-away". The job is basically picking up a truck (firetruck, cargo truck, semi truck cab, large bus) at point A and driving to point B. Could be 300 miles could be 2000 miles, could have a sleeper berth or not. You are 1099 so you pay for fuel and lodging if there is no sleeper berth. I have found some companies that pay 1.30 a mile down to .44 cents per mile but they pay for all expenses. It seems the way to make the most money is to buy a cheap yet reliable tow car in order to get to the next load quicker. I kinda did the yea yea head shake to the guy when he said that but when I said three weeks a month I mean take a week off per month. Just wondering if anyone here had done this type of work, I would say it can't hurt to try but I would be giving up a six figure job so I can move out of this hell hole known as sin city.