I landed the trucking gig

[Tobin S.]

I'm going to think it over really good this weekend, but I'm pretty sure now that I'll be giving my current employer my 2 weeks notice on Monday. I'll be due up in Wisconsin on July 7th to go to the company orientation. Now all I have to do is buy a truck! And a trailer. And I have to get my electronic bill paying set up. And I have to make sure that I have everything I need to run long haul. And I have to get someone to grab my mail every once in a while and make sure my house is still in one piece. And I have to get a D.O.T. physical. And I have to set up my taxes for estimated payments. And I have to by a truck license plate. And insurance. And I have to buy health insurance. And.....

It's a good thing I'm taking that week off in between jobs.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Congrats, my dear Tobin!

I'm really happy to hear all this good news!

Yup, you do have your hands full!

But you'll get through all that, and then you'll have things where you want them!

[Tobin S.]

2. Thanks Peggy. And congrats to you on your excellent marriage!

[bluesbassman]

3. Good for you Tobin!

May the sun never be in your eyes, the loads plentiful, and the scales far and few between. Best of luck to you!

[Ikonoklast]

4. Welcome Back To The Darkside, Driver....Bwahahaahaaa!!

Once an O/O, ALWAYS an O/O...it's like some horrible addiction, I swear to God.

[Tobin S.]

7. Yes, an obsession of sorts

I'm also considering going independent once I get enough money together. I think you have to be a masochist to own a rig.

Hurt so good/C'mon baby make it hurt so good!

[Ikonoklast]

9. I'm currently looking for a newer ride, myself.

Arrow Truck Sales in Cinci has an '06 670 Volvo with a VED12 465 and a 13 speed that I drove three weeks ago, but I've been so busy I just haven't had the chance to get back there to talk money with the sales rep.

Hopefully this next Saturday we can do a deal, if the money's right.


My '99 Cornbinder is just about as tired as she can be, but, by golly, still does the deal. I hate to get sentimental about machines, but the 'ol girl made me money these last few years.

What type of trailer you looking for? I have an '01 Great Dane dry box in decent shape I'm not using, E-trac, wood floor, air slider.

[Tobin S.]

11. I'm going to need a 53' dry van

Swing doors, air ride. I've been looking at an '04 and they said that would be alright. Not sure about an '01. I'd have to check. Send me a PM with some details.

I know what you mean about getting attached to trucks. My first truck was an old flat top International cabover. Spring ride. Damn thing about killed me, but for some reason I wish I still had it.

[MiddleFingerMom]

5. Congratulations, Tobin!!!!

.
Sounds fantastic -- a dream coming true (try to keep THAT in mind
when you run into snags on the road).
.
.
I've been meaning to ask you... next weekend, can you help me move
and paint my new house?
.
.
.
.
.
Boy, howdy... TWO uses for the girls in under an hour (I still have
them copied and pasted).
.

.

[Tobin S.]

8. I can help you move your house.

[AngryOldDem]

6. Congratulations, Tobin!

You have a lot to do, but it's all good.

[Blue Diadem]

10. You going long haul?

You might want to think about getting a post office box. That way you only need someone to check on your home.

Sounds like you're going to be quite busy Tobin. Goodluck with everything! You're still be able to post on DU won't you?

[Tobin S.]

12. Yeah. I'll have my laptop with me

I have relatives that live about 4 miles away and they will likely be helping with getting my bills paid- that is, the ones that I can't get set up electronically.

[abq e streeter]

13. Great news... I hope you'll PM me if you ever know you're going to have a stop in Albuquerque

You just take a left turn...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8TUwHTfOOU

[Tobin S.]

14. Bugs was one of my childhood favorites

Hell, he's one of my adulthood favorites. There's a pretty good chance that I'll cruising through on I-40 every once in a while.

[david13]

15. Sounds good. That ought to keep you busy for a while. Good luck. dc

[kimi]

16. Congratulations, Tobin S.

I'll look forward to many stories from the open road.

[tango-tee]

17. Go, Tobin, go!

Keeping my fingers and toes crossed that all will go well. Wishing you success!

Your DU family is pulling for ya.

[mzteris]

18. where in Wisconsin will you be??

please-say-Madison-please-say-Madison. . .

[Tobin S.]

25. Milwaukee area

[mzteris]

30. Milwaukee's not that far -

and there are some pretty cool DU'ers in Milwaukee that I've met.

There are some in Madison,too but I've never met any of them in person. Yet.

I say we have a TOBIN party!!

[Tobin S.]

31. Did somebody say, "Party?" Sounds good to me. :)

I'm due up there on July 7th. Orientation is a day and a half. I haven't decided whether I'm going to drive my truck up there or my car. If I drive the truck up there I can get there a day early and hang out for a little bit, but I'll likely have to get to work after I finish up on the 8th. If I take my car up there, that gives me a little more time.

[Lucian]

19. You're not going to be working as a driver for Walmart, are you?

Most (if not all) Walmarts here in MN get all their freight from Tomah, WI and Menomonie, WI.

Good luck to you on your new job.

[Tobin S.]

26. No. I won't be hauling any of their freight.

[mike_c]

20. give a shout out if you find yourself passing through coastal norcal...

...like down the 101 through Humboldt County!

[MissHoneychurch]

21. YAY! Best of luck Tobin

I know you will make the right decision for yourself

[old mark]

22. let the local cops know you will be leaving your house for periods of time, and

they should keep an eye on it...
Get some timers that plug into your electric outlets to turn on various lights around your house at pre-set times...and turn them off..It looks as iof someone is home.

Let the mail carrier know, too - they can save your mail at the PO till you stop by for it...

good luck - I know you will enjoy this, and I hope you prosper.

mark

[Parche]

23. congratulations

[Mopar151]

24. A little traveling music

The Dead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPNgjA4i6gM

Lowell George/Little Feat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lyWi_bwsxU&feature=rela...

Jerry Reed (yes it's a cliche): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnRwQjTYfGI&feature=rela...

Truckin' in Boston with the Willis Bros. : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDxVJ471hyg

Tombstone Every Mile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aFzfDv2hz0

Bill Kirchen (played in Commander Cody's band -hear that Hot Rod Linclon sound?): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgrGJkWmpRw&feature=rela...

[Tobin S.]

27. I took the first step today and got my D.O.T. physical done

I hate getting physicals, but you have to do it every two years if you want to be a trucker. Tomorrow I will be looking at trucks.

[UndertheOcean]

28. Congrats !

do you have to save money to buy the truck with one check ? or can you do payments like cars ?

Is D.O.T. more strict than regular physicals ?

[Tobin S.]

29. You can finance trucks. Most owner-operators do.

The terms are usually harder and the down payments usually larger, though. I've got good credit so I probably won't have to put a ton of money down- maybe $1000-$2500 down. Based on the trucks I've been looking at I'll be looking at a payment of $750-$1000 a month, and another $300 for a trailer. It's big chunk of money to come up with every month so I'll have to stay busy. I can set my own down time, which is one of the perks of owning a rig, but it can also be a downfall.

A D.O.T. physical is just like a regular physical as far as I can tell, they just give you a card that you have to carry around with you and show to any law enforcement officers if they request it. And they can at any time.

[littlebit]

32. Congrats

Welcome to the wonderful world of being an O/O. You picked a good time to dive into it. Freight is picking up and used truck prices are still low. Any ides yet what type of truck you are looking for?

[Tobin S.]

33. I'm looking at three right now

There's a truck dealer here in Dayton, a part of Miam Valley International, that has some fleet trades. They are 2007 International 9400i, tall sleeper, 435 hp ISX, 10 speed with OD, 350,000-400,000 miles, $37,500. There's another dealer that has a good deal on an 2006 International 9400i with similar specs and a few more miles for $30,000. That truck is in Grand Rapids, though, and I'm in Dayton. I don't know if I have the time for that one. The last one I'm eyeballing is a 2007 Kenworth T600. It's more money and it's a mid-roof, so not as practical as the others, but....it's a Kenworth.

As for the trailer, I'm looking at a 53' dry van at a place I've done business with in my previous incarnation as an owner-operator. It's a '04 Great Dane and they are asking $9900 for it. I've checked around and that doesn't seem like a bad place to start as far as price goes. Air ride, logistics posts, swing foors, 50% brakes and tires, transulcent roof.

[littlebit]

34. Those KW T600's

can be brutal to live in especially if it's a mid-roof. The internationals are good trucks with lots of room. Plus those prices sound pretty good on both of them. The trailer price seems reasonable. Good luck to you.

[Tobin S.]

35. I've never driven a KW T600. What makes them uncomfortable?

Here's the one I'm looking at.

http://www.bellefontainetrucksales.com/T-2529-07T600.ht...

[littlebit]

38. There's not a lot of room in them.

I felt like I was living in a small cave with the one I had. That was my biggest problem with it. I went from an FLD to a T600 so it was a little bit of a shock. They are decent trucks mechanically. And the one you are looking at looks good. Go take a look at it and check it out. You might feel totally different than I do.

[Tobin S.]

39. I called them this morning

The lender they work with wants 20% down no matter how good your credit is. So scratch the T600.

[littlebit]

40. That sounds about right.

I ended up paying cash for my first truck. My second one I put down 30%. And my Pete I put down close to 50% just so my payments wouldn't be more than my mortgage. Keep looking you might find someone willing to work with you. Right now it's kind of hard to get financed for much of anything.

[UndertheOcean]

36. Hey Tobin , if you ever pass by the NYC /NJ area , maybe he can hang !

good luck.

[Tobin S.]

37. Sure UtO. But I don't think I'm going to be over that way if I can help it

Nothing against you northeasterners. That area of the country is generally rough going for truckers. Lot's of traffic, no place to park, lousy freight rates coming out of there. But if I'm over that way I'll shoot you a PM.

[datasuspect]

41. if you slide through "the mistake by the lake"

holler.

i got my ears on.