Truckers Helper Article Index

Before launching into a brief How To in installing a microwave and inverter in your truck I need to state, the information in this article is based on my own personal experience and does not purport to be an authoritative manual on how to install these items. This task is not one that should be undertaken by the mechanically challenged. An inverter if improperly installed could start a fire in your truck, give you an electrical shock and possibly seriously injure or kill you. The safest course of action is to have your dealer, or other qualified individual install an inverter and outlets for you. If you have any doubt as to your own understanding of electricity or proper wiring techniques have this work done for you by a qualified professional. If you choose to undertake this task on your own you do so at your own risk.That out of the way let�s get to the business at hand. I have installed and used an inverter and microwave in all of my trucks and found it to be a really money saver. When my wife and I ran team we found that frozen dinners would last about 3 days in our cooler and so we�d stop every 3^rd day, usually at a WalMart Supercenter, to stock the cooler. Having our meals in the truck meant not only a cost savings, but quality food without the need to stop the truck. Fewer stops mean more miles � so you not only save a little, you also make a little more.

The first thing you�ll need is to decide on an inverter. I used the inverters that the Flying J carries with good luck. The one they are currently carrying comes with cables and is ready to install. You can check it out here > FlyingJ Store

I installed the inverter in the side compartment and then ran an outlet into the sleeper. If you are driving a company truck you�ll need to find out if you can drill a couple of holes in the floor of the side compartment to install the inverter.

Here�s what you�ll need to finish the installation:

An inverter (1500 would be a minimum to power a microwave)

Cables � check the manufactures recommendations for wire size. One of the main problems with inverters is power loss between the batteries and the inverter. So be sure to use the right size wire for the distance you have to travel. This is one of the reasons for using the side compartment, it was near the batteries.

Rubber Grommets � the size of the grommets will depend on the size wire you�re using but it�s CRITICAL that you protect the wire from chaffing. So be sure to use adequate grommets to protect the wire where you bring it into the side compartment.

100 Amp Fuse � this is also a CRITICAL component. You need the fuse to protect your wiring and for fire protection.

Tools � drill, bits of the right size, wrenches and assorted hand tools.

The first step is to run the wiring. Place your inverter where you plan to mount it and determine where the wires are going to enter the side compartment.Be sure to leave a little slack in the wires so you have room to move things around and connect the wires to the inverter. Now drill the holes using the correct size drill bit for the grommets. Install the grommets and fee the wire through them. Attach the wire to the inverter and secure the inverter. If the inverter doesn�t come with any type of mounting hardware you can obtain some strapping at your local hardware store and use that to hold the inverter in place. Be sure to protect the wiring and connectors so other items in the side compartment cannot come into contact with them. Finish up this step by caulking around the grommet and where the wire passes through it to give you a good seal and keep moisture out of the side compartment.

Now connect the wires to the batteries. Use the 100amp fuse between the battery and the positive cable. Once the connections are made turn the inverter on and be sure it is functioning correctly.

I�ve run the power from the inverter to the inside of the sleeper a couple different ways. The easiest way is to use a power strip. Drill a hole large enough for the plug to go through between the side compartment and the sleeper. Pass the plug though this hole and then place a rubber grommet around the wire to protect it from chaffing. You can mount the power strip with Velcro, 2 sided tape, or with a couple of screws. Where you position it will depend on the layout of your sleeper and where the Microwave is going to live.

For your microwave you�ll want to get a 1000 watt microwave. Be sure to get one with a rotating tray as these will give you much better results. Now just mount the microwave somewhere safe and plug it in. You can also use your inverter to power a coffer pot, computer or other A/C appliances. Just be sure to keep an eye on how many watts you�re using at a given time. ALSO keep the truck running when you�re placing a lot of demand on the system. Most trucks have a high output alternator in them that will be able to keep up with your demand for this small system. This will insure that you�re inverter doesn�t shut down half way through a meal because the batteries are getting low.

So what’s it take to be an Owner/Operator anyway?

“I’m a good driver and willing to work hard so I’m going to get my own truck and I’ll make more money than I do driving for a company!” Does this sound familiar? The answer is that is takes a great deal more than just being willing to work hard. A lot of good men have worked very hard at making a go of it as owner/operators and have still failed. In talking with some of these men, certain common factors emerge. The most common reason for failure turns out to be a lack of planning. You’ll quite often hear an ex-owner/operator complain that they were �ripped off� by a broker, plagued by truck breakdowns, or struck by some other item which, in their mind, was totally out of their control. However, few of these items were truly �beyond their control� - they were just unforeseen and not planned for. Before you take the plunge and get a truck of your own, you need to be aware of the possible problems you may encounter and make a plan for dealing with them. You also need to have a backup plan to carry you through in the event of a problem. Remember, you’re not just changing the truck you drive - you’re starting a business, and you’re now the manager of that business and will be faced with the many challenges of running a business.

Every year in this country there are literally thousands of new businesses started, and at the end of the year there are only a handful of them left. The key to starting a successful trucking business is the same as it is for any business, so let’s look at a few of the reasons that cause thousands to fail and only a handful to survive and become successful.

The first and most obvious answer is planning - being prepared for the worst. If you start out prepared to handle possible emergencies you’ll have a much better chance of succeeding. Many of the people who fail thought they had planned for these emergencies, but they didn’t look closely enough at what could possibly go wrong and found that they were unprepared for an event that should have been just a minor setback. For a trucker here’s a few of the possibilities -

1. Broker/Company you’re pulling for goes bankrupt owing you two months pay.
2. Truck has a number of small breakdowns - not serious but a day or two each � and you’re under a load. According to your lease, it is your responsibility to get the load delivered, so you have to job it out. Not only do you have a repair bill, but it winds up costing you more to have someone else deliver the load than you made on the job.
3. You’re on the loading dock when you slip and fall, breaking your hip and dislocating your shoulder. The doctor says it will be at least six months before you can get back on the road.

These are just a few of the possible emergencies that could arise and they all represent problems that could and should have been planned for. How do you foresee and plan for such events? Next week we’ll take a look at how to plan for and be prepared for whatever may come.

Last week we talked about the need for planning for your new business and being prepared for the possibilities that you might face in running a business for yourself. This week we’re going to offer some specific steps to take in being prepared for any eventuality. We had mentioned 3 specific items that could go wrong. Here are some steps to take to be certain your prepared should any of these disasters strike you:

1. Broker/Company you’re pulling for goes bankrupt owing you two month’s pay.First, you should never allow anyone to become seriously behind in paying you regardless of what the “story” is. If you’re running for a single broker or company, you’ve put all of your eggs in their basket. If they drop the basket your eggs are going to get broken. The first time your check is late or bounces, start looking around. The second time it happens, make a move.Second, check out the broker or company thoroughly before you sign on the dotted line. Don’t take Joe’s word for it that they’re a good company. Talk to at least five or ten other people. Check them out online - post notices of inquiry about them on the trucking bulletin boards. Check with OOIDA and find out if they’ve had any complaints or if they have any information on the company. Find out everything you can before you put your trust in them.

   READ YOUR LEASE! Don’t put yourself in this position to start with. Read your lease or agreement with the broker or company carefully. If you don’t understand something make them explain it or get a lawyer to review it for you and explain it to you. Be sure you understand what you’re signing BEFORE you sign. If you find yourself in the recruiters office with him standing there pen in hand, ask to take the agreement home to review it before you sign. If he refuses there’s probably a good reason why he doesn’t want you to read it carefully, so look for another company to sign on with. Any reputable broker or company will not only be happy to let you examine their agreement, they’ll want to be sure you understand it before you sign it.

   Finally, and this applies to all our possible scenarios, have a reserve before you start your business. You should have enough in reserve, after making the down payment on your truck, to last you at least three months - preferably six. Failure to have a reserve is probably the single most prevalent cause of owner/operators losing their truck and going bankrupt.

2. Truck has a number of small breakdowns - not serious but a day or two each � and you’re under a load. According to your lease, it is your responsibility to get the load delivered, so you have to job it out. Not only do you have a repair bill, but it winds up costing you more to have someone else deliver the load than you made on the job.First, KNOW YOUR TRUCK! Failure to know enough about the mechanical workings of your truck puts you at the mercy of towing companies and mechanics who may try to rip you off. The owner who knows how to jury rig and get it running also knows how to maintain his truck and keep it from breaking down. He’s also in a position to know when he can safely jury rig something long enough to get the truck to a shop or make his delivery before more professional repairs are made.Secondly, research the truck before you buy and get a warranty from the dealer you’re buying the truck from. Don’t just take the dealer’s word that the truck has been well maintained, ask to see records. Find out what warranty is available, does it cover you when you’re away from your home base, etc.
3. You’re on the loading dock when you slip and fall, breaking your hip and dislocating your shoulder. The doctor says it’ll be at least 6 months before you can get back on the road.There is no way to know when a medical disaster could strike, and we all tend to operate under the assumption that it won’t happen to us, but failing to prepare, just in case, is another major cause of businesses failing. A single truck owner/operator is a 1 person business, if that person becomes ill or has an accident there is no longer a business. There are a number of things you can do to be prepared for such a disaster.First, HAVE A RESERVE! If you have a reserve to fall back on you will be able to weather this storm and get back on your feet, if you don’t, you’re looking at losing your truck at the very least and possibly losing a lot more.

   Secondly, have disability insurance for as much as you can afford. If a full blown disability policy is out of your reach, at least get policies to cover your major payments. These are usually available for high price items such as your car, house and truck through the finance companies that carry the loans and are usually quite affordable. If you’ve got insurance on these major payments your reserve will last you a lot longer and you’ll probably be able to survive an accident or illness that lays you up for several months.

   Finally, BE CAREFUL! Remember you’re no longer foot loose and fancy free: You’re a business owner now. With these new responsibilities comes the need to behave like a business man. As a driver, if you let the dock foreman get your goat and you slip and fall as you stomp back to your truck, the company’s insurance will cover you, they’ll provide another driver to get their truck moved, and they’ll probably even have disability coverage to get you through until you can go back to work. But as an owner/operator you have no one to fall back on. You not only have to deal with your injury, but you have to get your truck home or find the tow yard it’s been hauled to and reclaim it. With this new responsibility comes the necessity to behave as a business owner - to not let people make you careless or allow others to influence your judgment.

Next week we’ll take a look at some of the other steps you can take to assure your success as an Owner/Operator and take a look at the family commitment that’s necessary to help you succeed when you strike out on your own.

John Ewing, has written many articles for various trucking publications and is currently a field writer for Truckers Connection where his column Owning The Wheel is a monthly feature and he occasionally publishes a feature article. His articles on trucking, managing your money on the road, business management software, and other helpful issues that could benefit the entire trucking industry from drivers and owner/operators to fleets with hundreds of trucks.

These articles are copyrighted by John Ewing and by the original publisher. There are reprinted here with permission from the original publisher who is acknowledged in each article. These articles may not be copied or reproduced in any form without specific written permission from the author and original publisher of the article