do the brokers care of the age of the truck you use?

You need a new outlook. Its not about how much you can haul, its about how much you make.

You also need a math lesson.
$1000 dollar payment on a 60k truck vs a 140k truck are two driffent time periods. Compairing the two doesn't make sense.

I've never made a new truck payment. But I could sit at home not working for a few years before the business account couldn't make the payment, its a drop in the bucket. Its called business sense.

How long have you been running hotshot?

 

Longer than you if you're still the same one from NY . 9 years.
First you can buy a nice 500K class 8 for 50K or less and since the major component life of
a hotshot truck is 50% less it ,makes the investment about the same.with more capacity.
I've studied for years and loads 15K or less run about 10-15% of the market
so operating a hotshot truck is at a disadvantage from the start. rates are about the same for all
weight categories meaning a class 8 will grab them meaning less loads available for light weight carriers.
It takes a couple years to learn the game so starting it's better to have a cheaper truck with lower or no payments.
I'm the only one I know of who started around the same time, that still operates one. some quit, bought bigger trucks, went into brokering or took company jobs.
IIRC your MC was in 700's or 800's range, Mine is in the 589's My numbers are just a couple months newer than skate boards.

 

I'm not out to start a pissing contest. Just like to know who I'm debating with.

But I still say the payment on a class 8 or a hot shot really doesn't matter as long as your running your business right.

The whole issue with trucking isn't cheap freight, its people who don't know how to run a business.

Ive said it a million times, running hot shot isn't a starting point. Its an ending point.

 

I Don't haul cheap so I sit a good bit like the rest who don't haul cheap. But after awhile you burn through savings.
The past few years haven't been the most helpful at starting a business.
I sure wouldn't recommend a new truck to a new start up now.
A 6.0 wouldn't be my first choice either 7.3 is more reliable but it slower.
The super duty chassis is way better platform than the rest this is why dodge has tried to copy it in it's neer models. The engines just are slower than dodges are but I'm not in a hurry anyway.

 

This is not the best time of year to start a trucking business. It is the slowest time of year, for most. I have a friend who has hauled hotshots for years. He prefers the Dodge dually's to class 8 trucks. I think you can get into a good used class 8 truck for less than a good Dually. You also save on motel bills if you have a sleeper on your class 8 truck. You could make a decent truck payment for what most spend on motels running hotshots. I suppose it is which works best for each individual.

 

About what I've said. I very seldom use a motel room because they'd be no money left afterwards.
Sleeping in the truck is good for about two days at a time. If you're very tall it wouldn't be a pleasant rest though.
I'm 5'10.5 and it's ok but a couple days at most. Once you realize your limits with a hotshot and work with them it's a job and that's about it.
Economy has made it really hard to survive the only difference is owning a class 8
when you stop you sell it, with a hotshot you drop the trailer and drive your truck as you wish.

 

I sold my 04' 6.0 with 200k trouble free miles.Yes they are very problematic but there is a way to make them solid and much better than a 7.3.First the prices on them are dirt cheap because of all their problems so one can get a good one super cheap and build it from there.The biggest problems with them are the EGR coolers,oil coolers on the coolant side,weak head studs,FICM fuel injector control module.The solutions,EGR delete which is a PITA,new oil cooler which is right below the EGR,new headstuds and FICM,and switching coolant to ELC after coolant flush.All these repairs should be done together since the easiest way to the headstuds is cab off.One all that is done you have a more powerful motor than the 7.3,better MPG's,and a whole lot better transmission.

 

If you use a 2000 and earlier model you're exempt from the ELD Golgothan

 

From what I've seen brokers could care less about the age of your truck - none have complained to me either on my 2002 F350 (7.3) or my 2003 F450 (6.0).

The 7.3 is chipped, and runs much stronger than the 6.0 (which is stock) and actually gets better fuel mileage. The 6.0 had the head studs changed out and the egr delete done before I got it. I've had no problems other than normal maintenance.

If you look at an older F450 be aware that you're going to have to either re-line or replace the 40 gal fuel tank - the coating on the inside delaminates. If you see one that hasn't been corrected, check the injectors also because the delamination gets into the fuel system and screws them up big time. I replaced 4 injectors on mine. The dealer where I bought it paid a good portion of that bill.