According to a study published by the ATBS, the largest owner-operator service provider in the US, OOs had their best year yet last year in terms of revenue.
On average, leased and independent owner operators made $56,167 in 2014. The number comes in at 7% higher than 2013’s average of $52,406. Of course, not every OO makes the same amount of money, and different freight pays different amounts.
The highest earning group of OOs was flatbed drivers who made $60,510 a year on average, followed by dry van at $54,490, and then reefers at $52,064. Interestingly, though it paid the best, flatbed drivers saw almost no increase in income over the previous year.
According to Todd Amen, President and CEO of ATBS, average OO income was $2,000 higher than they had originally predicted for this year, in large part because of the steep reduction in fuel costs at the end of the year.
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Source: gobytrucknews, overdrive, atbsshow
Miami Trucker says
Well that’s The Average……
Is there a Stat that says’ what O/O’s make that Basically Live on The Road ?
I mean NET ! ….NOT Gross.
I Basically go home for 2 weeks….And almost have enough $ to get My Truck.
That number is a Little disapointing to me !
I was Hoping that Driers that Live on The Road,for their sacrafice.
Would have Al Least Netted $80,000-$100,000 a Year !
Jraulpilot says
Those are “wishful” numbers…….but “today”….a more realistic gross number is around $140,000 to $155,000 Gross….and the O/O will determine the Net income by the way he handles the “daily operations” expenses.
Jason says
This number is obviously net pay, because certainly nobody is paying for a truck, fuel, and maintenance with only 52,000 and having anything left to show for it. However, I feel this number is somehow misreported. Granted it was like 9 years ago, I personally saw the end-of-year settlement statement for a FedEx Ground contractor with just 2 trucks. And it was 336,000 (gross). He mentioned his net was something like 180,000. So idk where people are making just 52,000, but they’re with the wrong company apparently. Hell, I made around 60,000 as a company driver this year, and it was my first year with this company.
John S says
While my gross earnings did rise, my net earnings decreased because of increased costs in fuel, repairs and other on road costs. Its hard to judge what 2015 will bring? But so far its off to a slow start and even though fuel costs have dropped. So has rates and freight volume. Both negative signs of a economy possibly slowing for 2015.
Jraulpilot says
2015 and 2016 will get better in some areas of trucking like….Flatbed and heavy haul. There is “bar talk” around our Nation of possible full scale War….if that’s the case….then…………???@$$
Bill says
If you own your truck and only made 56k last year you’re doing something wrong.
Brian says
That was my thinking when I saw the article…
sudon't says
I think they’re talking about net income, and of course, it’s an average.
Bill says
If you only netted 56k you’re doing something wrong.
Robert says
22 years as a owner operater have come to a end.I went to work for Wal-Mart Im makind alot more money then I was as a owner operater.I miss being a owner operater.but you jave a bunch of low lifes that will haul frieght for nothing and its only getting worse.frieght board high average right now is around 1.30 a mile.you can run a truck for slave wages….
willie says
Is this what they grossed or what they cleared after expenses? As Bill said if they are owner operators and grossed only 56k something is definitely wrong. I know 2 Walmart drivers that average over $50,000
Jim says
I quit Wal Mart back in 2006 and was making $80,000 a year. I went back to being an Owner Operator and was blessed with a steady gig that nets me upwards of $200,000 a year! Home and off every weekend. No kidding!
Kelly says
I had highest gross revenue year at 194k, net profit of 50k. Went over on my maintenance budget of 10k by 5k. Mainly due to new single wheels and tire purchase at end of year instead of beginning of this one. Also had a pinion shaft bearing failure on a remanned differential. Even being under warranty it still cost $1500 and $2400 to lease one of our company trucks, so I could keep running. On the plus side lowest out of pocket fuel expense year at $1700, and put over 18k in my 401, and 13k in Roths. I pull a tanker, have a lift axle, get surcharge loaded and empty, live in Iowa, and go to Texas almost every week. I also had more time off than prior 6 years, 5 weeks vacation 1 week of days total where wasn’t anything they could give me to do. Looking forward to this year!
Kevin says
Kelly
Your comments in truckers report news are promising. 28 years ago I was a JP4 Jet Fuel and LOX Tanker Driver in the Air Force. You know,back during the height of The Cold War! Anyway, I’m highly educated (use to be a principal of high school )due to the economy, lost my job/career&haven’t ben able to get back in,since! However, I retrained/recertifed with some of the shuttle engineers (who lost their jobs when the program ended ) back to driving trucks four years ago! Pretty much ever since! Came back to this business as oo and lost my shirt! I contracted with the wrong company (transam) However I’m going to go back to being oo again! This time a little more wiser,as they say. Anyway, just wanted to know,you say ur oo hauling tankers! I would like to go back to hauling tankers. Tanker Drivers I’ve talked to say their making rather good money. As of late, I’ve been pulling dry & ref, with some very limited flats. Mostly dry & ref for a company! I was wondering any company ‘s like Landstar or Mercer for tanker drivers, that contract o/op tanker drivers or would I have to buy a tanker an do it myself totally? You sounded like you know what’s what, in ur comments! So,thought I’d ask. Thank you
Kevin
Daniel R Kupke Sr says
Ive been a OO for over 40 years now and if u want to pull a tank get into these trucking books they have in the truck stops for the SE or NE part of the country ?? There is one that allways catchs my eye n its out of Florida called Indian Springs Tank Lines n there is also several diff outfits that run around the Houston area ??
Kelly says
Kevin,
Best to just check and see what’s in your area. I contract to a company Questliner, the hazmat side of this family owned business, mainly haul alcohol. They have a food grade liquid and dry bulk called Foodliner, spread throughout US. Have made several other acquisitions in the past few years. Now have a total fleet pushing 1000 or more, 200 hazmat and rest food grade. Where are you located, may be a location you could check into?
For the rest of you my net is net profit to company as a Sub chapter S corp. I’m an employee and an expense as receive a check every week of $710 and 8 paid holidays at $200. I also pay my wife 2k per year to file my and pay my state, federal, federal witholding, estimated tax payments, balance checking monthly, and do my paycheck and deposit in personal account. I pay my daughter 1k per year to do my settlement each week. So when I get home I enter weeks receipts for week, pay off credit card each week, and Im free.
Factor back in my pay of 710 by 52 + 1600 holiday and 13k for Roths = $51520 + 50k net profit is 101.5k income. I’ll take it over a company driver with my 5 weeks paid vacay. Where else could I work for only 7 years and get that kind of vacay and pay? Home 43 out of 47 worked last year. Last note I have no college education, except one year at community college in an industrial maintenance program, and I barely graduated high school. I’m happy and fortunate to be where I am. Trucking has been a good choice for my family thus far.
Jraulpilot says
Those are very Realistic numbers………
Don says
Like they say at CR England, drive life — all your life.
KenHarris says
If you drive for CR England you’d be better off hand picking walnuts
Nicole says
It’s February…..where do they get their numbers? I haven’t filed my taxes yet and neither have any of the other oo’s I know. Besides, income may have gone up, but expenses went up more.
Bill says
Good point. I know I haven’t even spoken to my accountant yet on 2014
Robert says
I have been debating wether to go o/o for awhile but if 50000-60000 is what I can expect I just can’t see doing it. As a company driver I take home 850-1200 per week. I would.not take all those headaches for less than $75000 a year. Those who have reported to me making 150000 a year seem to be struggling. How do I get the truth? How do I get a reliable truck with good fuel mileage and pay all those expenses and do better then I am. I drive for dart as a company driver I am sure their recruiters would tell me a load of bs about how great being an o/o is but really where do I cut through the bs?
Bill says
Here’s the scoop Robert. It’s really up to the individual. I grossed 177k last year but I only worked 10 months. I pull flat and I’m not afraid to run the NE and great lakes region. Which is where the better money is. I know guys who also pull flat and want to stay south on the I10 corridor who made 50k less than me because they don’t want to deal with the cold and traffic and “tolls”. I spent a little over 6k in tolls last year. I’ll spend 6k to make an extra 50. There are too many variables to say if you’ll be successful. I also know guys who idle their truck all week and get 5.2 to 5.4 mpg. Turn your truck off. I averaged 6.4 mpg last year I think. You can check it on mygauges. I put all my numbers on there for anyone to see. It’s an extra $1000/year in your pocket for every 1/10 mpg you improve. That’s 10k a year more I’m making for running the same miles. It’s about thinking about what you’re doing.
Jraulpilot says
Good….Realistic Scenario…….Thanks.
Daniel R Kupke Sr says
Stay in the company trk !! N Ive been a OO for over 40 years telling u that !! Keep on doing your figures and if it ever looks like u will make a chunk takeing the plunge to be a OO then consider it hast to be a lasting thing instead of just a year or 2 ?? I love being a OO n would not trade the independence or ability to run my own show but if I had no equipment there is no way Id take that step these days n invest in all that expense unless I knew that I could come out ahead year after year !!!! I have went completely independent here in the last couple of years n that has been a plus for me that I should have done a long time ago ?? Being leased to some-one just turns u into a glorified company driver that pays all the bills on everything instead of them ??
Jraulpilot says
Those numbers are “Net Income”.
You can make very close to that and even over that as Company driver for the “right Co.”……
If you are an experienced driver with a Spotless record….NEGOTIATE hard those “Cents per Mile”….when you first step into their door. “They”….will not let you walk away…… Happy trails to all….and hang in there…………PERSEVERE..!!!
Steve says
Yes i use to drive all the companies are liars. when the economy took a dump in 2009. I was a union plumber in Vegas. Went back to school and learned how to drive the recruiters are the biggest liars of them all. OH your first year you will make $35.000 to $40,000 a year it is all a lie.Yes they have to feed you the bullshit.who wants to work 60 to 70 hours a week for $850 to $1500 a week that is no money.Before the economy took a shit i was pulling in $120,000 a year for 50 hour work week and had benefits. I worked with and o/o he told me he sees his family for 3 weeks out of the year he has to work his ass off to keep the truck running and he still only pulls in 100k a year after all expenses. To me that is not worth it
Jraulpilot says
That is a Sad reality that is Never going to change…..the more “Family/home time”…the Less money you make.
That is choice that has to be made…..A WISE MAN ONCE SAID:: Humans Sacrifice their HEALTH to make MONEY.
THEN….Sacrifices MONEY to recuperate HEALTH. Then He is SO anxious About the FUTURE…that does NOT ENJOY THE PRESENT….. RESULTS being;;;;;He does Not Live in the PRESENT….or the FUTURE…HE LIVES AS if he never going to DIE….AND THEN HE DIES HAVING NEVER REALLY LIVE!!!! Happy trails !!!!!!
Bill says
Interesting.
Brian says
Great comments from all. As drivers in the end are just workers,unfortunately we are the last on the food chain too many “educated” people sitting behind desks upset that some truck driver makes more than them. Then you have all the brokers and others taking their share of the profits before it gets to you the driver. Driving is a skilled trade just like a plumber or electrician etc. but these educated folks don’t think twice about paying them but a truck driver ? that they can’t understand that is why we are working twice as hard for the same pay as other tradesmen.
Ahmad says
Now its time to talk about investment and cash flow, the margin of income for company driver, lease operators or owner operators is the lowest ever. Government should set a pay standard that is not slave income other than extreme safety. 19 Years ago a company driver was able to make about $34,000 let say at least 3% inflation per year and “money devaluation which was more or less higher or lower in the to day’s”. lets say company drivers should get paid 57% more which is $53380 and lease operators should make 33-50% more. I do not know about owner operators but I could say if fuel is 3.80 you should make at least 2.10-2.20 per mile minimum.
Brian says
As a company driver, I grossed $65,000 last year driving local / regional lanes. Home every night and weekends. Medical, dental and 401(k), vacation and holiday pay.
Government doesn’t need to get involved, drivers just need to say ‘no’ to low pay.
Steve says
I made $53,000 last year as a shuttle driver for a local Haz-mat disposal company. 730-4, over time if i want it, home everynight, worked maybe 6 weekends in 2 years. Been out over night twice. 2 weeks vacation at the moment. 9 paid holidays, 2 personal days. 2 different types of insurance, 401k. I have 6 years experience. 1st 4 years 48 state and regional.
In contrast a friend of mine is an OO, makes about 60k after expenses and runs his nutsboff, but loves.
Pick what makes you happy, but it’s tough to make it as a successful OO these days.