Should I buy my own truck

Hi folk’s, getting back into trucking after a break, put few post out asking about different haulage companies at mo, just putting the fealers out etc…but I’ve also thought about buying my own rig. Is it beneficial ,basically is it worth doing, and if is, were do you get the work, and which is the best truck. Any thoughts … Advice would be appreciated

Problem is, there’s so many variables it’s very difficult to say wether it will be worth it for you or not.

I think the best piece of advice is not to invest any money you aren’t prepared to lose.

Id have thought you would have work lined up before wanting a truck imho

nearly there:
Id have thought you would have work lined up before wanting a truck imho

Obviously , I’m not just going spend a ■■■■ load of money without doing that am I, am asking is it worth it ?

Some people make a reasonable living at it but it does depend on the work you are doing and how much it pays, and what truck you have and how much it is costing you. I always say that if you have a decent employed job with a reasonable boss and a fair wage then you’d probably do as well to stick with that, unless you particularly want to run your own truck.

Harry Monk:
Some people make a reasonable living at it but it does depend on the work you are doing and how much it pays, and what truck you have and how much it is costing you. I always say that if you have a decent employed job with a reasonable boss and a fair wage then you’d probably do as well to stick with that, unless you particularly want to run your own truck.

Cheers bud, probably right there

The answer to this question lies with you Keith , Various varying variables will also dictate , but if you need to ask on here if we think it’s worth while I think it may not be!

I would say you would need to be very careful with your money and as Harry said it depends on what type of work you would be doing I think it would take a while before you were making decent money but if you want to try it go for it

Think Harry puts his finger on it again.

I nearly went down this route many years ago, got as far as being granted the O Licence, and then decided against proceeding further.

Instead i had one really lucky break, and then specialised, leading to far higher earnings, as an employed driver following an acrimonious split no one can take you’re business from you, and once you’ve clocked off you can forget the job till you clock back on again.
Have no regrets about not going the OD route…well one, i’d like to specify my own simple as possible unblinged non premium lorry that requires driving, but thats bugger all in the grand scheme of things.
Good jobs and good companies still exist, but you will never find those jobs advertised, and those who have them keep schtum so idiots don’t ruin that job as well.

I’m only planning on running my truck for another year, and then I’m off to live on a boat. But if I packed it all in tomorrow, I would have absolutely no regrets at all about having run my own truck, I’ve earned a reasonable living at it for the last two years, I’ve learned an enormous amount, and I’ve enjoyed running as an OO far more than working for some of the horrible people you sometimes encounter in this industry.

Yes, I probably could earn as much working nights and weekends driving a Tesco lorry, but nights and weekends are mine, my girlfriend’s and my children’s, not Mr Cohen’s.

If anybody did want to run their own truck then I’d say that provided they do the maths first and could get it to add up then there’s no real reason not to. Sometimes wanting to do something is all the reason needed to do it. :stuck_out_tongue:

Hello keith,
after a life as a driver employed by compaines, my self ,i was" into the road haulage", now retired…however ,to be a owner driver ,first you need to have the work,no matter who promises you what run or that load,most work is sown up and then the rubbish is fielded to clearing houses, they probly use a posh name nowdays.also you said you have had a break from transport,i never ever knew anyone who had a brake from transport, why would you ,it is a way of life ,not just a job you go back and forth to. i would forgert the whole idea ,owner driver is not for you.and i do not even know you.