50K budget

Go company to start

 

Smallish company will probably let you see a little closer how things happen, good and bad

 

Even if you have $500,000, start as a company driver. You wouldn't buy a restaurant before you ate in a restaurant would you? See how things are done and then make improvements, if you can. Why bet your nest-egg that you learn from your mistakes before you go broke?

 

You have a good plan, but be a company driver first for at least a year or two.
Where are you in South Texas, maybe we can recommend a company so you can get started. Refrigerated trucking is the way to go during this recession.

 

Become a member of OOIDA and also while being a company driver, keep track of your expenses including fuel costs, meals, tolls, etc. You won't have to pay tolls or fuel as a company driver, but keeping track of those expenses will be beneficial when you become an owner-operator.
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I think the biggest thing starting with 50k is going to be if you can and will do most of your own mechanic work. Assuming you’re not going after any big loans and buying both a truck and trailer they’re not exactly going to be new…personally I wouldn’t buy a new truck even paying cash but I would seriously consider buying a new or nearly new trailer.
What are you wanting to haul?
Don’t forget insurance tags and other bs isn’t going to be cheap.

 

You're not too far from the Gulf of Mexico.