Looking into getting in the hopper business

Nov 25, 2015 at 10:36 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I'm looking at getting into the grain hauling business and I am curious if there is money to be made. I have yet to buy a truck and a trailer and I wanna get an idea on what the going rate is for this line of work. Thanks much for any replies.

Replied on Wed, Nov 25, 2015 at 11:30 PM CST - 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Stay away very bad time, save your money and wait until you see the price of grain go up. Really bad time to enter into the market as an owner operator in any segment right now. If you have to buy right now just get the bargin basement deal on the tractor, buy it with cash, sit on it and wait for the market to come back. Company drivers are making more right now per week than a lot of owner operators and independent carriers.

Replied on Wed, Nov 25, 2015 at 11:30 PM CST

- 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Stay away very bad time, save your money and wait until you see the price of grain go up. Really bad time to enter into the market as an owner operator in any segment right now. If you have to buy right now just get the bargin basement deal on the tractor, buy it with cash, sit on it and wait for the market to come back. Company drivers are making more right now per week than a lot of owner operators and independent carriers.

Replied on Wed, Nov 25, 2015 at 11:32 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Just take a look at the trucker limbo dance thread that I posted and you will see all you need to see. There are postings on here that go back quite a while and you will see us discussing the falling rates for quite a while.

Replied on Thu, Nov 26, 2015 at 06:15 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Thanks for the responses. What was the rate for trucking when the industry was good. I'm just getting started and I have no idea what the rates are.

Replied on Thu, Nov 26, 2015 at 08:45 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. If you can pay cash for your truck and trailer. You will do ok. If it's what you want to do and enjoy it then have fun and enjoy seeing the country and meeting the new people .as long as you can pay your bills and enjoy what you do. Than your rich in my eyes.

Replied on Thu, Nov 26, 2015 at 10:17 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. MY ADVICE IS TO GET A JOB DRIVING A TRUCK FOR SOME ONE AND GET SOME EXPERINCE ON WHAT THE TRUCK MAKES AND ALL THE EXPENSE INVOLVED THEN YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DECISION IF THATS WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO...GOOD LUCK

Replied on Thu, Nov 26, 2015 at 10:37 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Taylor this is why you need to find a honorable company to grow with. Once you get your time under your belt, buy your own truck and trailer, learn how to manage that first. If you are making profit doing that and think you are ready to take the plunge with your own authority, find other honorable independents and let them mentor you. If you do that then you will be successful, if you do like a lot of the other boners you will just come out here and erode the marketplace by running ignorant and desperate. I am not trying to discourage you from achieving your dream, that would be me being a hyporcrite. I am just advising you that in the current market you may be making a grave mistake that will end up costing you much headache and possibly all the money and time you have invested. I drove for the other guy for 16 months, bought my first tractor and leased under another company for 8 months, at the two year mark I went out on my own bought 3 more tractors, trailers and have been at it ever since. I made my move into the market when I saw the rates start to come up, if you do the same you will be ok. It is easier to make rookie mistakes in a good market vs bad. In a bad market you need to be seasoned to know how to survive, so you understand I have built, owned and sold several business throughout my life. Good luck on you endeavor

Replied on Thu, Nov 26, 2015 at 10:37 AM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Taylor this is why you need to find a honorable company to grow with. Once you get your time under your belt, buy your own truck and trailer, learn how to manage that first. If you are making profit doing that and think you are ready to take the plunge with your own authority, find other honorable independents and let them mentor you. If you do that then you will be successful, if you do like a lot of the other boners you will just come out here and erode the marketplace by running ignorant and desperate.

I am not trying to discourage you from achieving your dream, that would be me being a hyporcrite. I am just advising you that in the current market you may be making a grave mistake that will end up costing you much headache and possibly all the money and time you have invested.

I drove for the other guy for 16 months, bought my first tractor and leased under another company for 8 months, at the two year mark I went out on my own bought 3 more tractors, trailers and have been at it ever since. I made my move into the market when I saw the rates start to come up, if you do the same you will be ok. It is easier to make rookie mistakes in a good market vs bad. In a bad market you need to be seasoned to know how to survive, so you understand I have built, owned and sold several business throughout my life. Good luck on you endeavor