I want to start a trucking company... [Archive] - Colorado AR-15 Shooters Club Discussion Forums

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DOC

01-26-2018, 09:18

Gunner

01-26-2018, 09:24

Sounds likes a good plan, I know nothing about except I would look for a Pre Emissions truck. That’s all I have to offer

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20X11

01-26-2018, 09:27

So, single rig owner/operator...not really working for yourself, you will need to sign on with a Trucking company that has contracts, then you are At the mercy of the Dispatchers, who will keep the company owned trucks running first. Plus you get all the work of "owning your own business, regulations and taxes".

SuperiorDG

01-26-2018, 09:41

You may want to read this, https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516981242&sr=8-1&keywords=e+myth

Wish I had before starting my business.

Irving

01-26-2018, 09:42

You won't be able to get a business loan because you have zero business credit, so your loan on a truck would be a personal loan. This means that if the business doesn't work out, you'll be personally responsible for the loan. This is not to discourage you, but EVERY business plan needs a thorough exit strategy before you start so you can control losses in the event of failure.

CS1983

01-26-2018, 09:45

How old are you?
What are your previous jobs' skill sets?
Since you are open to a career change, are you open to a career change you hadn't considered before?
What is your necessary yearly salary to make ends meet (note: I said make ends meet, not go on vacation)?
What is your maximum timeline for getting to that point?
Do you have any benefits available to you, such as GI Bill?

00tec

01-26-2018, 09:49

I may know someone with a Freightliner with sleeper and a flatbed for sale in TX (I'll have to verify). My buddy and his dad each bought one. His dad stopped driving a while back.

68Charger

01-26-2018, 10:03

Also look into ELD- (Electronic Logging Device) regulation changes... I don't know about the trucking industry, but have heard from people I know that haul horses for various reasons that have had this forced on them with bad consequences for them and the horses. As I understand it, makes scheduling of when you can and can't drive a potential nightmare- depending on when/how long loading/unloading takes place.

DFBrews

01-26-2018, 10:44

I am a lead semi mechanic at a dealer feel free to pm me if you want to talk one on one
The owner op life is tough but if you get some good contract loads it is lucrative

you need at least 40k in the bank after you buy your tractor trailer for breakdowns an overhaul is 25k these days.

The new electronic log rules make it even harder for owner ops to make money

ray1970

01-26-2018, 11:06

One of my coworkers quit a couple of years ago to do something similar. Seems to be pretty happy. He’s running local routes hauling dirt or grain and he’s home every night. He already owned his own truck though. He was working here for a few years while he was working on his truck getting it all up to snuff and ready to go. Once the truck was good to go he seemed pretty happy to quit his $40 hr job and do his own thing. Not quite sure how he’s handling health insurance for his family of five.

Best of luck getting it all figured out if that’s what you want to do.

BladesNBarrels

01-26-2018, 11:35

Good luck to you!
One path may be to work for a large outfit, like Swift, and talk with everyone you can - contract operators, dispatchers, other drivers, mechanics at Truck stops, Offices, Delivery Points.
Everyone has a perspective and an opinion. There is some great information that you can sift out of the noise.
Also, you will get a good feel for the time commitment and life on the road.
There is a reason that OTR drivers are considered the cowboys of today.
Again, Good Luck!

sniper7

01-26-2018, 12:01

If you are going to do it, right now is the time. Hopefully there is enough time for you to establish yourself and your business to weather you through the bad years as they will eventually happen.
My friends dad owns his own trucking business and runs it from their 40 acre property where they have a really nice shop. My friend is the full time mechanic his brother runs dispatch and paperwork, his mom runs legal and paperwork and contracts and paying bills and writing paychecks etc. and his dad drives full time, is a mechanic part time, is on the phone full time, and takes in side jobs and contract work part time as well.
They have a good right now but struggled for years, barely made it by during the downturn, are fighting against the Mexican drivers who will drive for considerably less, not do near the required maintenance and don’t follow near the rules (see how many of them there are on highway 85 cruising down the highway in the left lane without their tarps pulled over their load of gravel/rock/concrete chunks. I really wish Adams county sheriff and highway patrol would punish the shit out of them for these infractions.

Anyways, point is, I would look for a decent used truck or two and a couple different trailers for you to diversify. You will be able to find work and you will need to know what your costs are. Maintenance can create some decent down time which is why you want a couple trucks, at least with one running you can pay bills.
You may want to explore a partnership and if you aren’t a mechanic, find another driver that is, when you guys aren’t driving then you can work on the truck(s) together. I knew nothing about big trucks but have spent a lot of time with my friend at his shop and have learned a lot.
A few things that are constant (brakes, greasing, oil and filters, tires).
Find yourself a good on call mechanic with a reliable truck to come rescue you as it is inevitable.

Buy the same style/brand/even year of truck for part simplicity and then you can have a second one to look at when something big breaks.
Also look into storage of trucks and trailers, where you will keep them, if you can keep them at your house etc.
And most importantly, figure out a few places that you can bid on jobs, or take jobs when offered, get on some other owner/operator call list where if they have a breakdown they can call you for the job and you can make some bucks.

Irving

01-26-2018, 12:21

How many people do you know that can help get you jobs? You can have everything in the world squared away, but it won't mean a thing if you can't get your foot in the door some where. It sounds like right now is the time where any warm body will do, which is the perfect time to start business and network for contacts.

CoGirl303

01-26-2018, 13:10

I'll have more on the OP's topic when I get home from work.

Sounds likes a good plan, I know nothing about except I would look for a Pre Emissions truck. That’s all I have to offer

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Very bad advice. The industry and EPA are requiring trucks to have up to date emissions systems to include DEF systems (diesel exhaust fluid) and newer trucks. In fact after a date in Feb I think, you cant get a glider kit any more.

Those trucks that dont have them wont be allowed in California and in other states if its discovered during an inspection you dont have those systems or you have bypassed them the fines are heavy and high!

Also look into ELD- (Electronic Logging Device) regulation changes... I don't know about the trucking industry, but have heard from people I know that haul horses for various reasons that have had this forced on them with bad consequences for them and the horses. As I understand it, makes scheduling of when you can and can't drive a potential nightmare- depending on when/how long loading/unloading takes place.

there is no "looking into" ELD's...they are MANDATORY. I drive commercial for work and I'm trying to get out of it as quick as I can. I'm just starting my 5th year on February 10th.

I've pulled 53'ers, tried flatbed and did not like it and I now pull doubles and I love it, but like the guns and 2nd Amendment, these government menaces have ruined it and over-regulated it beyond reason.

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Gunner

01-26-2018, 13:16

I'll have more on the OP's topic when I get home from work.

Very bad advice. The industry and EPA are requiring trucks to have up to date emissions systems to include DEF systems (diesel exhaust fluid) and newer trucks. In fact after a date in Feb I think, you cant get a glider kit any more.

Those trucks that dont have them wont be allowed in California and in other states if its discovered during an inspection you dont have those systems or you have bypassed them the fines are heavy and high!

there is no "looking into" ELD's...they are MANDATORY. I drive commercial for work and I'm trying to get out of it as quick as I can. I'm just starting my 5th year on February 10th.

I've pulled 53'ers, tried flatbed and did not like it and I now pull doubles and I love it, but like the guns and 2nd Amendment, these government menaces have ruined it and over-regulated it beyond reason.

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So on a truck say made in 95 you don’t have any grand farther clause?

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Great-Kazoo

01-26-2018, 13:37

I suggest working for a company. You can make more driving for any O&G company in CO. From driving rigs, to delivering completed projects to well sites.
If you have no experience doing OTR, between the schooling, rig and ins, you'd be better off cutting your teeth locally. This way if it doesn't work out, you're not upside down $50K +

DOC

01-26-2018, 14:18

I got a lot of good advice and fast.
I know the subs and the Asphalt plant I work at get 85 an hour and they are home every night. I am not scared to get into an engine. I have replaced clutches in peterbilts before. Never the engine. But besides a tire it hasn't been a huge problem. Seals and wiring mostly.
My brother has an in up in North Dakota in the oil fields and he wanted me to check it out. Really good money there and no liability. I just want to know what it would take to get on my own. I do have lots of contacts. But could always use more.

68Charger

01-26-2018, 14:20

there is no "looking into" ELD's...they are MANDATORY. I drive commercial for work and I'm trying to get out of it as quick as I can. I'm just starting my 5th year on February 10th.

What I meant is educate yourself about them, because they are mandatory.... they're making them mandatory for things that weren't required before (like hauling your own horses to events)

ETA: I know the drivers at the Pueblo chemical depot get paid big $$$.... all driving on property (no public roads)... slow, technical but big consequences for any accidents.

Bailey Guns

01-26-2018, 16:10

After I retired I got a CDL-A on a whim. Tried the OTR thing...for me I can't imagine a worse job on the entire planet. I hated it. Everyone said you needed 2 years experience to get hired for local stuff. I didn't even have 2 months. I applied with a big propane company and got hired on the spot. I make about half driving the propane truck over what I made as a cop...but it's one of the best jobs I've ever had. Pay is OK, benefits with my company are freakin' awesome ( I get 4 weeks vacation per year, for example) and I sleep in my own bed every night. Plus, driving locally you don't have to worry about hours, keeping logs and all that other nonsense. Not normally, anyway. My truck breaks down it goes in the shop and they call me when it's fixed. Fuel? Company fuel card. New tires? Company credit card. There are some down sides but on balance it's a good gig. Especially in the summer time.

Skip

01-26-2018, 17:17

Good for you DOC!

Like others have said, make sure you have a solid business plan before going into debt.

I have my own IT consulting business. The biggest challenge I have is prospecting while doing the actual work. There just isn't enough time in the day. I had to let my primary sales partner go at the end of last year because he stopped showing up. Always had an excuse as to why he couldn't work. Put more money in his pocket then I could make in a 9-5 and he outright refused to do a couple hours of structured work each week (had to structure it after so much BS).

Don't know what it is with sales people...

But if you can feed your business well enough to stay busy that is a huge win because you can focus on the actual running of the business. And most of the other stuff you can figure out on your own or get help.

On the tax front, consider forming an S-Corp (I am not a lawyer or a tax professional, so speak with one). The new tax law *should* let you take 20% of K-1 income tax free. I have yet to see the details myself.

68Charger

01-26-2018, 17:36

Soon you may not even have to hire drivers... https://www.geotab.com/blog/autonomous-trucks/

Some mining operations (no public roads) are already running them, apparently.

CoGirl303

01-26-2018, 18:46

Before you lay into me about wanting a truck just for the glamor and money and all the groupies not to mention the parties and woman and fanboys, its just for the money. I want to provide a life for my sons and wife. I need to make a lot more per hour I normally work and working for myself instead of being an employee seems to be a good route.

I need advice on a business plan. I have a Class A with tanker. I haven't done over the road. But I think it might be fun to try. I have run a trash truck, cement mixer and dump truck and hauled equipment on a trailer. I have a clean record with thousands of miles. And 5 years behind the wheel. Thats my experience so far.

I am leaning between being a subcontractor hauling material or driving an 18 wheeler hauling goods.

I need a place that sells trucks. I need a lease or loan to buy one.

I have good credit so I think I can sign and drive one.
Talk to me if you know.
Thanks for your time.

This is just my two cents and I've talked to a lot of owner-ops who say the same thing because I've contemplated doing what you're doing. You can't be an O/O and survive in the long-term with just one truck. You need at least 3 for it to be worthwhile. It may work short-term for a bit, but eventually it'll catch up with you.

In my opinion, you'd be better off going to work for a good company like Old Dominion, UPS Frieight, FedEx Freight, pulling doubles/triples and making $100,000 a year. (I would but I can't behave in my car and have too many points.)

Like others said, if you are going to do it, you need an exit strategy and exit money. Plan on putting away $0.10 per mile for maintenance, emergencies, whatever and don't ever touch it for anything else other than maintenance/repairs. You should have an exclusive checking account for this, debit card AND a credit card to go with it, plus if possible an overdraft line of credit as an extreme emergency fallback (avoid using it all cost though, as it's your final safety net).

Once you get too far behind, you are screwed and it's almost impossible to dig out. The first two years, I wouldn't buy a darn thing except the necessities (bills, fuel, food, clothing, supplies for your truck and gloves, boots, etc.) Repairs can get expensive and you don't want to be financing them just to make a run of a load.

Once your engine starts burning oil/anti-freeze excessively, you're better off to pull it, tear it down, rebuild it and put it back in. You're just wasting money if you don't, because it will lead to more expensive repairs later.

You have to log every single mile for two reasons. Tax purposes and IFTA (international fuel tax agreement). You have to log how many miles in each state from one border to the next. Each state gets their cut. Expect to be audited by the state of Colorado AND the IRS...repeatedly and continually. One discrepancy...and they will be on you like white on rice on a paper plate in a snow storm on Christmas Eve at the North Pole. Colorado is a BIG PAIN IN THE ASS for being an O/O. Worse than other states.

Save every stinking fuel receipt, repair receipt, EVERYTHING to do with that truck, even if it's a cigarette lighter fuse, a zippy tie to hold wires together, whatever. Keep them in order, staple them as you go. Give it ALL to a qualified CPA that works specifically with O/O TRUCKERS. Don't try to do it yourself. It's a nightmare. Don't go to H&R Block, or any of that other junk tax return services. Go find a real CPA that knows all the trucking laws for taxes, writeoffs and deductions and pay the money, and stick with them.

If you don't have any over the road experience...I suggest you get some before you go O/O. Spend a year or two with a trucking company. Best bet is to find a dedicated account where all your stops are the same and do that for a year or two until you get comfortable with EVERYTHING.

So on a truck say made in 95 you don’t have any grand farther clause?

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I'm trying to find the article, but I think it said something along the lines of updating to a 2007 or newer truck. If I can find it, I'll post it. I know California is cracking down BIG TIME on trucks that bypass the DEF system, glider kit trucks, and any trucks that aren't emissions compliant and current and up to date. A lot of other states are as well.

What I meant is educate yourself about them, because they are mandatory.... they're making them mandatory for things that weren't required before (like hauling your own horses to events)

ETA: I know the drivers at the Pueblo chemical depot get paid big $$$.... all driving on property (no public roads)... slow, technical but big consequences for any accidents.

From what I understand, as long as you're "Not For Hire" and you have that displayed on the outside of your vehicle, you are NOT subject to the ELD Mandate. You still have to weigh at the weigh station if they direct you to, and can be inspected by DOT.

Gunner

01-26-2018, 18:54

This is just my two cents and I've talked to a lot of owner-ops who say the same thing because I've contemplated doing what you're doing. You can't be an O/O and survive in the long-term with just one truck. You need at least 3 for it to be worthwhile. It may work short-term for a bit, but eventually it'll catch up with you.

In my opinion, you'd be better off going to work for a good company like Old Dominion, UPS Frieight, FedEx Freight, pulling doubles/triples and making $100,000 a year. (I would but I can't behave in my car and have too many points.)

Like others said, if you are going to do it, you need an exit strategy and exit money. Plan on putting away $0.10 per mile for maintenance, emergencies, whatever and don't ever touch it for anything else other than maintenance/repairs. You should have an exclusive checking account for this, debit card AND a credit card to go with it, plus if possible an overdraft line of credit as an extreme emergency fallback (avoid using it all cost though, as it's your final safety net).

Once you get too far behind, you are screwed and it's almost impossible to dig out. The first two years, I wouldn't buy a darn thing except the necessities (bills, fuel, food, clothing, supplies for your truck and gloves, boots, etc.) Repairs can get expensive and you don't want to be financing them just to make a run of a load.

Once your engine starts burning oil/anti-freeze excessively, you're better off to pull it, tear it down, rebuild it and put it back in. You're just wasting money if you don't, because it will lead to more expensive repairs later.

You have to log every single mile for two reasons. Tax purposes and IFTA (international fuel tax agreement). You have to log how many miles in each state from one border to the next. Each state gets their cut. Expect to be audited by the state of Colorado AND the IRS...repeatedly and continually. One discrepancy...and they will be on you like white on rice on a paper plate in a snow storm on Christmas Eve at the North Pole. Colorado is a BIG PAIN IN THE ASS for being an O/O. Worse than other states.

Save every stinking fuel receipt, repair receipt, EVERYTHING to do with that truck, even if it's a cigarette lighter fuse, a zippy tie to hold wires together, whatever. Keep them in order, staple them as you go. Give it ALL to a qualified CPA that works specifically with O/O TRUCKERS. Don't try to do it yourself. It's a nightmare. Don't go to H&R Block, or any of that other junk tax return services. Go find a real CPA that knows all the trucking laws for taxes, writeoffs and deductions and pay the money, and stick with them.

If you don't have any over the road experience...I suggest you get some before you go O/O. Spend a year or two with a trucking company. Best bet is to find a dedicated account where all your stops are the same and do that for a year or two until you get comfortable with EVERYTHING.

I'm trying to find the article, but I think it said something along the lines of updating to a 2007 or newer truck. If I can find it, I'll post it. I know California is cracking down BIG TIME on trucks that bypass the DEF system, glider kit trucks, and any trucks that aren't emissions compliant and current and up to date. A lot of other states are as well.

From what I understand, as long as you're "Not For Hire" and you have that displayed on the outside of your vehicle, you are NOT subject to the ELD Mandate. You still have to weigh at the weigh station if they direct you to, and can be inspected by DOT.

I’m not talking about bypassing or deleting I’m saying get an older truck that never had the equipments

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CoGirl303

01-26-2018, 18:55

I’m not talking about bypassing or deleting I’m saying get an older truck that never had the equipments

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I'm saying older trucks aren't being allowed anymore.

CoGirl303

01-26-2018, 19:05

https://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/onrdiesel.htm

http://www.truckinginfo.com/channel/fleet-management/news/story/2017/08/california-gears-up-for-even-stricter-diesel-truck-emissions-regulations.aspx

Currently this is just in California, but as we know, anything that starts there, spreads like a cancer.

ray1970

01-26-2018, 19:10

Also, since nobody else has mentioned it, driving a truck will make you fat and sloppy.

If you’re already fat and or sloppy then I guess it’s not a big deal. If not it could really change your lifestyle.

If you don’t believe me just park at any truck stop for about ten minutes and watch the drivers getting in and out of their trucks. If you see one that is physically fit or dressed halfway decent try and get a picture. If I don’t see proof I won’t believe it.

Teufel

01-26-2018, 19:43

Just a quick hitter, when CoGirl303 listed first Old Dominion as a good company I had a really, really good laugh so I do appreciate that. I've been driving for a decade now, did several years OTR, been in town much longer now. I'll be happy to field questions you have with the industry, try to give you an inside as much as I can give. Short answer, do not get into it as an O/O right off, especially without any experience. There's plenty of really good money out there running another guy's truck with so so much less headache.

DOC

01-26-2018, 20:04

I was thinking about getting 3 trucks ASAP. 2 tandem axles and 1 side dump. I have seen those owners make $3,000 a day during the summer. With the winters off. That's what I'm doing now but there is very little buffer fund that has been stashed away. I didn't like the 70 hour weeks and only making about $65,000 this year with no bennys. I think I can do better.

Irving

01-26-2018, 20:13

Is Old Dominion the company that frequently has drivers flop their trucks on that curve where 58 meets I-70 leaving Coors?

Great-Kazoo

01-26-2018, 20:23

Big E3

01-26-2018, 20:45

Aloha_Shooter

01-26-2018, 21:46

All I could think of after reading OP was

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rcozed_BJWM

hurley842002

01-26-2018, 21:55

All I could think of after reading OP was

All I could think of was..

https://youtu.be/UeR27OP4V7U

Grant H.

01-27-2018, 01:03

I was just listening to the radio talking about any advancement in self-driving vehicles will be in over the road trucks first. May still be a ways off but just something to think about. They were saying any young people coming into the working environment might want to rethink trucking as a career. I think there might be some options as a full-time “harbor pilot” to back trucks into the dock once they arrive at the warehouse. They didn't have much faith in computers being able to back trucks into a dock.

There is a fair amount of speculation that when Tesla delivers their trucks in 2019, they will be autonomous.

It's coming. A lot faster than most want to think, and the trucking industry will be turned on it's head very quickly.

This was over a year ago...
https://www.denverpost.com/2016/10/25/self-driving-beer-truck-colorado/

The taxi/cab/lyft/uber market is also going to be massively changed with autonomous vehicles. Hence why Uber and Lyft are both pouring funds into the advancement.

I'd trust a computer a hell of a lot more than a significant portion of society (a lot of current truckers are in that significant portion) to back a trailer into a dock.

Grant H.

01-27-2018, 01:23

Don't do a gun shop. Nothing has a lower margin and crappy return for sweat equity also....self driving vehicles cannot yet handle snow (not just traction issues, but they entirely locate optically and cannot tell where they are on a snow packed road)andat appears quite a long ways off. Trucking should be mostly safe in Colorado for around a decade.

Not really that far off.

They successfully tested an autonomous car on snow packed roads in Finland. Different than a semi? Sure, but it doesn't take long for the capability to jump platforms.

That, and it's not an unknown problem. The research that is being done is moving far faster than most are aware. Waymo is actively testing their cars in Michigan this winter, etc...

It won't take a decade, not even close. An autonomous vehicle only has to be able to drive as well as anyone else, and in case you haven't been watching, that doesn't set a very high bar. Even if harsher climates do take longer to adopt autonomous trucking, all of the trucking that occurs in nicer climates will move that direction, and the competition for trucking jobs will sky rocket. Instead of being a free-for-all of "any tool with two eyes, two feet, and two hands can drive", as it is currently, it will move to a employers wet-dream of having the cream of the crop to pick from.

DOC

01-27-2018, 05:29

Self driving trucks are not going to be able to handle construction sites. They won't be able to back to a paver or handle a road that is being built where GPS doesn't know where it is to where it should be. When I drove mixing trucks GPS was almost useless to get me a customer because most of the time the road that the new house was being built on wasn't there last week. I've had to report missing streets about 5 times or more week. However, I don't want to do mixer trucks anymore.
I could see over the road trucks in warmer climates getting a toe hold first.

DOC

01-27-2018, 05:33

DOC

01-27-2018, 06:18

All I could think of was..

https://youtu.be/UeR27OP4V7U

https://youtu.be/GcC9ldx9N9M This what I thought of with all my questions I have. Although, I would have a PS90. Tech 9's are so 1980's.

Great-Kazoo

01-27-2018, 08:26

What about a gun shop that is part time and mostly to support my own habit? Not a single source of income but part of a wide variety. Maybe sell a few guns a week and to help get guns off the street and safely into my gun safe. Sounds like a drug habit. lol.

Maybe? There's full time stores barely selling a few guns a week. Firearms sales are not the way to keep the doors open, pay bills and employees. It's the accessories, ammo etc that have a better mark up and return than maybe 10% (if that) on a gun.

Irving

01-27-2018, 12:56

How will a driverless Amazon truck get the package to my front door?

I'll be happy to have driverless roads, as traffic is complete garbage.

sampson

01-27-2018, 13:14

How will a driverless Amazon truck get the package to my front door?

I'll be happy to have driverless roads, as traffic is complete garbage.I'm with you on driverless roads. People are idiots.

I'm thinking new tech combined with old tech. Catapult

Irving

01-27-2018, 13:16

I figure if I want to race around with no regard for the safety of myself or others, I'll just buy a side by side and head to the hills!

Irving

01-27-2018, 13:35

Great-Kazoo

01-27-2018, 14:50

sampson

01-27-2018, 15:10

A truck to porch drone, that parks on a wireless charging dock between stops seems like a pretty reasonable solution.

On an equally serious note, being the monkey that rides in the truck and delivers packages sounds like the best job in the world.

I like the trebuche idea. Lol

Ups already tested this.

"UPS used a new electric delivery truck with a drone launchpad atop it. Inside the truck, a driver loads a package into the drone's cargo bin. Then a section of the truck's roof slides backwards, so that the drone can take off.

After the drone lifts off, the human drives away to deliver a separate package. Then the drone and truck rendezvous at another location, where the drone is loaded with a fresh package. If implemented, that cycle could continue for a driver's entire shift, allowing UPS to deliver packages more efficiently and save on fuel.

The gains would be especially significant in rural areas, where deliveries are more spread out. If every UPS driver had to cover one less mile per day, the company said it would save up to $50 million per year.

Related: Amazon's delivery drones may drop packages via parachute

Between flights, the drone would recharge its battery while docked in the UPS truck. (Its battery lasts for 30 minutes.) The drone UPS tested was capable of carrying packages up to 10 pounds. The drone is big enough to roughly fit in the trunk of a sedan.

There are no guarantees UPS will ever deliver an actual package with a drone. John Dodero, UPS' vice president of industrial engineering, told CNNTech it depends on whether automated drones could deliver safely. So far, that's an open question.

The technology behind drone delivery is still nascent and needs perfecting. There are also regulatory hold-ups. It's not legal to run a fully automated drone delivery service in the United States. UPS currently has one of its executives on the FAA's drone advisory council, an indication of its interest in drones. Experts expect that the government will eventually allow fully automated drone delivery.

There are concerns that robotics and automation will eliminate many jobs in the years ahead. But Dodero said job security wouldn't be an issue for its drivers.

"Our drivers are the face of our company," Dodero said. "We'd never be looking to get rid of our drivers."

This wasn't the first drone test from UPS (UPS). In September 2016, UPS teamed with drone company CyPhy Works to deliver a package to an island near Boston.

UPS' second drone mission comes as Amazon (AMZN) invests heavily in building its own delivery network, including drones capable of dropping packages in customers' backyards. UPS may need to master delivery with drones so that its services don't become obsolete.

Amazon (AMZN) is currently testing overseas, and delivered a package in Britain this December. Amazon isn't the only one. Late last year, drone delivery firm Flirtey completed an automated drone trial with 77 deliveries from a 7-Eleven in Reno, Nevada.

The UPS drone and truck were developed by Workhorse, a Cincinnati company that's supplied UPS with several hundred electric delivery trucks."

hurley842002

01-27-2018, 15:32

On an equally serious note, being the monkey that rides in the truck and delivers packages sounds like the best job in the world.

I concur.

Gman

01-27-2018, 15:35

I'm not so confident about autonomous vehicles and drones. I'm still waiting for the flying cars from the '50s.

Irving

01-27-2018, 15:42

Hopefully they can make the parachutes approximately 13 gallons in capacity so I can use them as trash bags instead of just throwing them away.

On a related note, if Amazon offered a service that allowed me to cleanly break down boxes from previous orders and set them on my porch to be picked up by the delivery guy the next time I receive an order, I'd sign up in a heartbeat!

ETA: The article mentions a retractable roof. What a waste of money and effort, leave the back door open.

sampson

01-27-2018, 15:46

Proof of concept.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180127/c86fec0b4d94ff836f4c8d76393a9aa8.jpg

Gman

01-27-2018, 16:03

On a related note, if Amazon offered a service that allowed me to cleanly break down boxes from previous orders and set them on my porch to be picked up by the delivery guy the next time I receive an order, I'd sign up in a heartbeat!
LIKE!

...and the PoC is hilarious.

Gman

01-27-2018, 17:37

...or if the packages have been mauled by the family dog in the back yard?

Aloha_Shooter

01-27-2018, 17:49

I was just listening to the radio talking about any advancement in self-driving vehicles will be in over the road trucks first. May still be a ways off but just something to think about. They were saying any young people coming into the working environment might want to rethink trucking as a career. I think there might be some options as a full-time “harbor pilot” to back trucks into the dock once they arrive at the warehouse. They didn't have much faith in computers being able to back trucks into a dock.

That surprises me. I would think the relatively controlled (or controllable) environment of the dock and the ability to mount guidance sensors would make that the easiest part of robotic operation. What I don't trust self-driving vehicles with are the open roads and the varied driving styles of people from across the nation (or around the world) or the unpredictability of weather and local conditions.

CoGirl303

01-27-2018, 19:01

Is Old Dominion the company that frequently has drivers flop their trucks on that curve where 58 meets I-70 leaving Coors?

No. That's any number of mega companies. Old Dominion has a very strong track record of high quality safety and it's not real often you hear about their trucks or drivers getting into wrecks. They are one of the top 5 Linehaul Trucking companies in the nation. I know several of their drivers and they get taken care of in terms of pay, benefits, and vacation time. They run your ass off and work you, but you get paid for anything and everything you do over there. Out of the Denver hub, they've only had 1 set rollover (October 2017) and 2 rear boxes on two seperate sets flip in the wind up in Wyoming and that was 7 years prior.

And Linehaul is much better than OTR any day of the week. Leave out, go to a swap point, swap trailers, come back, drop, go home. Out every day, home every night. If you have your own run, you're off two days a week. If you're on the extra board trying to earn your seniority to bid on a run, you get a day and a half off so you can do a 34 hour reset of your hours.

Just a quick hitter, when CoGirl303 listed first Old Dominion as a good company I had a really, really good laugh so I do appreciate that. I've been driving for a decade now, did several years OTR, been in town much longer now. I'll be happy to field questions you have with the industry, try to give you an inside as much as I can give. Short answer, do not get into it as an O/O right off, especially without any experience. There's plenty of really good money out there running another guy's truck with so so much less headache.

I have yet to hear any complaints out of any of their drivers mouths about working there.

BushMasterBoy

01-27-2018, 19:43

Teufel

01-27-2018, 20:29

CoGirl303

01-28-2018, 10:00

I have yet to hear any complaints out of any of their drivers mouths about working there. - From CoGirl

Well.. here's at least one

Also, I apparently suck at doing forum things like quoting. So.. there's that too.

Linehaul and extraboard work arent for everyone so I get there will be people with complaints. You're the first one I've heard with any sort of complaint but I'm sure you won't be the last. All companies have good and bad things about them. It's all about what's acceptable to you and what isn't.

I worked for Werner when I got my start. I was treated well, but underpaid and overworked.

But as a whole/big picture, I've heard more good about OD than I have bad. Can't say the same for companies like Werner and Swift.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Skip

01-28-2018, 12:31

I thought a lot about buying a surplus military wrecker and using it to deliver storage containers. I wanted to build a house in a remote location using this technique.

https://www.planbsupply.com/6x6-wreckers

73308

That's really cool!!

A company that builds that like that could make a good amount of money if the pricing was right.