Advice for those First time Owner Operartors Out there...

[Rawze]

Some info on solving some common problems that cause first-time owner operators to struggle
and/or fail at leasing a used truck in the dry-van/reefer market...
(by Rawze sept. '2012, updated 02-26-2018).

So, you have just leased or purchased that first truck and have moved from company driver to Owner-Operator. First of all, you have my congratulations and sympathies at the same time. You have now dedicated yourself to something that can either make your pay-checks a lot higher, or consume you for all you are worth depending on your decisions as a vested truck-owner. You also should be aware that many drivers that switch from company driver to owner-operator do poorly for many reasons, but most of those reasons can be easily solved through some basic education. No one wants to fail, or is even thinking about the consequences of failure when they are signing that lease or purchase agreement. Statically however, roughly 80% of first-time truck lease operators do in fact struggle and often fail.

First, if you haven't leased a truck yet, you need to ask yourself how you, as a new lease operator are going to be better than the 80% who have come before you and had problems. Next, you need to take a hard look at the things that caused those people to fail and ask yourself "What would I have done to overcome the problems that caused these people to fail?". Most lease-operators that are struggling and/or failing that I have met are not failing because they refuse to drive the truck. Driving the truck seems to be the least of their worries. It is also not the miles they drive that cause their problems, or even the settlement expenses that occur every week. it is the constant, unpredictable expenses and problems accompanied by bad driving habits and bad business decisions that eats their paychecks that ultimately consumes them.

I have spoken to many owner-operators over the past few years and I seem to hear many of the same common things when it comes to difficult times. It seems very clear that the problem is not the amount of income they are receiving when they are moving freight, but rather the downtime and expenses that end up out-weighing their nicely earned pay-checks. First of all, if you haven't figured it out yet, much of owning a truck for success is to manage those things that cost you money. The number one expense is also fuel consumption and fuel mileage. Number two is downtime and all things maintenance/repair related. The good part is that you can do something about both of these major expenses with a little bit of effort.

Reducing downtime and lowering repair costs is a matter of making your problems predictable so that you can then plan and manage them. One good example of this is performing a very thorough inspections of the truck. If you cannot crawl under and around your truck, get dirty, and give it a very close inspection, then you are not likely to do very well. You are no longer just a truck driver but are now a truck owner.

I hear too often, truck owners claim "the shop inspected it", or "I just had this looked at". It is a great idea to have someone else look at your truck, but relying on that persons opinion alone, even if they are a professional, is generally a very bad business decision. Instead of paying someone else to look at and inspect things, learn how to do these inspections yourself. Every CDL holder in the United Stated today is required to be able to do a 112-point inspection on their vehicle. Learn to do this inspection thoroughly, looking for signs of problems or component failure. Find out what is acceptable and what is going to cause you problems. A simple missed inspection like the amount of hub-oil in your steering axle can not only put you on the side of the road, but cause you to kill yourself and/or someone else. You are now the person solely responsible for ensuring this does not and will never happen, not the mechanic that just inspected everything and said "looks ok to me".

The EPA and CARB, are two organizations that have indirectly caused many truck-owners to struggle and fail as well. Engine manufactures are now required to install EGR, DPF, and DEF systems on modern trucks. These systems help clean up the air pollution from large trucks, but do so at the cost of the truck owner (meaning you). These systems are integrated with these newest style of computerized truck engines and require a laptop and data-link adapter to troubleshoot. Without them, engine or after-treatment problems will be difficult and very expensive to keep after. These emissions technologies are very problematic, and many mechanics are under trained, or do not understand these systems enough to effectively troubleshoot them.

Many shops and dealerships rely on computer software to tell them what to do, but at best, this usually only patches the problems without any long term solutions. It is a fact that if your truck is newer that 2006, you ARE going to have problems with these systems, and at some point, you will have major expenses in correcting them. As an owner-operator with one of these trucks, it is a very bad business decision to solely rely on "the dealer" or "the shop" to solve these problems.

To stay ahead of this, a person needs to gather information about these systems and how they work. Knowing what they do and how they effect the operation of your truck is very important. As well, by the time you begin to see signs of trouble from these systems, they are already in dire need of some major work. Do not wait until you get engine warnings and shutdown alarms before having these systems serviced. Read the owners manual for your truck and do what is recommended. You should also obtain a service manual for your truck and engine as a reference to help you keep these systems healthy.

It is much less expensive to change an after-treatment injector or poorly reading sensor than to run off somewhere and be hosed for every dime a shop can get from you. thinkgs like doing close inspections of your exhaust system, correcting even the smallest leaks every so often along with regular sensor replacement and cleanings will make a large difference. Never wait until you are getting that dreaded "parked regen" light in the dash. Parked regens themselves can consume enough fuel to pay for that bit of cleaning and service you should have had done long before you got to that point.

Many mechanics these days also seem to forget that a diesel engine is what these systems are attached to. DPF and emissions systems clog up and fail because of what comes out of the engine. They don't clog up and give repeating problems when the engine itself is healthy. Failing emissions systems are in fact the direct result of something not so healthy on the engine. To solve these problems correctly is to solve both the emissions system issues and ALSO THE ENGINE PROBLEMS THAT MAY HAVE CAUSE THEM!. Otherwise, you will be chasing that endless tail of failures and down-time.

Diesel engines produce a lot of soot and the entire EGR and intake system attached to them slowly build up with it. This soot buildup gets in all the piping and sensors and it is known as "EGR congestive failure". That congestion is the most common cause of repeating emissions system and DPF woes that most drivers face. Sometimes the entire intake and EGR system needs to be removed and cleaned out. It is this same overlooked maintenance that makes your fuel economy slowly drop over time, costing you thousands and thousands of dollars in extra fuel making your engine and truck less and less profitable. As a truck owner, learning to service, change or clean emissions system sensors and components will in fact save you tens of thousands of dollars and keep you going where others struggle and fail.

As a new Owner Operator, When you first get your truck, don't set yourself up for problems. Most of the drivers I have talked to that struggle do not bother to go through the truck and its egr systems to make sure they are in good health. Most are only focused on "how fast can i make it go" or "how much power can I make" instead of the things that count. The first many of them want to do is spend several hundred dollars and pay someone to "cut out the governor", or "turn up the HP" and other ridiculous things. This is actually a very big mistake to have this kind of mentality. . If your focus is to "get more miles by turning the truck up" to earn more money, then you have already set yourself up on the wrong path as a truck owner. Increasing the speed of your truck does NOT and CANNOT earn you enough money to cover the increased cost of fuel and maintenance associated with doing such a thing in todays economy.

It is however a very GOOD thing to go through your EGR system and replace old sensors and to clean out the pipes. If you have some extra cash and have already ensured all maintenance is up to date, to take your truck somewhere to get a full ECM report on it too. One that shows the Regen history, the driver abuse history, The list of faults that have accumulated over time, and anything else that will tell you how the truck was driven. these things will point you to maintenance issues that you are likely to have in the near future. If your truck has in fact a DPF, then the Regen history will tell you how healthy that system is as well. For example, if the last few Regen cycles show the temperature lower than normal, then its a good chance the after treatment injector is failing, or your EGR valve might be getting stuck, or perhaps a simple thing like an exhaust leak somewhere. Discipline yourself right from the start to earning a profit by maintaining your truck pro-actively and not having to drive fast. It is this discipline that will set the correct attitude for success for you and you new business.

Know what your number one expense is, and understand it very well. I spent $72,000.00 in fuel my first year out of my own pocket after discounts. Although I spent more money on fuel than anything else, Fuel cost itself was NOT actually my number one expense. Your number one expense is actually not fuel price as much as it is fuel economy. This is because when fuel prices change, so does fuel your surcharge to compensate for it. On the other hand, if the fuel economy of your truck changes, it is simply an outright and almost always unnecessary expense.

Investing in the things to help you drive better and save fuel is a must. A 0.1mpg loss in fuel economy over 1 year, if you drove 100,000 miles (conservatively), can cost you $1,000.00 or more. If instead, A person spend a couple hundred dollars installing a pyrometer and turbo-boost gauge set then drive by them, it will help them save thousands a year in fuel by letting them know when to back their foot off the accelerator while climbing that steep hill. A person can easily gain as much as a mile per gallon simply by using those gauges and learning better driving habits.

The driver is the number one factor in improving fuel economy. Installing and using a turbo-gauge while you drive will help teach you to become a more fuel efficient driver even if you are already very fuel-minded. The second factor in fuel economy is how fast you drive. On average, most trucks will loose 0.1mpg or more for every mile per hour faster they are driven. This does not seem that much, but when you factor in higher maintenance and more wear on everything, and increased down-time from going faster, it adds up to a lot. This means if you slow down, you will ultimately have more money at the end of the month in your pocket. When it comes down to it, I haven't heard of any drivers failing to make their settlement expenses from driving 55-60mph all week, but I have seen many who cannot make their truck payment that are running 65 or 70+. This is because slowing down forces us to manage our time more wisely and reduces expenses greatly. You always end up with more money in your pocket in the long term.

Stop making bad business decisions...

An example of Bad business: You have a used truck and the A/C just went out. Your already $600.00 in the rear for other problems this week and its 95-deg outside today. Running off to the dealer, they tell you $1200.00 to fix it and now your down $1800 for the week. Your putting yourself $1200+ further in the hole, for something, yes, very uncomfortably, you could have waited to have taken care of for much less money at an automotive a/c shop for 1/3rd the price during your home-time. the 2 days of lost freight waiting for the parts to arrive is a serious revenue loss too. Another example: No problems all week, suddenly Your "regen" light going off like mad and your engine it threatening to shut you down. You scramble off to the dealer who then tells you 3 days wait to get to it (about 2K in lost revenue for the downtime alone). You get a hotel (another $250 for a couple days) then wait it out only for them to crawl under your truck and find a loose crossover tube or a melted sensor. A thorough inspection of your EGR and DPF components, and its very likely you could have spotted this 3 days ago. A $50 sensor later, you could have been on the road the same day. So what, you got a little dirty,...So maybe you had to buy a wrench to take it off and spend 3 hours on the phone with someone who had to show you where to look to find the problem. This is how you learn and ultimately how you stay profitable. Most people that buy a used house are prepared to do at least SOME of the fixer-upper stuff themselves. A used truck is not much different.

All trucks have a recommended maintenance schedule. As a former OEM engineer, I can tell you first hand that there is a lot of research behind these schedules. they should not be taken lightly. Get a printed copy of the schedule for your truck from a dealer or find it in the owners/service manual. They exist for all trucks, and I am not referring to how often to change the oil and filters. I am referring to an actual detailed schedule that will have the 15k, 25k, 50k, 150k, 250k, and 500k recommendations that include things like the crankshaft damper, coolant, air-dryer filter, crank case filter, inspections and much more. When you first get your truck, do ALL the maintenance required by the service manual and service schedule bringing the truck up to spec according to its mileage. You should do this even if it seems that it does not need it. Any component replacement as part of the maintenance schedule should be verified that is has been replaced recently as well. Skipping even a small part of what is recommended can cause you some big problems. One example, is not replacing the crank shaft damper at 500k miles. Many mechanics will tell you they do not go bad, but this extra vibration to the engine causes some serious long-term problems with many components getting loose and or failing. This includes sensors and wiring from this excess vibration too.

Another example, is if the truck was primarily used for long haul operations and the transmission and drive-axle oil has not been replaced for more than 250k miles. Eaton-Dana recommends this oil to be replaced at 500k if the truck is locally driven, or at 250k if used for OTR service. The 250k recommendation for OTR has good merit, despite what any mechanic will tell you. this is because the constant steady higher temp will cause the additives to separate more quickly and the added wear to the components contaminates the oil with metal dust. This can cause everything from worn out bearings to axle seal failures. It is cheaper to replace the oil in both drive axles and inspect the breather tubes than it is to replace an axle seal. - My point is just simply do what is recommended. When rolling down the highway, that investment, especially, early on by putting those first few paychecks back into your truck to get these tings done will ensure your truck stays healthy and profitable.

Turn your truck expenses into investments that reduce operating costs. Don't ever just simply have something "patched" or "fixed". Look at what is needed, find out how to spend the money to have that repair or maintenance item done so that it reduces your costs in the future. Just about everything you will ever have to fix or have replaced on your truck can be done this way. With a little research and asking around, many times not only will you be able to find a better solution, but quite often spending a little more on a better component will actually earn you more money back than the money you have just spent. One very good example of this is tires. More fuel efficient tires will without question earn you more money back in fuel savings than the extras money needed vs the cheaper tire.
A low rolling resistant fuel efficient tire can and will save you several thousand dollars a year in fuel vs that cheap recap from the local tire shop in just its first year of use. Knowing this is like jumping over a dollar to grab a dime. Hmmm,... $600 now, and I get $1800+ by the end of the year in my pocket in fuel saving, or $150.00 now and I give pilot/flying-J $1800 more this year in hard earned money from wasted fuel economy.

I have compiled a list of the things the many of the failing owner-ops I have met do that have contributed greatly to their problems. Things that profitable truck owners do not do. If you are one of these people that is struggling and/or "not making it", no offense, but maybe you should re-thing your entire strategy. For what its worth, here are some things I have seen...

Not driving their truck fuel efficiently: - Lets face it, we all think we are good at saving fuel but its a fact that a truck equipped with extra gauges that help us monitor how well we are saving fuel will always be more profitable. Instant mpg , turbo-boost, and pyro gauges are not very expensive. Slowing down a bit and managing time better ALWAYS MAKES YOU MORE MONEY.

Thinking that less then 7mpg in a modern aerodynamic truck is "OK": - This is very wrong. Unless your driving an antique roadshow square nose classics, you should be getting and working towards a minimum of 7mpg out of your truck. There is something wrong otherwise. Most of the time is it because someone is driving it too fast and is too hard on the fuel pedal.

Driving too fast, and even driving faster when strapped for cash: - Getting somewhere early or stopping too much is not profitable. Use any and all extra time on that load to slow down and save fuel. Drive that truck like you would if there were a watermelon lying loose in the floor and you don't want it to roll. Gentle accel. Gentle around curves, and lots of space in front of you. Keep to a minimum speed and use the correct gear up that hill. Loads that are tight scheduled means you manage your time more efficiently, not speed up. This always creates more profit. If your running 65 or 70+ all the time and are "broke" then try running under 63mph and being very easy on the fuel pedal for a week or 2. Even if you end up an hour late on a delivery, its cheaper than loosing your truck for lack of payments. You will be very surprised.

Buying the cheapest tires they can get away with: - Its a Very big mistake to ignore fuel economy, especially with tires. Fuel economy IS your biggest expense of all and a lot of it can be avoided.

Signing the lease to a used truck assuming it will be ready for freight when they get it: - This is a big one. Plan on spending about $5000.00 up front. Even if the truck is in very good condition, you will need $1000+ dollars to have EGR and DPF systems inspected, cleaned and serviced. $1200-$1500 will be needed for getting all service schedule items up to date. I am not referring to PM items, I am referring to things like overhead valve adjustment, air-dryer, water, power steering filters, and the things a typical PM does not cover. A few hundred at the dealer will be needed to get a full ECM report with some recommendations. Perhaps a Dyno-test will reveal much on older equipment too. Know what condition that truck is in before putting freight behind it. I cannot count the hundreds of failure stories I hear because new owner-ops cannot keep their truck out of the shop long enough to make a profit. This absolutely can be prevented, and it is up to you, the truck owner to ensure you don't end up there.

Blaming everyone else for the problems you signed for: - You signed the lease, you inspected the truck, you should have had that up-front maintenance and inspection done. You are now the one that is responsible for all the potential problems and expenses that accompany your truck. Blaming someone else, especially the entity that sold you the equipment, will not get you anywhere. It is your success that you are gambling with and it is up to you to have done the necessary steps to ensure you don't loose this game. Read, research, and find solutions to your problems. Try to work with, instead of against the others that you must involve yourself. No one wants to see you fail and many are more than willing to help you as much as they can.

Not following a detailed maintenance schedule: - Many studies have proven that waiting until a component fails costs 2 to 3 times the cost of having it serviced. I have actually met more than one owner-operator who completely destroyed their engines by not using a simple test strip to check the PH of their coolant.

Pouring money into their A/C system over and over: - If you have extra cash to spend on accessory items (your A/C is NOT going to stop you from hauling that next load) by all means do so, but not when you don't have the extra cash. Secondly, Find an actual A/C mechanic that specializes in such things. Most dealers are actually under trained when it comes to A/C service and they like to throw a lot of expensive parts at it instead of taking the time to really understand the problem.

Idling their truck for long periods of time: - This is a very "very" bad thing to do to a modern EGR diesel engine. If you Idle your truck a lot, then I hope you have a few thousand dollars lying around to replace EGR and DPF components regularly. Spending some cash on even a portable A/C + and generator for when you are parked is WAAY cheaper than idling that truck. If you have to shut down in hot weather and have no APU, use some smarts. Park nose-in near a grassy or shaded area, at the edge of the parking lot, and open that hood to let the heat out. The inside of Your truck will cool off more rapidly this way and the parking lot will get cooler after it gets dark near its edges much faster than in the middle near the c-store.

Running to the dealer too often: - When you get that engine warning light or when something starts to go wrong with your truck, make a few phone calls. Call a service center and get some recommendations on things you can do yourself to figure out the problem. Jump on the internet and ask questions. Many trucks have a way to see the warning code and from that, you can usually solve a problem easily without having to wait several days. In all actuality, The dealer is the LAST place you should be taking your truck to have it fixed these days. they are simply over-priced and like to throw expensive parts at your truck as solutions. Dealerships are not typically the best choice when it comes to repairs any more.

Running to the repair shop instead of grabbing a wrench: - If you have a small problem, then you should at least get some information and try to fix it yourself. Even if it requires you to go out and buy a tool to get it done. One good example is getting a radiator leak test kit to find a coolant leak. One of those test kits that replaces the cap with a bicycle-pump handle so you can put a bit of pressure to your radiator making it very easy to find and fix a leak. Spare fuses and a hose clamp or 2 can get you off the side of the road saving you a LOT of money too.

Refusing to get dirty and do some of the work to their truck themselves: - This is another big one. Anything you can learn to do to your truck will save you big money. You are a truck owner, not a truck driver. Learn to keep it running safely and what it takes to keep it on the road. The more self-sufficient you become, the more money you will have at the end of the day.

Spending money on non-truck related things while neglecting service work.: - "My moms hot water heater broke and she needs a new one". - Nothing wrong with helping mom out, but that way-overdue overhead adjustment your engine needs is actually more important. You hold off the overhead set and buy the hot water heater only to next week, throw a rod through the top of your engine. Now your looking at $27,000 in repairs.

Ignoring D.O.T., Federal, and State Regulations or violating H.O.S. Rules. There is no profit when you have to give it to someone else, or got shut down. Also CSA follows you like a bratty little sister trying to tell on you everywhere you go. Just learn to work with it, not against it. Be safe, stay legal, and learn to turn a profit while doing so. It can be done very well.


Not investing in having the proper tools for the job: - You stop at a rest area and see one of your fuel-tank straps getting loose and want to tighten it up. You grab a pair of pliers and start cranking the strap tighter, figuring it needs tightening really well so it does not come loose again. All of the sudden "PANG!"... The entire strap breaks and the fuel tank hits the ground. At that moment you then realize that you should have had a cheap torque wrench in your tool box and have called someone to find out the correct tightness.

Not investing in parts and equipment that will make you more profitable: - A $2 coolant test strip can tell you if your coolant is eating holes into your cylinders. A $10 tire pressure gauge can assist you in minimizing tire wear and help fuel economy by a large amount. A $50 radiator pressure test kit can tell you if your EGR cooler is starting to fail long before it causes major damage to your engine and DPF system. A CAC leak test kit or EVAP/smoke machine can help you improve your fuel economy greatly by revealing air to air issues you may not even know you had.

Taking that ego-driven "Cowboy Trucker" attitude or opinion over a serious Professional viewpoint: - There are "Old-school" truckers and there are professional drivers. There are "old-school" mechanics and there are mechanics that user a proper torque wrench on everything. The reality of it is that "Old-school" mechanics and trucking, though helpful, simply no longer qualify in todays trucking standards. Trucks are no longer built solid like the iron bridges of the early 1900's. They are made of plastic, fiberglass, and precision components that require precision tools, precision thinking, and better driving habits to keep them on the road. This means professionalism must be held to a high standard. Successful owner-operators learn this quickly through the trials of their errors.

Relying too much on the "mechanics" opinion: - There is no doubt that most mechanics know how to do their jobs, otherwise they would not be a mechanic for very long. On the other hand, there is definitely more repair shops and dealers out there that are just simply horrible than good. Find a good repair shop. Build a reputation with them, but always remember that the person sitting behind the wheel of the truck all day can get a pretty good idea of what might be wrong too. If you have doubt when having a repair or maintenance done, take the time to find the correct and accurate answers or method for replacing that component. Question the mechanic and if they do not have the correct and professional answer, then I highly recommend taking your business somewhere else as soon as possible. Seeking a professional solution to a problem is way more important than any individuals opinion. Even if they do claim to be "ASE certified" or "OEM".

Not tracking expenses closely to identify and reduce costs: - Your $200.00 in the red this month and you just realized you spent $190.00 last week eating out at restaurants. Hmmm..., something wrong with that logic I think.

Bad business decisions from not understanding or finding actual cost effective solutions for their problems: - You just found out that your Teflon king pin bushings are bad yet again. Again you spend the money to have the dealer fix it. How about instead, seeking a shop that specializes in front-end work and getting some quality brass bushings designed to solve this specific problem.

I think at this point if you are still reading this then it has become clear that to be successful as a one truck owner-operator, you need to take the initiative and learn a thing or two about the investment you have just made. You have the ability to greatly reduce your number one expense (fuel economy) in how you drive and the investments you make in your truck. Aside from driving safely, Saving fuel should be your primary focus while going down the road at all times. Proper trip planning far outweighs speeding up a bit to get a load to the other end on time. This also makes you much more profitable at the end of each day. On those days where you find yourself sitting, you should be using that time to learn about your truck, doing thorough inspections, getting under and around the piece of equipment that has the final say in weather or not you are profitable tomorrow. If you find your miles are short this week, then find ways to reduce your costs for the week to match it. Making less miles for the week as an owner operator does not necessarily mean making less money. This is why we are in business after all.

Trucks are not a living thing. They cannot heal themselves, and it is up to us, the truck-owner, to ensure the constant wear from its use does not get out of hand costing us unnecessarily. It is unfortunate that not everyone has this opinion, and if you have purchased a used truck, you are likely now burdened with these cold hard facts. It is a very rare thing indeed to purchase a used piece of equipment of any kind that is in perfect working order. I am not telling anyone they must become a mechanic to be successful, but the more they can do themselves to keep that truck rolling cost effectively, safely and reliably, the more chance they will have at overcoming the 80% odds that are against them. Even if you don't own a single wrench, it is paramount that you learn how it should be done and do as much as you can yourself.

Stop relying on everyone else's opinions and recommendations to solve your problems. Take control of them directly, get brave and grab a wrench if need be. Learn and understand your problems as they arise. Take the time to find out what it how to not only to correct the problem, but what was its most likely cause. go further and investigate what it is going to take to not only correct it, but to prevent it from happening again. This is what must happen in order to ensure you stay successful because at the end of the day there is only one person that it will effect, and that person is you.

[SotoLogisticsLLC]

I appreciate all the advice and insight.

[JMBT]

All very well stated Rawze!!

[Steve R]

ok. that’s a ton of info. thx.

[Sideswipe]

Appreciate the info

[TerryFormula]

Rawze Wrote:Trucks are not a living thing. They cannot heal themselves, and it is up to us, the truck-owner, to ensure the constant wear from its use does not get out of hand costing us unnecessarily. It is unfortunate that not everyone has this opinion, and if you have purchased a used truck, you are likely now burdened with these cold hard facts. It is a very rare thing indeed to purchase a used piece of equipment of any kind that is in perfect working order. I am not telling anyone they must become a mechanic to be successful, but the more they can do themselves to keep that truck rolling cost effectively, safely and reliably, the more chance they will have at overcoming the 80% odds that are against them. Even if you don't own a single wrench, it is paramount that you learn how it should be done and do as much as you can yourself.

Stop relying on everyone else's opinions and recommendations to solve your problems. Take control of them directly, get brave and grab a wrench if need be. Learn and understand your problems as they arise. Take the time to find out what it how to not only to correct the problem, but what was its most likely cause. go further and investigate what it is going to take to not only correct it, but to prevent it from happening again. This is what must happen in order to ensure you stay successful because at the end of the day there is only one person that it will effect, and that person is you.

Exactly. Getting a truck just for the sake of buying is not an option. It can be a variant only for those who want to show off in some way and that's it. But what's next? They either just spend much money - no worries about personal finance - on it and don't see the result or leave the truck under the pile of other stuff in the garage.
Thanks for the info, Rawze.

[Elmuchotazz]

Great advice!

[JKBowman]

Quote:You are a truck owner, not a truck driver.

Sometimes the right perspective can make all the difference. - This is good stuff.

[Andre_The_Giant]

Thank you for the advise Rawze. Driving safe, Minding fuel, Routine maintenance, and Repairs made by self seem to be key.