Starting an LLC and buying a truck

Greetings. Here is the current situation: 🙂 I am looking to connect with any owner-operators or fleet owners in the trucking industry—specifically someone who manages their own rigs and handles freight. I’ve been behind the wheel since I was 18. After seven years on the road, I know the reality of this life: the cramped cabs, the missed birthdays, the social life sacrificed, the gas station showers, the dispatchers, and the endless grind. My goal is to start my own LLC and pick up a truck—used, obviously. My assumption is that securing a lease is nearly impossible when you're just starting out as a new business entity. I am wondering if there are any independent owners here willing to have a serious conversation. I need some practical advice on how to get off the ground, what the hidden pitfalls are, and whether the math actually works. The idea isn't to strike it rich; I just want to earn a decent living and finally have control over my own schedule so nobody is breathing down my neck. I don't have much capital upfront, so I'd likely need to look into a business loan, which requires some careful calculation. If anyone is open to a discussion, please reach out.

So how are you even planning to land a job? There are plenty of semi-trucks just sitting there waiting for drivers, but look at me—I just got taken for a ride by some guy with a van $433 for five hours of hauling old junk to the dump. It was pure manual labor plus driving and disposal—but the whole thing was a total scam. He tried to tell me they pay for scrap at the facility, so I told him, "Fine, take this trash, devil, here’s your cash." He ended up making maybe 19 miles total. I found his listing on Craigslist, and the poor guy worked himself into a frenzy carrying all that stuff—he looked like an idiot, covered in dust and breathing in god-knows-what

Look, I need to connect with someone who actually understands time management so we can talk shop. I’m fully aware of what this job entails—I know exactly what I'm getting into. My focus isn't on the logistics; I already have a handle on the driving, the loading, and the unloading side of things. What I really want to dig into is the financial architecture, the hunt for new contracts, and risk assessment. That's where my interest lies.

Is anyone actually here, or what?