Life Over the Road: Our Trucking Story
Our Trucking career started in August 2019 when my wife and I were coming back home from my grandfather’s funeral in Las Vegas, Nevada. During our drive My wife asked me if I ever thought about trucking as a career. I told her I considered trucking to be my exodus from my professional home improvements business. And so the spark was ignited and the vision was written. This is a part of our trucking story.
My wife and I purchased a straight truck and leased on with FedEx Custom Critical.
For what we do, as owner/operators, team driving, IMO, is the best success financially and in trucking for us in more ways imaginable. To each their own, of course.
About Our First Truck
We found our first truck through Ritchie Bros Auctions; they were able to help us finance our first truck based on our arrangements and good credit history. We found a 2015 Freightliner M2 112 straight truck. The truck had a Detroit DD15 engine, single drive axle*, 20′ cargo box, a Carrier APU generator with heat and A/C, Carrier refer unit for the cargo hold, Leyman lift gate. It was a mini RV setup with a fold down bed over a bench and table, several power outlets, cabinetry, small countertop with sink, refrigerator freezer, convection oven microwave, ample storage, fantastic fan, and more. It was quite cozy.
*FXCC classifies this truck as a C unit. We were limited to loads maxed at 5000 pounds, which is rare for straight truck C units anyway. It is the D unit straight trucks that have more and better load opportunities. More of D units later.
Financing Strategy
Cash is king, I know. I also not everybody has cash laying around to buy a big rig truck. And, most importantly, I also know anything is possible and there is no limit to possible.
Leasing Onto a Company
Prior to finalizing our purchase, we contacted a recruiter** at FedEx Custom Critical (FXCC) and made sure we could get on with them. Having secured a place with FXCC was instrumental in encouraging the lender to work with us for the truck we wanted to purchase.
**The first part of this journey to drive for FXCC is to contact a sourcing specialist. Reach out to me if you would like a referral by submitting the form below.
Life Over the Road
After finishing our training at FXCC in December 2019, we hit the road immediately. Our very first pickup was 7 miles from our home at the time in Louisville, KY. Oh? Our home was in a major hub zone for FXCC? Wow! That first load was to become our first taste in the exciting world of trucking. Pickup time was 1 a.m. We arrived. We sat for two hours before being informed the load cancelled. We started the truck, headed back home and enjoyed our fast-came initiation in trucking! Couldn’t have planned it that way if we tried.
A few days later we landed our first real load, a drive to Ohio for a pickup and delivery in Detroit. That was our very first night at a Pilot Flying J in Northern Indiana. A few weeks later, the world was shut down by a pandemic. Little did we know we were in a place in an industry that was to become “essential.” It was a massive blessing in disguise for us because had we not transitioned into trucking in those very moments when we did, my wife’s nurse aid education company became obsolete and my custom woodworking business came to a halt. Nonetheless, we did not have a clue we were on a collision course with opportunity. It wasn’t till a few years later and the dust would settle before we could look back and see what we had just experienced.
Fast forward to today, the story continues and not without a few humble tears of gratitude…
Ritchie Bros. Is a wonderful source for used, like new, and repossessed vehicles. In my opinion anyway.
Interested in learning more about driving for Fedex Custom Critical? Complete the form below.
Tell a little about yourself, your goals, your experience, and your driving history.
Do you want to drive as an owner/operator or are you looking for a fleet that needs drivers? Once I understand your hopes and desires, I will be able to point you in the right direction and send you some options I am aware of. Fair enough.
IMPORTANT: I am just a guy who has been here and done this. As a courtesy only and not an obligation, I am willing to help if I can. No promises, though. Best of all to ya!
Good day!
Ryan