Why am I a owner operator..........it's simple

Was never saying one form of ownership or non ownership is better or worse... on size does not fit all, except in hats, to each his own, mean no disrespect...just the way I and the guys I run with in the oilfields see it today not 30 yrs ago.

 

There is the definition of these terms, and then there is how people perceive these terms. I'm not big on pecking order or status thinking. I generally refer to myself as a truck driver.

However, what a few here tried to tell you is true. If you own and operate a truck you are an owner operator. Authority has nothing to do with that term. If you feel the need to discriminate, you would use the term independent owner operator or motor carrier as you mentioned.

 

Well it's not discrimination, that's absurd. It is merely a opinion. ..needless to say this dead horse has been throughly beat.

 

I have my own authority true. But I used to say I am an independent owner operator. I then realized how much I rely on the help of others in this industry so I am now just a O/O plain and simple.

 

I meant discriminate as in differentiate. Not as in the political negative context. lol. Words.

 

I don't know of too many operators leased at the big boys paying percentage that could even come close to what I average to the truck per mile pulling a van trailer. My goal the past couple of years has been to hit $2.50 or better all miles average at my percentage. For whatever reasons the past couple of years I seem to have hit a glass ceiling at $2.35 a mile. It's very aggravating. Under my own numbers I'd be around $2.60 all miles to the truck but I don't want the headaches of invoicing. This is running 99% brokered freight and deadhead hovering around 1/4 to 1/3 of my total annual miles. I think you guys who say it can't be done are just a tad too timid with brokers. I won't take a load to Florida paying $4.40 a mile. It's $4.50+ or nothing. Have to be even more aggressive to pull the same averages as you guys. People say why are you leased hauling brokered? Good question. I say we're building something unique here and it's paying off.

 

I do it two ways depending on what wagon I'm hooked to. 99 percent of my cattle loads are direct, after being stiffed 15 grand last year by a 15 year customer that filed bankruptcy all loads are COD. With the hopper its all brokered, 8 percent comes right out the top but we settle once a week whether we need to or not. I wish all weeks were as good as this week, unfortunately they are not. Most my loads are exempt commodities there is that occasional load of sand to texas that pays well.

I agree with Bayou the work is never done you just have to prioritize it and put the rest off till a better day. Having my son aboard has really helped more than anything

 

BINGO! Couldn't have said it any better.