Having trouble getting my wife on board with being a Owner Operator

In my humble opinion all 3 of her concerns are valid

 

This is why it won’t work.

 

Off topic, but why do you line haul guys call your jobs LTL? I can haul LTL on my flatbed it doesn't mean I'm doing the same as you and most others refer to as what you're doing, which is line haul.

On topic: Having a cost of $2.60 may be fine now, but what about when the spot market drops to $1.50 average for 18 months straight?

 

I would stick with your current LTL gig.

 

She’s right and without her backing you 100% you’re in for a tough time.
I’ve seen it firsthand,everything was good until the truck started breaking, then the nagging and complaining turned what should have been a bump in the road into selling out.

 

There's nothing to calm, her fears are spot on. Women, and I'm sure you're no rookie, want security. They can adjust to just about any schedule, as long as it's regular I got lambasted for saying it's a poor time to begin those adventures today, and it's natural for a driver in your situation, to think about your own. You'll find, there will be a 95% disapproval of becoming an O/O today here. Most here have run the gamut and have "been there" and while rates may be good in certain areas, it's one of the 1st jobs to be impacted by a changing society. Trouble overseas, the fuel price spikes, and guess who takes it in the shorts,,,the O/O. I've said it many times, I did it 25 years ago, fuel was .74/gal, insurance was no biggie, tires were $109 bucks, just wait until you put $1,000 worth of fuel in your truck for a week, pow, oops, there goes a steer tire, can't buy one, there's another grand, just hope nothing else goes, oh, oh, puddle of coolant, that's never good, WHAT? Don't cash my check until next week? These are all common scenarios, you don't see as a company driver, yet the wife sees it. Listen to the old lady,,,let the boss have the headaches, and take her on a fishing trip,,,or whatever.

 

Great answer ^^^^

Every household is different but I've got to say this. The only reason OTR O/O works for me is that my wife and I live very different lives. She doesn't like me around all that much and I don't like to be around all that much. Married for 26 years, two happy kids and and we don't fight when we're together.

She has her friends and support network. Stuff breaks around the house, I fix it on the weekends, right after I fix my truck.

It isn't for everyone. It really isn't for most.

 

So true. Congrats on those 26 years. Having that good balance.

 

A vast majority of people in your situation would definitely be better off sticking it out until a better schedule comes along that they can live with. I also feel that without your wife being in agreement this won’t ever work.

Possibly similar to you I left a great paying job working nights and weekends with no hope in sight for the remainder of my career. **Disclaimer** I had zero household debt and substantial savings, which made my decision much easier than it could have been. I left what is currently a $2,700-$3,000 or so a week paycheck 10 years ago. I left this for a better schedule as an employee in a different field of trucking with the long term goal of being an owner op in that same field. I learned the trade and ordered a new rig 6 years ago. I leased it on to a large specialized carrier with an abundance of freight passing by my home.

I believe that you need to want to be in charge of your own future, more than a job allows, by running your own business or this change simply for a better schedule is a terrible idea. You will need to fund your own retirement and possibly health insurance, if you don’t get on your wife’s plan. Once you have a profitable business model this is a very doable goal which can far exceed your current retirement benefits, but it won’t be done by someone else. **This absolutely has to be done if you don’t want to be a broke old man one day who quit a good job to buy a truck.**

To address the concerns your wife has about this idea.
1.You will likely be gone many nights a week(until you find a good paying lane that gets you home regular). 2.Every business could go bankrupt (even the company you currently work for).
3.You will definitely be working some when you are at home. How much depends on your equipment, amount of work you choose to hire out and how much you choose to do.
One thing to consider is that in many one truck operations, when your rig is in the shop you aren’t earning a dime and you will often have a several thousand dollar check to write when it is done. I can’t rent a rig when mine is down, you may be able to if you are in general freight. This isn’t an issue for those with healthy business or personal savings. Vacations also aren’t paid and your revenue pipeline empties out if you are off very long. This also isn’t a problem when you have a healthy amount of savings set aside.

What works for one person may not work for another, but being an owner operator works for me better than a great paying job with a terrible schedule did. It may not work as well for you, but it could work as well or better. It depends on how much drive you have and how committed you are to making things work regardless of the challenges you will definitely face. Many people who will tell you not to do this, don’t have the the desire to control their own destiny or the drive it takes to make it work regardless of how difficult it will definitely be. Your success or failure will be 100% up to you, not anyone else. Can you do it? I have no idea if you can, but I can.