Being an owner operator do or dont

Gilbert,
I run under my own authority. I am tired of the company BS, so I decide what I want to do, where I want to go, when I want to. JB offers me the loads, I say yes or no. Most of the time I say yes, and when I say no, they just offer me more money until I say yes. I still have my trailer at home and can hook up to it any time I want to. There is no time commitment, and I am locked into nothing. If I want to go home and they cannot find me a load, I'll put my own load in the box and go (or if close enough, drop their trailer at a drop yard and just bobtail home). Like I said before, Right now it is survival mode, and they are helping me do it. Downside is, I have to pay for everything, I am responsible for everything. The buck stops with me. But I enjoy the freedom this gives me in a trucking market where the big companies do not care about drivers and only views them as replaceable tools.

Mr. W900,
I apologize if I may have criticized how you do you business, as this was not my intention. If you are making it work, I aplaude you. I would like to find out how you do it, I may learn a thing or two. My comments were merely a suggestion as to another way to try to make it work in todays economic climate. It is no secret that times are rough, expenses are high and freight is competitive. No doubt I love those big flashy trucks too, and I have respect for those that have accomplished this and are making them work profitably. I have only been trucking for 13 or 14 years, and am always looking at learning different ways to make trucking work for me. I had a pete at one time(repo'ed), and loved it. But I just couldn't make it work at a profit for me. I will own another large car in the future, but it will be on my terms. I do not want to have to make the choice, truck payment or family home (or groceries). With the high failure rate from new O/Ops, (again been there/down that, got a crappy credit score to prove it) I am just showing an alternative way to make a living doing something I love. While this may work for me, it might be acceptable to others. I have friends that say they don't want anything other than a Pete, and they are driving one, for somebody else. I choose to be an O/Op AND have a life too. This allows me to do so. I am open to suggestions and am always willing to learn from somebody else's experience. I look forward to hearing back from you, and congrats for being able to make it work. (care to share the secret?)
Mike C.

 

Hey guy; I've been driving for 20+ yrs. always wanted my own truck, but could never aford it.Known O/O who have fallen due to high over head.And you're right to say that you can't spend more then you can make, for this will put you in a hole quick.I'm now 45 and if things work out for me in the next month or so I will on the big road with my truck. So for this I say thank you for answering my question. Be safe and drive smart.... God speed.

 

I want to give people who may be thinking of becoming an O/O some food for thought. 1. What type O/O do you want to be. Do you lease to a company or get your own Authority. Only you can answer that question. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. I drove my own truck for 16 years before I made the truly independent move. I don't regret either option. Above all check out the companies you think fit what you want to do. Some drivers prefer reefer,some van,some flat bed, tankers, hoppers, etc. What do you like to do? I had no qualms about pullling a reefer. All companies go thru slack periods but I felt a reefer was right for me. What's right for you? 2. I never owned a new truck. First I didn't want a 1500-1800 a month truck payment and second I saw more new trucks in service dept's than used. I puchased a 1996 379 ExHd Pete with a 550 Cat, 3:55 rears and a 15 speed over. The engine had a 2 year 200,000 mile CAT warranty and I gave $35000.00 for it. The payment was $900.00 for 36 months. I kept the truck 5 years and sold it when I retired. By the way it's still running every day. The truck payment and insurance together was $1400. a month. That works out to $350.00 per week. Point here is keep your fixed costs as low as possible. Find out what the company you lease to charges per week or per month. Most companies provide liability and cargo no charge to the O/O. Physical damage and bobtail are deducted weekly. Find out what they cost! 3. Look at smaller carriers to lease to. The mega carriers are a PIB. The last company I was leased to ran 26 states. I still got 2600-2800 miles and was for the most part home weekends. I can honestly say I knew just about everyone from the President to the shop mechanics. I like that! 4. If possible carry your own Health Insurance. I had a catasrophic health policy and instead of workman's comp I had a policy that insured me when on the job. Trurhfully it was cheaper and better than what the company offered. True I had a large deductible but I felt more comfortable. I live in Missouri and I will tell you WC is EXPENSIVE for a single O/O. Not all companies offer or have WC so check it out. 5. Saw a post on here recently about IRS form 1099. If you are a O/O that's what you will get. Get yourself a good accountant that understands trucking. They're not that hard to find and they are #### well worth it. 6. Don't be afraid to be an O/O! Do your homework, talk to other O/O. It's not all gloom and doom. It's just there are really more failure's than successes and for the most part the failures are all you hear about. Most are caused by not planning,not knowing how to operate and forgetting that you are the owner. It's up to you. Good Luck to all who decide to make the move.

 

Micron,
Thanks for info on JB Hunt, I spoke to them and yes I am considering hauling for them possibly.Thanks for info to haul for them at a % vs. $ per mile.

Yes it seems to me also that they are willing to work with the O/O that haul for them( at least that's what I'm hearing, not to sure until I see it for myself, or hear fact's otherwise).

As of right now I was offered a local route with a small company near my hometown, being home every night/every other night is important to me and the wife.
We will see how it goes.

I saw you listed in my Friends section, good to meet you,any info as an O/O would be appreciated.
I cant PM you due to not enough post's.

Thanks,
crusin

 

Gears,

Thanks for info, the boss ( the wife,she is also the owner), and I discussed buying a used truck, paying cash vs, financing more for a newer truck.
We had discussed and settled on (probably buying one of them in 2 weeks) 1 of 3 trucks that we found.

It will nice not having a truck payment every month, really only monthly expense's would be insure.,maint. and repairs,fuel,etc..

Thanks, again for your input and advice,
crusin

 

When I read your post, it looked identical to a few articles I wrote. I have been saying this exact same thing for over 6 years. been o/o for 11 years now. G.M. think alike.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by heavyhaulerss
making it in the trucking business is a tough question. ive made it well. can you ? sure you can. but will you ? every one wants to know how the other guy did it? but most will not want to follow the exact same steps as the other guy who made it. also even if you do, some other drivers way of trucking may not apply to you. i bought a 95' intl cabover with 400,000 mi for $15,000 cash in 99' & was told by all except one of my trucking buddies that i should of bought a k.w. pete. e.t.c. yes i was laughed at a lot. going on 9 years & over a mil miles... i need not say who is having the last laugh. but still to this day all the other drivers would rather drive a new chromed out pete & work for a co, then to be seen driving an ole dependable inexpensive truck. champagne taste on a beer budjet is what drives so many o/o's into bankruptcy. do you want to make money & have peace of mind ,or look good ? if your embarrased at the thought of going down the road in anything less than a shiny pete or k.w. or feel the need to spend a lot of money on a truck, then stick to a co job . i.m.o.


Originally Posted by heavyhaulerss
making it in the trucking business is a tough question. ive made it well. can you ? sure you can. but will you ? every one wants to know how the other guy did it? but most will not want to follow the exact same steps as the other guy who made it. also even if you do, some other drivers way of trucking may not apply to you. i bought a 95' intl cabover with 400,000 mi for $15,000 cash in 99' & was told by all except one of my trucking buddies that i should of bought a k.w. pete. e.t.c. yes i was laughed at a lot. going on 9 years & over a mil miles... i need not say who is having the last laugh. but still to this day all the other drivers would rather drive a new chromed out pete & work for a co, then to be seen driving an ole dependable inexpensive truck. champagne taste on a beer budjet is what drives so many o/o's into bankruptcy. do you want to make money & have peace of mind ,or look good ? if your embarrased at the thought of going down the road in anything less than a shiny pete or k.w. or feel the need to spend a lot of money on a truck, then stick to a co job . i.m.o.

 

paid $15,250 cash for truck & $9,200 for trailer. a 95' intl cabover in 99' would I do it differently ? not a chance. the success & luck ive had is unbelievable & a bit rare... story here...


I have wondered how 2 people can be looking at the same thing but each see something totally different ??? now I know why.

when I first saw my 1st & only truck, I saw a low mileage(412,000) very well maintained, & everything worked flawlessly, for 1/2 the price of other trucks with mileage in the 600,000 to 700,00 . I saw success, profit, peace of mind. e.t.c. some other drivers saw... that truck ain't cool.. man!! aint got no chrome, no hood, no status!!! yes it's true i don't have status, I don't have a hood or even a cat. but I do have peace of mind. along with a det ser 60 that gets great fuel mileage.

did I mention no payments & driving for over 11 years with the same truck? it's a nice feeling.. especially when I could better prioritize my earnings towards my family & our future. rather than a cool looking truck. there is nothing wrong with wanting a nice truck. you can get one too.. you just have to be realistic about how to get one. like a nice big home.. one day, one day... plan, & trade up maybe o.k. but don't have champagne taste on a beer budget, starting out.

 

Sorry for the double post. I am new here too, & working with computers, on these sights is a lil difficult for me at times.

 

heavyhaulerss,

did I mention no payments & driving for over 11 years with the same truck? it's a nice feeling.. especially when I could better prioritize my earnings towards my family & our future. rather than a cool looking truck. there is nothing wrong with wanting a nice truck. you can get one too.. you just have to be realistic about how to get one. like a nice big home.. one day, one day... plan, & trade up maybe o.k. but don't have champagne taste on a beer budget, starting out.

Yeah,I would have to say you have peice of mind, more power to you!
Chrome don't make you $.
crusin