So you want to "own " your own company

FFE sends me to school in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and since I only have learners they said that I would lose my endorsements. (I've driven just never went and got my license). If I go to school here in Georgia then I'll get to keep my endorsements. I've been thinking about signing on with CRST Malone as a owner operator. I just think that I could make more as a O/O then as a driver with FFE being that they only pay .25 cents a mile.

 

If you go to school in AR, then you'd test out in GA your home state, right?

.25 per mile IF you get miles will be a better start than O/O to start with, from everything I've read from the guys here. If it was me, and I will be going down the employment road when I graduate, I would start as a company driver...and THEN see where you fall out in the mix.

Do the math...figure 10,000 miles per month at .95 for a O/O...make sure you calculate, truck, insurance, fuel, tires, maintenance etc.

Then do the same with .25 as a company driver.

 

NO. I have to go to school in AR and test out there. So, I'd lose my endorsements.

 

I guess you have to figure out what's best for you. I would do a bit of research to see what GA says about residency for a CDL.

 

Yea I've looked into it. I will have to get my cdl's there and then come home and change them over to my state. If I do drive for myself my truck will be paid off so I won't have a truck payment. But, I'm responsible for all my expenses (Fuel, Insurance, Taxes, etc...) but I believe that I could do it with help from someone I know that used to owner operate leased on with CRST but now has his own authority.

 

I thought about going to work for CRST Malone the cost were to much especially the trailer rental among other things. after doing my homework its better to work for a company save my money build up my contacts learn about doing maintenance to these trucks,(will save a lot of money down the road) and you can get your own authority real simple to file yourself with usdot online. i dont make $.25 a mile a lot more but it just pays to do your homework. plus you know flatbedding right now is very slim with the freight its a hit and a miss. i do hope you do well regardless in getting your own truck

 

I was just trying to find a company to lease on to. My ex/father-in-law worked there at CRST before he got his own authority for his own loads. He is willing to help me get started. I see where you say that flatbedding is slow but when do think it will get going again. I already have a truck so all I'll have to get is a trailer and he said he knew where there was some forsale. All I have in form of bills is Pickup Truck payment and insurance and semi truck insurance. I won't need much just enough to keep me going. Besides if I do decide to work for FFE I won't be making too much. .25 a mile will only give me 125 a day at 500 miles a day. That's not deducting taxes or anything. But, I'm still trying to decide which way to go.

 

If you have a father in law that is an O/O and you can go to school and get a grant to pay for it that's what I would do. But only if he is a successful O/O. If he is not then you will learn nothing from him except how to fail. It is not usually a good idea to start out new as an O/O but if you have someone that can teach you the ropes along the way and guide you, then you'll be one step ahead and should be able to learn. If i were in your shoes it would be a no brainer but that's just me. Either way if you can get your schooling paid for with a grant that you don't have to be locked into one company for the reimbursement or to pay back that's the way to go IMO. Also even if you go to school in AR all you would have to do to get those endorsments back after you transfer your license back to GA is retake the written test so no big deal really. These are just my opinions and I may get lashed at for them but good luck whatever you decide. FWIW several years ago I was financially in a great position to become an O/O and passed it up. Things changed for me and yadda yadda yadda here I am several years later still kicking myself in the a55 for not doing it then. I am getting close to the point of being able to do it again and will once I reach that point. Anyway enough rambling. Good Luck

 

I really appreciate all of your information and i believe that i'm going to go to school here. I was thinking the same as you about being stuck with a company when I could just send myself to school on a grant. All I have to pay outta pocket is 275 and for my physical. And, the training is better because its 10 weeks of training at the technical school instead of 3 weeks with ffe. Thanks again for all your suggestions and answers. I'll try to keep you informed of how things are going.

 

I am fairly new to this forum. I have been reading a lot of the post over the last couple of days and found them very informative. I am an owner/operator who is taking the bold steps of controlling my own destiny. I am wonder if you guys/gals could suggest any companys in Illinois that I might wanna become close to. I really have not had much of a problem finding loads when I was running under my cousin authority. The problems is finding a load back to make the trip worth wild. I know the trucker term is dead head, but to me it should be broke a55! Any help would receive a hat tipped to the north!