I started out with a couple of - shock, horror - transit vans in the early 90s and for the first two years i worked for less than a pound an hour ( i was young - OK ) but it grew steadily over the years and now Iāve got a mixed fleet from small vans to artics. I do agree that general haulage is an area I wouldnāt want to touch, there isnāt enough money in it at all, but if you are prepared to work hard and research your niche, itās possible to make money. We actually had the best year that weāve had since 2006 last year due to some head scratching on rates and looking at the most profitable areas and then adjusting the business slightly.
All things are possible, it just requires work and a certain amount of good fortune.
I think Robās essential point has always been that it is folly to go into business if the sentimental reasons for doing so blind a person to the economic realities of doing it. In this I would agree with him, in my 26 years of driving a truck as an employee I have seen many newbie owner drivers throw away years of savings in unsound ventures designed solely to animate the fantasy of having their name painted on a pair of truck doors.
If you can find work which pays a worthwhile rate on which there is a fair profit then by all means put a truck on the road with which to do it, but donāt buy the truck first and then go looking for the work because pretty much all you will ever do is turn money over at best.
I would have to say there are far, far fewer owner drivers on the road than when I started and there must be a reason for thatā¦
dreva:
mcfarlanes
pawsons
wilsons bfd
devaney bfd
kp iddon
browns carlisle
gibbs
just a few that give up or went bust from lack of money or earnings so not doom and gloom fact and theres many more gone under just lately and blamed the recession when really the lack of money and lomg paynent terms seen them off
Or rubbish management because there is plenty more companies that have survived the reccesion
dreva:
mcfarlanes
pawsons
wilsons bfd
devaney bfd
kp iddon
browns carlisle
gibbs
just a few that give up or went bust from lack of money or earnings so not doom and gloom fact and theres many more gone under just lately and blamed the recession when really the lack of money and lomg paynent terms seen them off
Or rubbish management because there is plenty more companies that have survived the reccesion
All those firms were long standing respected companies who have survived for many years with the same ideals, except one maybe
except one! if im right in my thoughts on who your referring too, the original co were good to sub from, in my opinion is was the buy out concern that buggered itā¦ one thing, the guy that drove the flag ship, what a rude and arrogant individual he wasā¦
LRM:
except one! if im right in my thoughts on who your referring too, the original co were good to sub from, in my opinion is was the buy out concern that buggered itā¦ one thing, the guy that drove the flag ship, what a rude and arrogant individual he wasā¦
dreva:
mcfarlanes
pawsons
wilsons bfd
devaney bfd
kp iddon
browns carlisle
gibbs
just a few that give up or went bust from lack of money or earnings so not doom and gloom fact and theres many more gone under just lately and blamed the recession when really the lack of money and lomg paynent terms seen them off
Or rubbish management because there is plenty more companies that have survived the reccesion
yes they have kept going by saying take a pay cut or we will go under your new to it you will see it the same everyone else after you have been doing it a few years
LRM:
except one! if im right in my thoughts on who your referring too, the original co were good to sub from, in my opinion is was the buy out concern that buggered itā¦ one thing, the guy that drove the flag ship, what a rude and arrogant individual he wasā¦
dreva:
off topic blissy have you sorted out some work after the mrct stuff
yes im doing a bit of tautliner work at the moment for a local company , its not to bad and im enjoying being on days , mind you me arms feel like they are hanging out of thier sockets pulling those curtains back and forth after just having to shut back doors for the last 9 years
Thanks for asking .
) but it grew steadily over the years and now Iāve got a mixed fleet from small vans to artics. I do agree that general haulage is an area I wouldnāt want to touch, there isnāt enough money in it at all, but if you are prepared to work hard and research your niche, itās possible to make money. We actually had the best year that weāve had since 2006 last year due to some head scratching on rates and looking at the most profitable areas and then adjusting the business slightly.
