I have seen in the past courses that advertised themselves as being able to teach what an O/O needed to know to be successful. I have a business degree, but like anything, every field has their own characteristics. I have 18mos as a co. driver and I am looking at being an O/O within 6 months. I would like some feedback in what I need to know to be successful.

Are there any courses that are worth the investment of time and money?

I love this forum, because you can get real information from people that have the scars to prove they know what they are talking about.

I don't think there are any "Real Courses" to teach you how to be an Owner Operator or even a driver for that matter. Experience is always the best teacher in most cases. If you can find some one that has done that and is willing to act as an adviser or a consultant then you'd be in good shape. They are hard to find and they aren't cheap. That was one area in trucking I had looked in to starting a business in but haven't and don't know that I will anytime soon. I've been asked by several people to, just haven't decided. I'm not sure how you can find one either. There are some books out there but I wouldn't waste my money as they were written in most cases by someone that really doesn't have the experience that is really needed to address the day to day issues of starting and going through the various stages that you go through in trucking to have a successful business.
Good Luck and be safe out there

There are some courses available like the "Road to Success" program that freightliner had available for a while, and some other book based courses, but not a lot of really good specific info in that area. And there are some seminars that people are touting as useful, but I tend to see them as being of questionable value. They seem more a way to spend 7-800 dollars and waste two days listening to thee same advice the guys give away for free on their radio call in shows.

OOIDA may have some info available that would be of use, and their value as a worthy organization increases once you move out on your own.

For some reason, this is kind of a dead area, and a lot of the info out there is so generalized and out of date that it is worthless. I wish I could provide better info, but it's more of a hands on learning area than it is anything else.

Third OOIDA business seminar coming up
OOIDA has again partnered with a community college in the Kansas City area, and will offer its third three-day seminar on the business aspects of trucking.

Thanks Slick50 and Baack. Too bad I have Sirius, but I will look and see if I can get his program online. I will certainly look into the OOIDA course as well.

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Worrying about the past is like trying to drive forwards while looking in the rearview mirror!

there is one offered for 450 bucks, it is a twelve lesson self paced book course with a coach. it claims to be everything you ask for. i know nothing more about it than that, except where to find it.


it is offered by atbs, american trucking business something or other. on their website, there are lots of links to this kevin feller previously mentioned as well as a few other things.
if you take this course, or if anybody else and would care to comment, i would love to know how it was and if it was worth it.
kinda scared me cause the sales guy was very adamant about not incorporating for at least the first year.

imho, inc ing is the very first step to starting a business. very cheap protection in case of worst case scenario.
jh

I love listening to Kevin Rutherford and Tim Brady. Both of those guys know what they are talking about. Both are on Sirius 147 the trucking channel. But I don't know their schedule.

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unsure of tim, but i am pretty sure kevin is on every tue am somehere around 8 or 9 eastern.

kevin does sound like someone i would love to spend a year or two with picking his brain 24/7, but the sales people he has are pushy, psychologically savvy sales people.
jh

I need to ad my .02 here about Kevin and Tim. They are in this to make money (ATBS is Kevin's business) and Tim has his. They have used their experience in trucking to make additional money (nothing wrong with that). BUT, their point of view is just that: a point of view (based on their experience and research). Trucking is so diverse and so are truckers that one size does not fit all. Example: I incorporated (at the advice of my tax attorney) within 6 months of me starting to drive (company driver) because I wanted my own truck someday (incorporating takes about 6 months). We held that corporation aside until we needed it; then when I leased with Prime it was ready to go (my truck lease with Prime was for only 18 months, I got an older truck). I used my 'lease completion bonus' with Prime ($5,000 and $5,000 savings) to buy a NEW truck (8% APR with Alliegance Credit Union). I took my NEW truck on with Prime (cause I used my Prime statements as a lease operator to prove to the Credit Union what I made and how I made it, that is why they loaned me the money on a NEW truck [$1500 a month payment]). Now I still run Prime freight with my truck and get 72% of gross running their trailers.
ALL THIS WAS GOING AGAINST EVERYTHING KEVIN TEACHES
He wants you to buy an old truck (with appropriate inspection of course) and not incorporate, and not run with a company such a Prime. BUT, it is precisely that I ran with Prime that I was able to pull this off. So, to make a long story longer, Kevin and Tim are great, but I did not see any book they wrote included in the Bible (last time I read it).

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I disagree with Kevin in the one size fits all approach for truck specs. 430 hp or less, 9 or 10 spd ONLY, no use ever for 13 or 18. All of that may work just fine for him where he was running the east coast without mountains or the occasional mountain. But here in the west where mountains are a way of life more HP than just 430 and having a 13 is REALLY REALLY nice.

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