It's readily apparent from following these posts that different folks operate at different efficiency levels. The posts tend to distinguish between those more interested in driving a truck and those more intrested in operating a business.

Some factors affecting efficiency include:
HOMEBASE LOCATION - Your not likely to get rich operating out of Maine
TYPE OF EQUIPMENT
EG0 - How much are you paying to be "cool"
DRIVING MANNER
FUEL COST - Some folks buy it cheaper
PROACTIVE MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE COST
TRIP PLANNING
BUSINESS PLANNING
INSURANCE COST
WISE USE OF DEPRECIATION
PRETAX PLANNING
MARKETING
SALESMANSHIP - not the same as marketing
FINDING WAYS TO COPE WITH SEASONALITY - Capitalize on the opportunities at hand, like pulling a stepdeck for a change
THE LIST GOES ON AND ON
A housewife once complained that her husband was just a truck driver until someone reminded her that her husband owned a trucking company.


THE TRUCK DRIVERS WILL PROBABLY KEEP RIGHT ON COMPLAINING WHILE THE BUSINESSMEN WILL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK.

Thanks for all the back and forth though - I learn a lot from your input