Landstar So Far

You aren't getting it. Miles don't matter, dollars do. And he's under zero obligation to report jack squat to you, or anyone else, aside from the tax man.

 

So, every driver for themselves? I can tell you that I'm making $60,000 as a company driver, so that's pretty low if that's what you can pay yourself.

 

I'll take two cinnamon sugar twist.

 

I wonder if Henry Ford went around asking any other auto makers how much money they made before he started hid business?

I wonder if Ray Crock was asking the other fast food joints if they made money before he put MacDonald's on the map?

No they didn't. They wanted a business & they jumped in with both feet.

The reality is you can make money at LS, Mercer, Schneider, & maybe even Interstate but what someone else is doing is completely irrelevant to what you will do. Some will do great & make good money, but unfortunately most will fail. Most people just are not cut out for it. And that's not a put down either.

The truth is there is no plug & play scenario to which you can make money as an o/o. If you want an almost guaranteed chance to make money driving a truck then be a company driver where you get paid every time that truck moves. Driving the truck is the easiest & least important job an o/o has.

 

If you're looking to get into the o/o field to make bunches of money then you're getting into it for the wrong reason & will be disappointed. There are quite a few company jobs I could get & make more money than I make as an o/o. I just prefer to do things my way and I'm happier now making my driver's wage than I was with a college educated dispatcher telling me what to do.

I get paid by %. I have a cool boss that splits the truck's money with me. I get 60% of what the truck makes after all expenses are accounted for. Kinda gives me incentive to take care of the truck & get the best fuel mileage possible. The better MPGs the truck gets makes my check bigger right with the company's profit.

 

You don't get it. His info is useless if he can't say what he does and how much he makes. If he pulling heavy haul loads and people think he pull dry van. That messed up for you or anyone do that.

 

By reading, I know he's pulling a company dry van. But that's irrelevant, if you're still focused on what HE does. He's not with a company that's "fair and equal". You negotiate your own rates and lanes, so no two BCO are alike. In short, YOU earn what YOU earn. Personally, I wouldn't choose the path he has, but I'm not putting blinders on, you can learn from anyone.

 

No it's not. Everybody has their own definition for what "doing good" is. I know guys that don't run much & they only gross $60k a year. They don't need much money so they don't work much. To a company driver that might seem like he's not doing good but to him he's doing awesome.

 

The only reason I think putting some number out is because it give people a starting point. Like other people said drivers can choose what is a good rate for themselves. When I pulled van I never came close to $60,000. I don't think a new driver can do it.

I knew two other LS drivers. One did $185,000 a year he. Another driver spent lots of money and got the same setup as the guy doing $185,000 because they were friends. So two guys both with same set up and it was specialized dry vans both are friends and know the same agents. One guy does $185,000 other only can get $145,000 then you have take all your operation expenses out of that.

I just don't think pulling a regular dry van someone can make good money. I'll say I think good money is enough money that you can afford rent or house payment. They guy making $145,00 says he makes good money but he lives in his truck. No rent no house or car payments. To me that not good money if I have to live in my truck. That's why I don't work for LS anymore.

When people say you pick you own rates. That kinda true because you competing with all the other LS trucks and agents that have their own trucks. When a load pays $2.25 a miles is only on the load board for 1 minute. You can't really negotiate because another BCO will haul it. The agents know this because I had agent tell me their phone rings off the hook like crazy when they post those loads. You also can see the load go off the load board that fast.

It just my opinion and I never meet anyone pulling dry van making $60,000. I would have stayed at LS I could have made that kinda money.