I'm looking at investing in a start up with 4 big rigs and a couple of hotshots.

The numbers look very promising.

Anyone in this industry that can give me some important info or tips?

RD2WINAGNBEAR86 said:

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Sounds like you are doing your due diligence. Your biggest challenge will probably be finding and keeping good CDL drivers.

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Yeah the feedback I'm receiving from dispatchers and various people in steel, oil and gas and general logistics is that they can't find enough drivers. The amount of work and demand for shipments exceeds the amount of shippers out there...which means I won't run out of work and like you said, it may be tough finding drivers.

RD2WINAGNBEAR86 said:

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Sounds like you are doing your due diligence. Your biggest challenge will probably be finding and keeping good CDL drivers.

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Very true. The Baby Boomers retiring and the electronic logs have people flying out of the industry.

You need to research the current insurance and other potential insurers as to the requirements for a driver's experience. Also look at the customer base for refrigerated trailers. Anti-Idle regulations will be tough on refrigerated trailers pushing most to team drivers keeping that rig moving or drastically changing the battery storage needs for a semi-truck and trailer.

Find a driver trainer school and have your attorney draft a good tuition recapture agreement, so you can at least keep \that last check if they leave.. Get creative with bonuses and 401k match to load it to the end of the year to aid retention. All the while appearing to be the most driver-friendly company that you can be. Consider a good profit-sharing plan of some nature.

Brian Ethridge said:

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90K for an F350 and 40' gooseneck...

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18 wheels and a dozen roses

I use these types of companies 3-4 times a week on average.

You need a network. When I need something moved like that, I expect it to be moving within the hour. It's expected that I'll get 500# shipped out of Tenn, and have it in Texas within 14 hours. These services contract out the job.

Some gold and platinum there for you.

Brian Ethridge said:

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90K for an F350 and 40' gooseneck...

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Exactly what I'm looking at. 2 F350's with Big Tex trailers.

I'm probably looking at 2000+ miles a week at $2.50 a mile with the hotshots.
Lots of fuel, maintenance and insurance costs to go with them.

But overall a massive return on investment.

NoBSU said:

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RD2WINAGNBEAR86 said:

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Sounds like you are doing your due diligence. Your biggest challenge will probably be finding and keeping good CDL drivers.

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Very true. The Baby Boomers retiring and the electronic logs have people flying out of the industry.

You need to research the current insurance and other potential insurers as to the requirements for a driver's experience. Also look at the customer base for refrigerated trailers. Anti-Idle regulations will be tough on refrigerated trailers pushing most to team drivers keeping that rig moving or drastically changing the battery storage needs for a semi-truck and trailer.

Find a driver trainer school and have your attorney draft a good tuition recapture agreement, so you can at least keep \that last check if they leave.. Get creative with bonuses and 401k match to load it to the end of the year to aid retention. All the while appearing to be the most driver-friendly company that you can be. Consider a good profit-sharing plan of some nature.

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Look for some part-time fill-ins as well. I knew school teachers who did that on weekends and in the summer for 20 years. The more widespread the gig economy becomes the more likely you can find people looking for fill-in work.

If DentonBear02 made the jump to this site, he should have some good input.

Companies are begging for drivers right now and it'll get more dire in the coming years. Great ROI for sure. Good luck with it.

Big12Bear said:

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If DentonBear02 made the jump to this site, he should have some good input.

Companies are begging for drivers right now and it'll get more dire in the coming years. Great ROI for sure. Good luck with it.

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Great ROI if your trucks are running. Been thru a few booms. Not fun when companies buy your people out from under you. Expect it.

Doc Holliday said:

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RD2WINAGNBEAR86 said:

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Sounds like you are doing your due diligence. Your biggest challenge will probably be finding and keeping good CDL drivers.

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Yeah the feedback I'm receiving from dispatchers and various people in steel, oil and gas and general logistics is that they can't find enough drivers. The amount of work and demand for shipments exceeds the amount of shippers out there...which means I won't run out of work and like you said, it may be tough finding drivers.

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Lots of need for this service to/from Permian. Trouble, as already noted, is getting drivers.

Just don't use this group of hotshots....





Especially since Sheen will give you more than just the tip.....

cowboycwr said:

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Just don't use this group of hotshots....





Especially since Sheen will give you more than just the tip.....

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Can you pull doubles in Texas?

No shortage of people if you are on the high end of the pay scale ..... but can you live with that

If you plan on doing any oilfield hauling you need flatbed trailers for the big rigs. Winch trucks are even better but that also means you need more skilled drivers. It is a grunt business, but if you can find drivers that can maintain records, pass drug tests, and dont job hop you can make some money.

Let me know if you get things started up. We are based in West Texas but frequently need equipment hauled to Oklahoma and East Texas.

Most of our trucking is moving skid-mounted equipment ranging from 20k - 50k lbs. We are also moving some components (electric motors, cylinders, gas coolers, etc) that can be hauled on hot shot type rigs. If that is anything anyone is interested in moving, send me your information. As these jobs come up would love to throw business to some alums.