Driving as a company driver wasn't working out for me, didn't like the restrictions, rude dispatchers and especially the 65 MPH limitations on the truck.

I didn't have the $'s to purchase my own truck and sure didn't want to get stuck in some lease purchase bs so I got to thinking...

I looked in the yellow pages and started calling all the local trucking companies in my area and asked if they had any owner operators working for them who might be looking for a driver. I got a hit, and was given the name of a local owner operator who leased his trucks to the company.

I called the O/O and asked if he was needing a driver and was told yes, and met him the same day. Well to make a long story short, I've been driving for this O/O now for almost 9 months and couldn't be happier. I'm driving a really nice customised 379 Pete, chicken lights and the whole works and the truck has no govenator to slow me down when I need to haul as*. I run the truck as if I owned it (seriously)

I'm making alot more money each week than any company out there would pay me by running on a percentage of what the load pays instead of miles.

If any of you are tired of the company jobs out there you might want to try what I did, it worked for me.

Only down side is, I have no insurance benifits, but I enjoy trucking a whole lot better this way...........

I ran for an owner operatior too, however, my tenure wasn't so nice. First off, the guy didn't pay me. He paid the basics; my cell phone and child support (to keep my butt in the seat).

The final straw was when we ran a FEMA load (Hurricane Katrina) down and sat with it for over a month. We were due, at the lowest, $4500. He didn't pay us a dime.

I never received a pay stub, but I received a 1099 saying I made over $48,000!!! Thank God I kept all of my receipts!

I loved the freedom of having an ingoverned truck and the ability to stop anywhere I wanted. However, it wasn't worth what I had to put up with to get it.

Thankfully, this guy is now out of business (Gee, I wonder how that happened?!?). What comes around goes around I guess.

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I love it when a plan comes together!!!

Hauled bulk mail from Harrisburg awhile. FUN! The PO makes about $23000.00/load going to CA by bulk. (around 10000 pkgs at $5 and change) Had a guy worke for us running Aluminum Balt-Sea and Spo-CHI. He would
nt call dispatch one a day, disappeared fr 24-48 hrs at a time, tore up equipment and never washed our Large Car. The inside looked like monkeys lived and crapped in it. Sold his ride right out from under his butt!

If you don't set goals, you can't regret not reaching them. Yogi Berra

First let me say I am happy for you.

Secondly be sure that you let others know who you work for in case they are also looking for this type of work.

Thirdly let us know if your boss pays you a wage as in a "company employee" or actually pays you as an independent contractor (1099).

I have found many o/o's that do hire drivers try to issue a 1099 rather than a W2. A 1099 means no taxes were with held and the driver is responsible for paying it all.

A W2 issued means the employer with held taxes, paid half the employment tax (7 1/2% for Social Security and Medicare), and covered the unemployment insurance.

Small Owner ops usually cannot afford to offer benefits such as paid holidays, sick days, personal days, breakdown pay, 401k, etc. or offer any kind of insurances such as medical, dental, vision, or disability.

Just make sure you KNOW what you are getting yourself into before jumping ship.

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Adapting to an ever changing world.