ill be starting my own with a friend of mine around christmas, we have the truck(s), tools, and clients, i might also try to buy a few old steel semi wheels and mount some tires on them so i can keep one in the truck(s) if a call needs one. i got my newly bought 1991 F-superduty with a 7.3 with a 9 foot tool box body on it, plus i got a 1989 F350 flatbed dually with a 460 and my 1990 cummins, so trucks are plentiful, my guy has more tools than you can shake a stick at and so do i, he has 3 full sets of each, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, and 1 inch, plus all sizes of air impacts, A/C equipment and alot of other stuff, i plan on doing LOF (lube, oil, filter) service, repair (my other guy is cummins certified), A/C repair, welding, alot of other stuff, he has worked for 2 different places doing PM, i will be working full time at the tire shop i work at and he will be doing it at night and on the weekends (i will be helping him when i aint at work) til we get enough business for me to quit and go to doing PM full time, i will be the financial backing til we get self supportive, i can eventually have 3 guys out running service during the day while im working, plus im looking at buying 2 other 7.3 fords to work out of. i am going to start small and hopefully this will take off, the guy that is working with me is a great diesel mechanic and he knows every trucking place around here. the reason im asking in here is because you truckers will be my customers and i want any opinions you have......thanks, Logan.

this is some of the stuff ill be buying for the trucks and the prices, i can just about outfit the truck(s) for 2500, this is about 1800 worth of stuff so far.

multiquip welder/generator 600
hose reel 100
2 pneumatic grease guns 80
2 grease gun kit 80
gas pressure washer 180 **optional**
3000lbs winch 100 **optional**
vice 60
4 work lights 40 **optional**
power inverter 100 **optional**
diesel comp tester 160
cummins comp tester 70
oil pressure tester 10
comp tester 16
A/C air pump 20
siphon pump 5
1000 lb crane 90 **optional**
wheel step 25 **optional**

 

Sounds like a great deal. I know people that have skipped PM's cause of a long wait in a Petro or T/A. Hell I was down 3 days in Knoxville waiting for a damn Alt. and 4 batteries for my damn freightliner! (Grrr.... I hate stealerships)

I think Id skip the winch, I dunno what you would use it for on a service call. But you sound ready to rumble for sure! You should keep a small inventory of parts, like alternators, starters, batt's ect.... Simple little things like that on hand will make a service call go fast. And keep the driver happy.

Make up some business cards and pin em on the bulletin boards in the local truck stops.

Good luck to you on your new business adventure!

 

There's only way to get started is to jump in with both feet or go head first. Sounds like your on the right track. Good luck with your endever, I'm also in central Fla. and may need you one day. ('00, 7.3l, PSD). Sixpack

 

Don't forget to put some bottlejacks and some tire tools on the truck too. Tires will bring you alot of business, especially in the summertime when it is hot.

 

he's got a 20 ton air powered bottle jack, ill probably buy another one, i will keep a small inventory, probably reman or rebuilt stuff to keep costs down, ill keep a few used tires and rims around also. i want the winch cause its cheap insurance for 100 bucks. i got a big budweiser distributor behind my house, florida refuse, and a concrete plant.