You want to be an owner operator?! THE TRUTH!

Oh man, hahhaha Man this year I think 35% of my miles are DEADHEAD, especially home. Most of the trips I do, I always make sure I get a round trip rate. Sometimes I'll take a little "less" where I don't put money in my pocket, but I can still cover expenses and put money on the side for the truck itself. There is no freight, no customer, no matter what, if I want to come home I can always come home, especially with these fuel prices. BUT the fact is if for that 35% that I deadheaded if I took even the "cheap freight" or any partials I would have a lot more in my profit revenue this year because that adds up a lot over the year. Luckily I don't have a big family, just support my parents and have a first time son that's still few months away, but I can see that 35% deadhead being a problem if I got a family that I have to raise. It does eat a lot of profit.

 

Become an owner operator. You will make more money. I wish every driver was an owner operator. But to actually make that great money as an owner operator you have to do a lot of work. Many guys say it's not worth it being an owner operator, and that's because they tried it, and failed due to their neglect of taking care of the truck, their operating costs, and so on. Otherwise if you plan on treating your truck right, always having money for a second truck, you will ALWAYS be a owner operator making good money.

 

YES! That is why I made this thread, besides your typical "Find a good truck, good company, wish you luck cuz most fail!"

Being a company driver, only thing I appreciated was not having any work besides driving. But I wanted to be an owner operator, and an independent, and being a company driver was paid school, to always check the truck, and so on, ask around, while I save money for my own little show.

I'm seeing a lot of posts, questions, all over the internet, and guys on youtube not knowing wtf they're talking about, negative comments, and also non informative comments when it comes to being an owner operator. Being an owner operator is amazing, but either you turn wrenches, or find a good mechanic, however, YOU find it. You see what fits your needs, and you include those costs into your business. But this whole forum can't admit that there are clueless guys who believe if they buy a truck, no matter what price/payment, no matter what over head, no matter what, but just BECAUSE they pay a truck payment and drive, they wonder why they don't see money? I don't think they should be hated, I just think the guys that know what they are doing should shed more positive light, and reality on things besides the typical google search crap.

 

THIS IS 110% what I am talking about!. This is a business once you own the truck! Lease/Purchase is a tooth fairy. This whole topic is to explain to own a truck, or multiple trucks its work, and it money investment. Holding a wheeling and paying a bank a note, is nothing. It's how you will make things happen! Thank you!

 

Does anyone know how many "owner operators" looking for a new carrier every year that will give them a "bonus" that typically goes towards their "tags".. Every April I get phone calls of "clean record" owner operators wanting to hire but they won't unless I pay for their "tags".

What kind of an owner operator can't pay for tags? What kind of an owner operator can't buy brand new driver tires every 2 years MINIMUM? What kind of an owner operator cries over $1200 at MOST for new spare tires minimum ONCE a year? What kind of owner operator #####es about every company he leases to:

"1.04 cpm + .25 fuel surcharge isn't working for me"
"mercer/Landstar took this much from me, how is anyone suppose to make real money?!"
"brokers are making more than me, why shouldn't I lease to Mercer and ##### about what take from me? I might as well go for 1.04 cpm +25 fsc and ##### about the fact it's not working for me".

That's all that's being said over and over again.

Why do owner operators get brand new steering tires at truckstops?! They can get them for cheaper within a 20 mile radius if they actually care about it.

Why do owner operators don't care about the trailer unless they own it?
Why do owner operators being leased onto a company feel entitled for more than they deserve? Oh because they pay for fuel, a linehaul $ and a truck payment. But they don't look at the fact they only drove 1,300 miles at $3,000, and that's less than their whole over head?

To be an owner operator it's beautiful, but please understand it takes dedication, hard work, attention to detail, and you will succeed. Don't buy a truck just to hold it's wheel, sit a truck stop while a dispatch tells you some whatever load, because once you see that pay check, and that repair bill, and that IRS bill, you will cry to dry for Werner. SO be a man and get your #### right. You will love owning a truck!