If you do a search on here you’ll find many of your questions about setting up on your own answered already as well as answers too many of the questions you have even thought of yet.
TruckDriverBen:
Hi just some quick question i am thinking about buying a curtainsider artic: ( I know i will need cpc, land etc mechanic)
O’licence, access to funds, money to run before you get paid.
TruckDriverBen:
-Can i park my trailer in a layby and take the trator unit home with me so long as i dont get any complaints?
You need an operating centre big enough to park the vehicles specified on your O’licence, so both tractor unit and trailer, so if you’re think of using your home as an operating centre it needs to be that large and you’ll need to advertise the fact you wish to use it, at which point various organisations and your neighbours can raise objections.
The long term practicality of bringing a tractor unit home (which isn’t your operating centre) on the odd occasion might be depend on where you live and how well you get on with your neighbours, I have brought mine home and can get it into the garden, but I live at the end of an industrial estate and it’s the only house here with a large garden and we share a driveway with a couple of industrial units in a converted barn next door, so nobody to really objects not even my landlord for driving a truck on his driveway.
TruckDriverBen:
Also can i drive the trator unit without my card in ? if its for personal use?
No, Any truck over 7.5t mgw, comes under EU drivers hours regs, even if it’s on private use.
TruckDriverBen:
-Would it be better to purchase a DAF on lease, or just buy a second hand one from ebay?
-I am just planning on owning 1 artic will it be worthwhile or not? ( Short answer is ok )
Why a DAF, you need to be looking the most practical truck available, regardless of make, from what others have said, it is unlikely you’ll get a lease deal as a start up company.
TruckDriverBen:
I dont have any work, but i have googled place like maritime and they accept people for sub-contract
Do a search on Maritime and OD’s on here, the general rule of thumb is if a company is advertising for sub-contractors it probably means rates aren’t so good. And its better to go out and find your own work, this is why its better to gain a few years experience in the industry and a few contacts.
TruckDriverBen:
so short answer is it worthwhile? i will be putting in 50hour average by week
The normal answer is financially probably not and if you running your own business I doubt you’d be averaging 50 hours a week, well maybe officially for WTD, but not unofficially.
