Master Cummins tech here. Some sound "free advise. Do not put anything in your tank other than ultra low sulfer diesel fuel, if you are running a modern common rail fuel system. The passages in the injector are super small, and can clog very easily. On the subject, don't pre prime your fuel filters either.
I'm about to hit 30 and just starting my trucking journey! Love your content a lot. I'd love to pick your brain a little bit if you ever have the time.
Everyone loves the idea, grossing 200k a year. If u can do the math 207k divided by let's assume 260 working days a year that brings your daily average right around 800$ a day. Chasing deadhead loads sometimes is a mandatory thing. Other time the term dead head is self explanatory in the name. Fastest way to generate revenue is to cut cost. Cut cost and get your daily revenue up to 1k
You’ve done such awesome videos man. Keep up the good work. Love all videos cause you seem to tell all about you’ve learned this meantime. Thanks brow.
do you use b20 diesel fuel? It will help keep injectors clean and also lubricates better then normal B5 diesel. Higher bio fuel will actually dissolve the gum and soot
Not bad for working to hard. Back at Mercer 1.94 a mile loaded and empty not bad for the crap that going on today in 2020. Ang 195g for the first 5 years i was here the first time. Flat step and conestoga . Conestoga was the best money .
Thank you so much for this video. I'm a new o/o currently leased on to a small flatbed company in MD and I'm considering switching to Mercer. Your videos are very informative and i appreciate the time it took for you to create and upload them.
I look forward to meeting this guy. He is what this industry needs more of. I have done very well at Mercer in six years as a driver, better as an owner. I personally am not money motivated. Just a better quality of life seeing the best of America by my choosing and schedule. Freight (flatbed & step) for Mercer is best east of I-35. Out west it is cheap(er), heavy, and sometimes you sit a few days to a week if you want to wait. None the less I love it out there.
Flatbed Trucking, Sam Rides. Thank you so much! I hope we do get the chance to meet one day. I appreciate the kind words. I’m sure I could learn a lot from you.
To me it was a pretty successful year income wise. I have a couple questions: 1. "Dead head" means No Load/empty? 2. Do you have accounter/bookkeeper working for you or you do your numbers by yourself? How hard is it if you do it yourself? 3. How much do you pay for health and truck insurance monthly? 4. What pays more - dry van or flat bed? Thank you in advance
Man I must stress to you how much I like your content man. Your quality is awesome, details are clear. Now if I can be honest your videos are a bit long but I drive 11hrs a day so I have nothing but time haha 😆Keep up the good work buddy. I’m going to keep supporting you man
Hahaha, thanks man! I know I can be a bit winded sometimes and I’m working on it. I’m going to start structuring my channel a lot more and be more consistent so everyone knows what to expect from me. That should cut down tremendously on the windedness 🤣
I have always found your videos to be informative and without a lot of fluff, which is why I tune in from time to time. I'm not an O/O yet, but your first year didn't seem to be as bad as some I've heard of. I'm working on my personal credit trying to save up for my own truck, so be safe out there and keep the content coming-much needed. Congrats on your new daughter and your son's first bday!!
I would say Pittsburgh power max milage is much better I've been using it every fuel up. Mercer doesn't pay enough for a owner operator to have a truck and trailer at 75% it should be minimum 85% the rate is to low
i found your channel after finding Mcartheys channel. you two and makecents trucking all have some great channels. i'm switching from local paving trucking to actual regional tanker(cleveland,oh area) and look forward to branching on my own when i get enough knowledge and finances built up. im young(28 been driving since i was 21) but i always pay attention to the successful truckers/ business men. im so happy to see someone go over the numbers and actually show you the meat and potato's of what it takes to make it work. life time view here and be safe on the road! Love the family style you have also no need to be negative in this industry.
Heck of a gross, you could have managed your fuel better but you did a brilliant job as a owner for your first year. Damn near 5k a week for 42 weeks. You are winning!
Man, if you were off for 10 full weeks, netted after expenses, taxes etc....more than $50-$55k, then you are way better off than a company driver grossing $75k with 4 weeks vacation! This is where the term "time freedom" earns it's weight in gold. Good job! 👍
@@DrivenTrucking Well, I figured mine as 5 days x 52 weeks = 260 days, - 20 paid (4 weeks) vacation days = 240 actual work days. I figured yours at 6 days × 52 weeks = 312 days, - 70 days (10 full weeks) = 242 actual work days. Mine is a structured schedule local (almost punching a time clock), whereas yours is chasing load to load. If I included my daily commute time and prep for work, it's easily a 17 hour day, 5 days per week....yeah, sucks! You obviously have to complete a load everytime, but having the ability to knock off for a week (any week) is a benefit not enjoyed by a company driver. 👍
@@k.l.channel5953, Yes, there are so many tax deductions for O/Os, $100k after expenses might only have to pay taxes on a $30k adjusted gross income.....lol. I pay for health insurance, long and short-term disability, union dues. I don't get Teamsters pension because my company has an ESOP free retirement plan. They tell me my gross w/benefits is almost $110k? Either way, my direct deposit weekly is about $1k.....lol.
Do you have any video out there with some insight or anything on how to pay yourself? Like the truck made 170K after expense... how does one figure out what your cut is vs what stays with the company or truck?
Great content man, learning is more than half the battle and it sounds like you came out the year with a sound foundation that you can build on. Hoping to sign on with Mercer in May and will be asking some pointers then. Please keep the content coming, you are helping us green peas more than you think.
Great video as usual...Picked up my newly purchased truck Friday....Will be rolling & making some money with it very soon I hope...Keep those videos coming bro!
Nice recap of your year, you did good, next year will be better, each year you will learn more, when you think you know everything, sell the truck, you'll never know it all. The only mercer drivers I have not watched, thanks to you I wii find them, pull toy here. Brad OTRR experience and CPT trucker.
Mr. Driven Trucking, This is JD! LOL...Apology is accepted brother! I would like to collaborate with you on how to make better videos though so hit me up when you can!
Ray Capps Yeah, it wasn’t always like that. Some of the old hands told me to use load boards but when I went to look into it, I got a lot of resistance
@@DrivenTrucking CRST Malone is the same way and Landstar. When I first went to work with Malone they told me I could run other load boards but as soon as I got on they told me I couldn't so I quit and went to work with Jones motor which let you run different load boards Admiral Merchants is a good one too
I hammered out the cost per mile as an 00 to operate a truck for All your overhead from fuel to maintaining and insurance without making any money and no truck payment is about a 1.00 a mile.
Thanks for the great info! Info on trucking is all over the place but like everything else in life the Hustlers always win!! As a new driver what's the best to haul, flatbed, refer, tanker ect...? Thanks for your time brother and God Bless!
I did well with my lowpro step but with my conestoga more steady customer most time i pull for the same customer out of ca . I can get a load to ca from Louisville with 4 to 6 stops . I also look for conestoga loads or 8ft tarp loads helps a lot. I also work with a friend that has a stepdeck conestoga he finds loads for mine and if i see loads for him i call him. We can be booked out 2 to 3 weeks.
I drove for PGT flatbed, I find these numbers are hard to believe? I had weeks I did not take home $400 could not keep doing it, I hauled coils and drywall, You can't make money sitting around a port all day waiting for a coil that pays $600.
Good job brother. We need more owner operators out on the road. Especially independent owner-operators. I gross 250k on average, 2500 miles a week. NEVER TAKE CHEAP FRIEGHT! GO INDEPENDENT!
If i leased on to mercer or was owner operator if you were to estimate how much gross do you think me and my girl can make teaming? Also how much estimate do you think of the gross would be take home? Based upon your break down and numbers. Thanks very much.
I’m an owner operator. My lack of mechanical knowledge led me to overpay for a truck, and labor fees are killing my business. I don’t mind working hard. So any ideas on how I can learn to do AT LEAST some work on my own truck without going to school? Thanks 🙏🏾
I run west all the time just need to learn where the good loads are . September and October took off most of it did 4 loads for those months did 104 thousand miles and did 202 thousand last year.
Congratulations on your first year as an O/O and your new baby! When you say you like to make 1k a day to truck is that before or after fuel? Thanks again for the vids. I close on the house this week! Should be driving again mid February! I'll keep ya posted. I'm up north in Colorado.
Love you’re videos thanks for all the info that you sharing ..I have some questions I have 10k save for leasing a truck when you buy your first truck do you buy it cash or you buy it with a down payment?? Do you get your own tag ,own authority ?? Or a company provided to you ?? I just want to make sure that I do the right thing ! What’s you’re answer and you’re opinion ??
Damn good first year. If the bills are paid and the truck still runs you had a good year. It can always be better but it may not be worth it sometimes. I am considering pulling a step deck with a conestoga when I get back out there this spring. I am just debating on the conestoga part I can't decide if it is worth it or if it will take out to many good paying loads. I know I can go for specialized stuff and still haul some machinery which is more of what I want anyways. I just don't want to pay $80k for a step-conestoga and the loads not be worth it.
Thank you very much. I hear ya, I don’t know how much a conestoga cuts out load wise but I do know they’re expensive. I was at a shipper and met a gentleman pulling a flat custom conestoga. Said he paid 80 for it but the interior dimensions were far superior. Here’s what I wrote down but haven’t researched it yet. Verduyn tarp system. 104” clearance Reitnouer low pro 53’ spread w/lift
@@DrivenTrucking A new Reitnouer step deck with 17.5 tires and a conestoga are around $100k. Without the conestoga it is $85k. They are the highest most are around $55k without the conestoga. I know they can put a shipping container in them. The biggest few things to look for are the length you'll want a 53' and the upper deck to be a minimum 11'. Also no beaver tail on the back because they won't close with certain loads.
@@DrivenTrucking I was able to find out what appears to be good info. Conestoga step decks do pay pretty well. But there are a lot of shippers that won't load them for fear of being liable for damage while loading. Also a lot of brokers don't know a conestoga vs a side curtain. Also not many have loads that will cover the cost ratio to make it worth while to do. Just thought I would let you know.
I plan on buying my truck in February of next year but never done flatbed and would love to is it possible without any experience and I live in Washington state by the way?
Thanks for the shout out brother. Numbers aren't bad at all, especially for your first year. What program did you use for your numbers? Or did you get those numbers from Mercer? Great video!
Www.rawze.com I would drain the oil from my motor and run it dry if he told me too lol, obviously kidding but I trust him whole heartedly, he says it’s junk and a waste of money. I don’t know myself one way or the other but I do listen to him, I use gear lube 80/90 which is a controversial subject but his forum I linked in the comment, is FULL of a ton of knowledge.
@@DrivenTrucking i understand that. I've been told by old timers you can pour 1/2 a quart of tranny fluid in each side and it will keep the motor clean as well as keep fuel lines from freezing. My dad is also 27 year driving vet. He says it works.
And I bet you get 30 mpg and you got the fastest truck with the loudest Jake brakes and your not paying anyone in the office to make sure you get the best loads? Hmmm
Trailer , Trailer , Trailer ! Does Mercer lease stepdecks ? Each Trailer upgrade is worth it's weight in gold . I've been an owner operator for 18 years . I pull an RGN trailer and I average 30,000 miles a year .
They do, I believe 800 a month. 30,000 is an amazing number!! I’ve tossed the idea around of switching trailers, I just felt I need to probably get a handle on being an o/o first. It’s definitely in the back of my mind though.
They have good Western 11 Freight, the way the load board works you’d just need to stay out west. Honestly, I’m not sure about the Idaho area. Cali, Oregon, and Washington are all I can really say. It was good while I was out there, it’s just the crossing over from east to west is not good. We have a lot of west coast drivers that love it and swear by it.
Mr. Butterworth I don’t have enough information to answer you man. I don’t know the western 11 market well enough. I wish I could help. The Florida Flattbedder may know, I’d ask him.
Thanks for sharing I’m also a 1st year owner operator and I work for MT Select out of Birmingham Alabama. They have a company driver side called Montgomery Transport. I live in Myrtle Beach Sc. So yes location is key to getting freight and making $$$$💰💰💰. I’m leasing the truck through the company because it was a former company truck. I’m basically a Glorified company driver over here with the difference is that I pay for maintenance repairs and fuel.and the truck is governed at 67mph. 😬😞Unfortunately I didn’t have money to put down to purchase me a truck. And my credit rating isn’t that great so I went into the leasing direction. But I’ve been flatbedding since 1997 when I got out of the USMC. Working as a company driver for several companies ( job hopping or getting terminated ) because I don’t follow the fmcsa government rules. I was taught by an old school trucker and liked the old 8/10 rules with 70/80 hrs. There wasn’t any of this bureaucratic enforcement authority. Mandatory 30 min break when to eat shit and sleep! But I do enjoy your video when I get time to watch them. I also watch trukyeah and big billy. Look me up I have Instagram ( jobutR6) and facebook ( Joeynmeliss ). Hardly ever get on fbk. Which btw ya should check out the flatbed chic on TH-cam and Instagram. 👍 🤪 I’m loading out of SDI ( Steel Dynamics- Columbia City Indiana delivering to Kloeckner Metals in Dallas Tx for Tuesday since it’s MLK birthday 🎂 on Monday 👍. Have a safe travels ✝️🙏. I do have a question for ya- where do you go get your truck pm service? Do you use TA , Petro , Loves or Speedco.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I can’t stand the 30 minute break either. When I was running nights, it just made me tired. I enjoy flatbed chick’s videos and I too watch big billy and truckyeah now. I’ll look you up on Insta and appreciate you watching. I typically get a pm at a TA or Petro as Mercer has a discount to get the ultimate pm for around 330 after everything. If I need an oil sample, I will go to a speedco (after calling ahead to make sure they can do the sample.) 👍🏻👊🏻
Btw, what were the pointers that took you to the 2nd quarter earnings? Talking about location, location. I live in South Florida so really looking for ways to maximize earnings. Right now I leave my truck in GA and fly home. Cheaper believe it or not.
Don’t know exactly what you’re doing right now, I know you’re with Mercer. But, when a truck is paid for, does it necessary open you as a driver owner operator to more home time/ more money for local or short hauls.
Your channel is way better than Trucker Brown
Master Cummins tech here. Some sound "free advise. Do not put anything in your tank other than ultra low sulfer diesel fuel, if you are running a modern common rail fuel system. The passages in the injector are super small, and can clog very easily. On the subject, don't pre prime your fuel filters either.
I hope you all the best
I'm about to hit 30 and just starting my trucking journey! Love your content a lot. I'd love to pick your brain a little bit if you ever have the time.
Everyone loves the idea, grossing 200k a year. If u can do the math 207k divided by let's assume 260 working days a year that brings your daily average right around 800$ a day. Chasing deadhead loads sometimes is a mandatory thing. Other time the term dead head is self explanatory in the name. Fastest way to generate revenue is to cut cost. Cut cost and get your daily revenue up to 1k
You’ve done such awesome videos man. Keep up the good work. Love all videos cause you seem to tell all about you’ve learned this meantime. Thanks brow.
do you use b20 diesel fuel? It will help keep injectors clean and also lubricates better then normal B5 diesel. Higher bio fuel will actually dissolve the gum and soot
Its crazy how you.can make does numbers a week now a days
One of your best bro
Thanks Shaun!!
AMAZING INFORMATIVE VIDEO ........ THANK YOU ..........DO MORE VIDEOS PLEASE 👍🏼
Not bad for working to hard. Back at Mercer 1.94 a mile loaded and empty not bad for the crap that going on today in 2020. Ang 195g for the first 5 years i was here the first time. Flat step and conestoga . Conestoga was the best money .
What's a average owner operator net vrs a hard hustling net...
Excellent advice and information
Just put couple quarts of atf fluid in fuel tanks
Thank you so much for this video. I'm a new o/o currently leased on to a small flatbed company in MD and I'm considering switching to Mercer. Your videos are very informative and i appreciate the time it took for you to create and upload them.
Thank you for watching solar 👍🏻 I do truly hope they’re informative.
I look forward to meeting this guy. He is what this industry needs more of.
I have done very well at Mercer in six years as a driver, better as an owner.
I personally am not money motivated. Just a better quality of life seeing the best of America by my choosing and schedule. Freight (flatbed & step) for Mercer is best east of I-35. Out west it is cheap(er), heavy, and sometimes you sit a few days to a week if you want to wait. None the less I love it out there.
Flatbed Trucking, Sam Rides. Thank you so much! I hope we do get the chance to meet one day. I appreciate the kind words. I’m sure I could learn a lot from you.
Maestro 🚛
Does Mercer do a lot in western US? I like Mercer, but I live in NM.
To me it was a pretty successful year income wise.
I have a couple questions:
1. "Dead head" means No Load/empty?
2. Do you have accounter/bookkeeper working for you or you do your numbers by yourself? How hard is it if you do it yourself?
3. How much do you pay for health and truck insurance monthly?
4. What pays more - dry van or flat bed?
Thank you in advance
Great video, learn alot from me thanks.
Learn alot from you.
Ha! What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. 9 months later his daughter is born
Love it!
Good video! I do miss trucking. Keep up the good work
Man I must stress to you how much I like your content man. Your quality is awesome, details are clear. Now if I can be honest your videos are a bit long but I drive 11hrs a day so I have nothing but time haha 😆Keep up the good work buddy. I’m going to keep supporting you man
Hahaha, thanks man! I know I can be a bit winded sometimes and I’m working on it. I’m going to start structuring my channel a lot more and be more consistent so everyone knows what to expect from me. That should cut down tremendously on the windedness 🤣
Driven Trucking Haha 🤣 You’re still doing an awesome job.
Thanks! 👊🏻
When you are off 10 weeks at home where do you park you truck 🚛🚛 I know to find park when you off is too hard
I have always found your videos to be informative and without a lot of fluff, which is why I tune in from time to time. I'm not an O/O yet, but your first year didn't seem to be as bad as some I've heard of. I'm working on my personal credit trying to save up for my own truck, so be safe out there and keep the content coming-much needed. Congrats on your new daughter and your son's first bday!!
Thank you so much Paul!! Greatly appreciated, good luck in your journey and thanks for tuning in!
I would say Pittsburgh power max milage is much better I've been using it every fuel up. Mercer doesn't pay enough for a owner operator to have a truck and trailer at 75% it should be minimum 85% the rate is to low
Not being home is shitty
You're doing very well. Keep it up
i found your channel after finding Mcartheys channel. you two and makecents trucking all have some great channels. i'm switching from local paving trucking to actual regional tanker(cleveland,oh area) and look forward to branching on my own when i get enough knowledge and finances built up. im young(28 been driving since i was 21) but i always pay attention to the successful truckers/ business men. im so happy to see someone go over the numbers and actually show you the meat and potato's of what it takes to make it work. life time view here and be safe on the road! Love the family style you have also no need to be negative in this industry.
Much appreciated, I wish you the best and thank you so much for watching. I hope you enjoy the new regional gig
Heck of a gross, you could have managed your fuel better but you did a brilliant job as a owner for your first year. Damn near 5k a week for 42 weeks. You are winning!
Man, if you were off for 10 full weeks, netted after expenses, taxes etc....more than $50-$55k, then you are way better off than a company driver grossing $75k with 4 weeks vacation!
This is where the term "time freedom" earns it's weight in gold.
Good job! 👍
I love it, it’s certainly more stressful than being a company guy. I have a situation I’m dealing with at the moment but such as life lol
@@DrivenTrucking Well, I figured mine as 5 days x 52 weeks = 260 days, - 20 paid (4 weeks) vacation days = 240 actual work days.
I figured yours at 6 days × 52 weeks = 312 days, - 70 days (10 full weeks) = 242 actual work days.
Mine is a structured schedule local (almost punching a time clock), whereas yours is chasing load to load.
If I included my daily commute time and prep for work, it's easily a 17 hour day, 5 days per week....yeah, sucks!
You obviously have to complete a load everytime, but having the ability to knock off for a week (any week) is a benefit not enjoyed by a company driver. 👍
Yes sir, absolutely
Especially since 50 to 55k is 75k after taxes lol. That what company people dont realize about owning a business
@@k.l.channel5953, Yes, there are so many tax deductions for O/Os, $100k after expenses might only have to pay taxes on a $30k adjusted gross income.....lol.
I pay for health insurance, long and short-term disability, union dues. I don't get Teamsters pension because my company has an ESOP free retirement plan. They tell me my gross w/benefits is almost $110k?
Either way, my direct deposit weekly is about $1k.....lol.
I literally felt the knowledge coming into my brain. Great advice.
Thanks Edgardo!
Damn lol 😂
Good video. Most people don’t include the visuals. Thank you and please make another one next year we will all appreciate you for doing it
Do you have any video out there with some insight or anything on how to pay yourself? Like the truck made 170K after expense... how does one figure out what your cut is vs what stays with the company or truck?
Great content man, learning is more than half the battle and it sounds like you came out the year with a sound foundation that you can build on. Hoping to sign on with Mercer in May and will be asking some pointers then. Please keep the content coming, you are helping us green peas more than you think.
I’m very glad to hear it, shoot me an email when you get ready to contact Mercer.
@@DrivenTrucking absolutely will do.
As far as you did I think this was phenomenal. Good job man keep trucking!
Great video as usual...Picked up my newly purchased truck Friday....Will be rolling & making some money with it very soon I hope...Keep those videos coming bro!
Congratulations!!! I wish you all the best 👊🏻 let me know how things are going. Where are you leasing on to?
@@DrivenTrucking Decided to keep my authority... Wish me luck...lol...Thanks for the help...
GOOD LUCK!!
By the way, I will measure that headache rack, I haven’t forgotten lol. I couldn’t find your old comment about it but I will let you know.
My apologies Brad and JD, when making the video I had you two crossed, forgive me 🙏🏻 you are both in the description!!
Nice recap of your year, you did good, next year will be better, each year you will learn more, when you think you know everything, sell the truck, you'll never know it all. The only mercer drivers I have not watched, thanks to you I wii find them, pull toy here. Brad OTRR experience and CPT trucker.
david schabel thanks David! I will absolutely sell the truck and walk away if I ever have that mentality. Thanks for your wisdom as always
Mr. Driven Trucking, This is JD! LOL...Apology is accepted brother! I would like to collaborate with you on how to make better videos though so hit me up when you can!
You can find my info on Facebook under Source One Enterprises
Great video Brian
Thanks Scott!
Have you figured out what it costs you to operate per mile?
Does Mercer allow you to use different load boards or are you restricted to Mercer's load boards?
They are against it
@@DrivenTrucking yeah that sounds like a broker ran trucking company. They force you to run their loads so it puts more in their Brokers pocket
Ray Capps Yeah, it wasn’t always like that. Some of the old hands told me to use load boards but when I went to look into it, I got a lot of resistance
@@DrivenTrucking CRST Malone is the same way and Landstar. When I first went to work with Malone they told me I could run other load boards but as soon as I got on they told me I couldn't so I quit and went to work with Jones motor which let you run different load boards Admiral Merchants is a good one too
I hammered out the cost per mile as an 00 to operate a truck for All your overhead from fuel to maintaining and insurance without making any money and no truck payment is about a 1.00 a mile.
It’s really hard to put a generic number on it because literally every single person’s expenses are going to be different
Thanks for the great info! Info on trucking is all over the place but like everything else in life the Hustlers always win!! As a new driver what's the best to haul, flatbed, refer, tanker ect...? Thanks for your time brother and God Bless!
$1k a day should be everyone's goal 👊🏻
👍🏻👊🏻
That could be obtainable.. :)
Great video 👍
Thanks dad
I did well with my lowpro step but with my conestoga more steady customer most time i pull for the same customer out of ca . I can get a load to ca from Louisville with 4 to 6 stops . I also look for conestoga loads or 8ft tarp loads helps a lot. I also work with a friend that has a stepdeck conestoga he finds loads for mine and if i see loads for him i call him. We can be booked out 2 to 3 weeks.
Wow, I thought I was doing well being booked out one week
What is deadhead
I run Schaeffer’s oil, fuel additive, and grease and I love it. I’ve seen the number differences.
I personally have not so I can’t speak, just passing along what was said from an engineer 🤷🏼♂️
Information was an is very helpful,, keep doing what your doing 😁
Thank you so much, 10-4
Great video, and I would say not bad for your first year.
I hope to be out this summer for my first... Stay safe.
Still good net for having fun and being your own boss 👍🏻
Thank you!
Awesome video brother. I would call that a good year. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks brother! Much appreciated 👍🏻👊🏻
From what I can figure out seems you did well.Good information thanks
Thank you very much Danny!! Greatly appreciated
Great video. Be safe and have a blessed day. Good first year. You’ll get better.
Thank you Charles! I hope I do, ABL!
Great video love the graphics especially love the intro. Great job 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻
Thanks mom 😊
I drove for PGT flatbed, I find these numbers are hard to believe? I had weeks I did not take home $400 could not keep doing it, I hauled coils and drywall, You can't make money sitting around a port all day waiting for a coil that pays $600.
Mercer is another good company 👍🏻 large flatbed division but dry van too
Good job brother. We need more owner operators out on the road. Especially independent owner-operators. I gross 250k on average, 2500 miles a week. NEVER TAKE CHEAP FRIEGHT! GO INDEPENDENT!
hi, do you buy a used truck when you decide a owner operator ?
How do you find freight ? I’m just getting started in trucking I’m 22 years old no kids, do you think it’s worth getting into?
@@ZacBaldwin_ yes
@Sonya .B. what you mean?
@@ZacBaldwin_ Hit me up on Instagram ill help you am currently getting started myself and am 23 years old @thadd_tj
Thanks for the numbers it makes me want to look for a better paying company. For the time and sacrifice you do they should pay you more
Thank you so much!
Is that $200,000 before or after expenses?
Last year had better rates than this year. How are things looking so far this year?
Meh, It’s survivable. Definitely not great
You took home about $100,000 before taxes? That’s awesome.
Don't forget to do the video on the elusive "Lot Lizard". And how to get a good night's sleep.
Also motor kote very good stuff
If i leased on to mercer or was owner operator if you were to estimate how much gross do you think me and my girl can make teaming? Also how much estimate do you think of the gross would be take home? Based upon your break down and numbers. Thanks very much.
How much or that 207k went to diesel bill for the year
Respect
👍🏻👊🏻
I’m an owner operator. My lack of mechanical knowledge led me to overpay for a truck, and labor fees are killing my business. I don’t mind working hard. So any ideas on how I can learn to do AT LEAST some work on my own truck without going to school? Thanks 🙏🏾
I’m not mechanically inclined either, I use google, TH-cam, asking other drivers, and www.rawze.com good luck
Driven Trucking thanks 🙏🏾
I run west all the time just need to learn where the good loads are . September and October took off most of it did 4 loads for those months did 104 thousand miles and did 202 thousand last year.
Nice! I enjoy running west. Do you get good loads because of the conestoga or location?
Congratulations on your first year as an O/O and your new baby! When you say you like to make 1k a day to truck is that before or after fuel? Thanks again for the vids. I close on the house this week! Should be driving again mid February! I'll keep ya posted. I'm up north in Colorado.
Woohoo! Congratulations and thank you. 1k a day is before fuel or any expenses but after Mercer’s cut 👍🏻
@@DrivenTrucking You're welcome and Thank You!! 👍👍
Where the heck are ya where's there no cold weather 🥶
Yep! Down south lol
Little PAW 1969 that happens in Miami all the time 🙄
Little PAW 1969 that is a level of cold I hope I don’t experience throwing tarps 😂 but I imagine that’s probably unavoidable 😑
So this is your numbers being leased to Mercer? How much % do they take?
Love you’re videos thanks for all the info that you sharing ..I have some questions I have 10k save for leasing a truck when you buy your first truck do you buy it cash or you buy it with a down payment?? Do you get your own tag ,own authority ?? Or a company provided to you ?? I just want to make sure that I do the right thing ! What’s you’re answer and you’re opinion ??
Damn good first year. If the bills are paid and the truck still runs you had a good year. It can always be better but it may not be worth it sometimes.
I am considering pulling a step deck with a conestoga when I get back out there this spring. I am just debating on the conestoga part I can't decide if it is worth it or if it will take out to many good paying loads. I know I can go for specialized stuff and still haul some machinery which is more of what I want anyways. I just don't want to pay $80k for a step-conestoga and the loads not be worth it.
Thank you very much. I hear ya, I don’t know how much a conestoga cuts out load wise but I do know they’re expensive. I was at a shipper and met a gentleman pulling a flat custom conestoga. Said he paid 80 for it but the interior dimensions were far superior. Here’s what I wrote down but haven’t researched it yet.
Verduyn tarp system. 104” clearance
Reitnouer low pro 53’ spread w/lift
@@DrivenTrucking A new Reitnouer step deck with 17.5 tires and a conestoga are around $100k. Without the conestoga it is $85k. They are the highest most are around $55k without the conestoga. I know they can put a shipping container in them. The biggest few things to look for are the length you'll want a 53' and the upper deck to be a minimum 11'. Also no beaver tail on the back because they won't close with certain loads.
Robert Matthews WOW, yea I can see the hurdle with that being cost effective
@@DrivenTrucking I was able to find out what appears to be good info. Conestoga step decks do pay pretty well. But there are a lot of shippers that won't load them for fear of being liable for damage while loading. Also a lot of brokers don't know a conestoga vs a side curtain. Also not many have loads that will cover the cost ratio to make it worth while to do. Just thought I would let you know.
Robert Matthews appreciate the info, it’d be nice to one day have one behind my truck
SO in the end, what was his take home without having to pull out the calculator? Anyone?
If you not making $2/Mile you are behind
I plan on buying my truck in February of next year but never done flatbed and would love to is it possible without any experience and I live in Washington state by the way?
The only thing Mercer requires is one year experience over the road, they do not require any kind of flatbed experience
Driven Trucking thank you
What software or system do you use to calculate those numbers!?
🎉💪💪
Thanks brother, if I grow up I want to be like you 👍🏻👊🏻
Thanks for the shout out brother. Numbers aren't bad at all, especially for your first year. What program did you use for your numbers? Or did you get those numbers from Mercer? Great video!
Absolutely! I got them from Mercer, I need a program. Thanks brother 👍🏻👊🏻
Hi did mercer takes older trucks
Howdy, they will take up to a 2000 but it must be able to hook up to an eld.
55 hours drive time x50 mph= 2750x 2.00 to truck =5500 a week you will be running slower on east coast
Yea, I try to stay Midwest to southeast if I can help it
So I’ll be 21 in June and I should start driving with prime in July but I wanna own my own truck as fast as possible and buy more trucks, any tips?
Eliseo Noriega buy your first truck with cash don’t lease that’s the quickest to success
I use Lucas fuel treatment. Your thoughts
Www.rawze.com
I would drain the oil from my motor and run it dry if he told me too lol, obviously kidding but I trust him whole heartedly, he says it’s junk and a waste of money. I don’t know myself one way or the other but I do listen to him, I use gear lube 80/90 which is a controversial subject but his forum I linked in the comment, is FULL of a ton of knowledge.
@@DrivenTrucking i understand that. I've been told by old timers you can pour 1/2 a quart of tranny fluid in each side and it will keep the motor clean as well as keep fuel lines from freezing. My dad is also 27 year driving vet. He says it works.
Sweet! yea I just pass along information. I wish I had definitive answers but engines are rocket science to me lol
If it doesn't turn it too red , untaxed fuel is red, don't get caught with that. Rare that they check, just sayin : )
@@DrivenTrucking you and me both. I know more about computers than engines lol.
How much goes into your own pocket after expenses and taxes? Thanks for a good video.
I covered expenses on my other Mercer videos and as far as after taxes I don’t want to reveal exactly but I will say it’s well over 100k 👍🏻
@@DrivenTrucking Is medical insurance covered by the employer?
And I bet you get 30 mpg and you got the fastest truck with the loudest Jake brakes and your not paying anyone in the office to make sure you get the best loads? Hmmm
The copany made like 4 million dollars with you bro!!!
Trailer , Trailer , Trailer ! Does Mercer lease stepdecks ? Each Trailer upgrade is worth it's weight in gold . I've been an owner operator for 18 years . I pull an RGN trailer and I average 30,000 miles a year .
They do, I believe 800 a month. 30,000 is an amazing number!! I’ve tossed the idea around of switching trailers, I just felt I need to probably get a handle on being an o/o first. It’s definitely in the back of my mind though.
I live in Idaho so would you say Mercer would not be good? Would definitely need to run out west
They have good Western 11 Freight, the way the load board works you’d just need to stay out west. Honestly, I’m not sure about the Idaho area. Cali, Oregon, and Washington are all I can really say. It was good while I was out there, it’s just the crossing over from east to west is not good. We have a lot of west coast drivers that love it and swear by it.
Driven Trucking - Do you think a guy with a pre-emission truck could do well with Mercer running anywhere in the western eleven but California?
Mr. Butterworth I don’t have enough information to answer you man. I don’t know the western 11 market well enough. I wish I could help. The Florida Flattbedder may know, I’d ask him.
Keep that water separater filter changed twice a year
10-4
1750 for less than all 48? Sounds awful high to me. Do they show you the receipt?
I never asked lol, I think it depends on the state 🤷🏼♂️
It's funny how a little slow down here and there cuts your MPH
Isn’t it though lol
Is it just me or does he resemble John Krasinski? Seriously.
Lolol, I think it may be the beard 😂
Thanks for sharing I’m also a 1st year owner operator and I work for MT Select out of Birmingham Alabama. They have a company driver side called Montgomery Transport. I live in Myrtle Beach Sc. So yes location is key to getting freight and making $$$$💰💰💰. I’m leasing the truck through the company because it was a former company truck. I’m basically a Glorified company driver over here with the difference is that I pay for maintenance repairs and fuel.and the truck is governed at 67mph. 😬😞Unfortunately I didn’t have money to put down to purchase me a truck. And my credit rating isn’t that great so I went into the leasing direction. But I’ve been flatbedding since 1997 when I got out of the USMC. Working as a company driver for several companies ( job hopping or getting terminated ) because I don’t follow the fmcsa government rules. I was taught by an old school trucker and liked the old 8/10 rules with 70/80 hrs. There wasn’t any of this bureaucratic enforcement authority. Mandatory 30 min break when to eat shit and sleep! But I do enjoy your video when I get time to watch them. I also watch trukyeah and big billy. Look me up I have Instagram ( jobutR6) and facebook ( Joeynmeliss ). Hardly ever get on fbk. Which btw ya should check out the flatbed chic on TH-cam and Instagram. 👍 🤪 I’m loading out of SDI ( Steel Dynamics- Columbia City Indiana delivering to Kloeckner Metals in Dallas Tx for Tuesday since it’s MLK birthday 🎂 on Monday 👍. Have a safe travels ✝️🙏. I do have a question for ya- where do you go get your truck pm service? Do you use TA , Petro , Loves or Speedco.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I can’t stand the 30 minute break either. When I was running nights, it just made me tired. I enjoy flatbed chick’s videos and I too watch big billy and truckyeah now. I’ll look you up on Insta and appreciate you watching. I typically get a pm at a TA or Petro as Mercer has a discount to get the ultimate pm for around 330 after everything. If I need an oil sample, I will go to a speedco (after calling ahead to make sure they can do the sample.) 👍🏻👊🏻
Arch oil fuel additive is the best
👍🏻
What was the net?
How does the North West Georgia area stack up with Flatbed markets?
That’s typically a good area
Is Virginia is good location for start flatbed?
There’s a good amount of freight out of Virginia, depends where at exactly.
Driven Trucking thank you , also could I know how much you paying for all insurance per month ? 👍🏼
Btw, what were the pointers that took you to the 2nd quarter earnings? Talking about location, location. I live in South Florida so really looking for ways to maximize earnings. Right now I leave my truck in GA and fly home. Cheaper believe it or not.
It’s a lot to write in the comments but I believe I lay it out in one of the Mercer videos. If not I can answer you back in an email
Location.? Thank you
You need a codriver? I have 5 years exp in team Orr no accidents pulling doubles lol
Don’t know exactly what you’re doing right now, I know you’re with Mercer. But, when a truck is paid for, does it necessary open you as a driver owner operator to more home time/ more money for local or short hauls.
Bro can I make 100k net a year?