So you want to be an owner operator?

I know this topic has been covered. I just wanted to give my experience to those who are on the fence and not sure.


This is my story,.. from unemployed to O/O.

I started trucking back in the 80's at the age of 19 driving a flat bed tow truck. Was a 1982 International with a straight 5 spd and 2 spd split rear.

I was encouraged by the company owner to get my class A Chauffeurs, this was before the CDL. I was grandfathered into the CDL with letters from my boss. All I had to do was pass the written tests.

Anyway,.. still working for the same company,.. they treated me well,.. I was well liked and the owner looked after me like a son. I was 21 when one of the regular transport drivers lost his license due to a DUI. They had a CAT 235 excavator on an old RGN attached to a mid 70's Mack. The Mack had a twin stick 18 speed and I had no idea how to shift it. I was given a 5 minute dissertation on how it worked,.. then I was told to figure it out and do my best. I stayed driving there until after my daughter was born in 96. I then got into construction and joined the union. Life was good.

FF to 2009. I had moved to Florida and the company I was working for folded. Sold everything. When I moved to Florida in 1999 I did not want to pay to have all my endorsements transferred over so I opted to just get a regular Class E operators permit. Figured I would never need a CDL again. Yes,.. hind sight is always 20/20. So in 2009 I was unemployed,.. dept up to my ears,.. no work prospects,.. had to cash out my IRA,. penalties galore,.. money running out. By 2011 I had to do something. Went from a household income of $120k down to under $30k. Yes,.. wife lost her job too.

So I decide to do the one skill I have left,.. I got my CDL back on my own. No school. I took the written tests at DMV and took a 3rd party road test using Roadmasters truck,.. $175 plus DMV fee,.. I think it was $80 to get basic class A, no endorsements. I didnt need to go to any trucking school to tell me what I already knew.

What I didnt know was how much trucking had changed since I last drove. Regulations have choked this once open industry down to nothing but road snitches with delusions of grandeur to see the country and get rich doing it. Used to be the company owner climbed up in the truck with you. You took a ride together and if he liked what he saw,.. a handshake later you had a job. Nothing could be more different compared to today. From pee pee tests, insurance dictating who can and can not be hired based on CSA and Hire Right information, regulations so tight even PeeWee Hermin had to tighten his belt.

What hit me the hardest was the new status quoe of 'Recent' experience vs 'Not Recent' experience. I had almost 8 yrs of solid accident and incident free commercial driving. Only none of it mattered because, none of it happened within the immediate 3 years. CRST suckered me into their orientation. I stuck it out for 2 days before I had seen enough and got back on the bus and went home. I just couldnt do it. Not for $.22 cpm shared with a co driver. Not after I had seen the degenerates with pants hanging down and underwear showing,.. no way would I trust my life to one of those idiots. Not Schneider, Not Swift, Not even Werner,.. all offered a refresher course that I could sign a contract and drive to pay it off. I just didnt want to become a slave and owe anything to any company. I wanted to be able to walk away clean at any time.

So I answered a Craigslist ad for a company out of Tacoma Wa. The fact that he was advertising in Fla should have been my first red flag,.. but I never saw it coming. I meet up with one of his drivers in Orlando, I kiss my wife good bye. Had I known then that I would not see her for the next 6 months, I would never have gotten in that truck. I was told lie after lie by the company owner. Empty promise after empty promise. Everything from money, to new trucks, to getting home,.. I heard it all. I had to email my 2 weeks notice and threaten to abandon the truck before he finally got me some home time. I wanted to quit so badly. But I knew that I needed to get at least 12 months OTR under my belt before any company would take me seriously. So I swallowed my pride and stuck it out.

After my 12 months were up, I called to give my 2 weeks notice. He tried to sell me more empty promises. When I refused,.. he then threatened to sue me for breach of contract. Then threatened to have me arrested for stealing his truck. Said I needed to get reloaded and if I'm lucky he wont have me yanked out of the truck in the middle of no where. At that point I decided I wasnt going to even return his truck. I knew abandonment was the #1 no no and easiest way to shoot off your foot in this industry. But I didnt care. I had enough. My only concern was if I could be arrested for leaving his truck. In my situation,.. the answer was no. I was under no contract. I never signed anything agreeing I would return the truck. My last words to him were a big fat,.. pfffffft. I left the truck at a consignee yard. I took pictures and had the security guard sign off on the condition of the truck. I even had the truck and trailer washed before I left it there. My wife followed me to my delivery in Miami. I did my last load, left the truck in a secure location and hoped in with my wife and headed home.

I am one of those people who (Knock on wood) always lands on his feet. A member here on TTR had been following my story and told his boss about me. He said he wanted to hire me. So I called and sure enough. I flew out to meet him,.. 24 hours later I was rolling a Pete 386 pulling a 53' flat bed. At least now I was back in familiar territory. I hated doing refer work. Flat bed was more my style. And I Was finally being paid well. No more slave salary. He started me at $.42 cpm, plus $100 tarp pay, plus fuel bonuses if I kept it above 6 mpg. Not an easy task with a C15 under the hood, especially pulling flatbed loads.

Now FF 1 yr later. Company owner had originally wanted to sell me the 386. I really like the Pete,.. how ever the truck was a lemon. It was constantly in the shop for just about everything under the sun. Electrical, lights, rear end, T/O bearing took a poop, EGR pooped and it was in for emissions related issues left and right. That truck would have broken me real quick if I tried to buy it. Instead he sold that truck and I got stuck in an 05 Freightliner Columbia. Coming from a sweet over powered Pete with 13 spd to a well worn Freightliner and 10 spd, I was not a happy camper to say the least. But I took it in stride,.. at least I was a well paid miserable puck.

So after a few months the truck starts growing on me. I still hate this truck. But its as reliable as an old dog. Mechanically nothing has gone wrong. It has over 1 million miles. The owner redid the HVAC system and a few other things. Drain plug on radiator needed to be replaced. Heater hose and a cracked windshield. Thats it. So I asked how much. He said he wanted $27k. I laughed,.. I said I see these trucks in the Truck Paper for $15k - $20k all day long. I told him if he bought me some new Michelin steers I'd give him $20k cash.

So we struck a deal.

Here is how my song and dance is going. My lease agreement.

2005 Columbia, $20k cash,.. I own the truck out right.
2012 Fontane Infinity 53' Step deck. He owns the trailer. I pay $120 a week for the use of it.
I paid $1700 for registration and the tag for 1 yr.
I paid $139 down and $61 a month to Progressive Commercial for bob tail insurance.
Originally we had agreed I would get 85% of the line haul. But I would be responsible for 100% of the trailer. Tires, damages, repairs etc. Its now cut back to 80% and other then the $120 weekly I pay, he is responsible for the trailer. With the exception if I curb a wheel and blow a tire, or other damage that is obviously my fault. I pay.
He covers all liability and cargo insurance. He dispatches my loads. I can refuse any load. We have a standing agreement,.. that anything over $2.35 a mile is fair game and assumed I will take it. Anything less and I need to be notified before the load is booked.

I have been an O/O only 2 months now. So far I am loving it. Wished I had gone this route sooner.

So far my weekly settlements have been in the $3200 - $4200 range. Thats NET,.. after fuel, after everyone elses hand comes out of the pie. My fuel is my biggest expense. I just cant seem to get over 5.8 mpg average with this truck. Much depends on location. I took a load from Kansas to Nm the other day and averaged 4.92 mpg. Mountains and hills suck the fuel out of this old truck. But,.. mechanically,.. its all good,.. other then fuel,.. my expenses are minimal. I should exceed $220k (Gross) next year. But bare in mind,.. this truck drinks almost $9k a month in fuel.

My first agenda was originally to buy a new trailer. But given how thirsty this truck is. I have to think long term,.. and this truck will not be financially feasible for me in the long term. Its only a matter of time before the motor goes south. 1,087,988 miles on odometer now. Never been opened up. My guess is I have maybe 200 - 300k more miles before I need to consider selling or trading in this truck. Personally I intend to sell or trade in this truck much sooner for a more fuel efficient truck. I am at the point now where HP doesnt really matter to me anymore. Fuel mileage and reliability are my priorities. So what ever new truck I get,.. ugly or beauty,.. thats my criteria.

Future goals?

Get my own authority, buy 4 - 6 more trucks. Hire drivers and get out of the truck. Hopefully I will live long enough to see it to fruition.

Thats my story. Wish me luck.

Hurst

 

I have 150 gal tanks and they sit right behind the steers. Full of fuel and loaded with anything over 30k on the drives and I'm typically 12,300 on my steers. My 5th is all the way back on the last pin. I am undecided to move it up 1 notch as it might be too much on my steers. 12,300 is as heavy as I want to do up there.

Yes to the basics. I had been doing that even as a company driver. Filters always anal about maintenance.

Turbos could be an issue. Every now and then on hills and during acceleration I hear whining almost screeching noises that I can only assume are from one of the turbos. Only other possibilty would be bearing in alternator. Guess I'll have to wait and see which one lets go first. I can not see anything visibly wrong anywhere else. I replaced the belt tensioner myself just for my own peace of mind last week. Werner driver ask what I was doing. I explained.. and he said he would wait till it goes bad. I bit my tongue.

I'm not sure the rear end ratio. I do need to look it up. But at 70 I'm turning 1550 rpms. So its not a highway friendly gear. I try to stay at 65... but when I get on a good paying run ($3 mi or more) I typically burn my profit margin at 70 - 72 mph. I also gun it before going up a long grade. So much has to do with my driving habits. But.. even so... when on good behavior mode the best I can do is 5.6 - 5.8 mpg.

I dont see myself staying in this truck for much more then 9 - 12 more months. 2 months as O/O and I am already on the look out for a 2010 or newer truck. Or.. someone selling a glider with 12.7 Detroit that still has some miles left before overhaul time.

Thanks

Hurst

I have a 450hp C15 Acert. Its listed as Nov 2003 on the tag. No egr and no dpf/ard to worry about. Truck has dual pipes coming up the back.

 

What is the CAC?

Probably not.

Hurst