Why Become an Owner Operator?

My answer is simple: Because the whole system is rigged against the driver, the one that gets it done.

Corporations pay Company Drivers the fuel surcharge (take or give a few cents per mile), and act as if they're doing you a favor by giving you more miles, so you can bring home a paycheck that makes Walmart cashiers and Burger Flippers jealous. Meanwhile, you're constantly running for your life. Basically, being a company driver is slavery.

They buried Hoffa, but the last thing they want is grass roots Deplorables to figure out how to make it on their own.

A world of Independent Owner Operators is more of a threat to the system than Unions, and they know it.

 

Note that the system is pretty well rigged against the little guy, no matter what the employment agreement looks like. Owner-ops have more skin in the game, so they win bigger - or lose bigger - than those of us treading shallower waters.

It's not always a win. It's not always a loss, either, but a lot more guys try it and fail, than succeed at it. Don't just do it because it looks like a better deal. Know what you're doing, and do it well.

 

I am 100% on my own and while the numbers appear to be big they are not after all expenses. Over time though....like anything...it MIGHT be OK. The company drivers I know (good companies like Pitt Ohio) make a better living than me overall. They simply make money and go home -vs- living the job 18 hours per day. (I am talking about a true 1 man operation not leased on to anyone) The amount of work to get the first few years behind you is friggin staggering man.

 

It's more of a win if more drivers figure out what a royal scam being a company driver is.

 

Well, there's another scam, designed to thwart independents and that's the truck financing racket. I have perfect credit, over 50k in the bank 11 years of tough driving in the worst conditions with no accidents and the best financing I could find is 13.9 percent.

 

The system is designed to make Owner Ops fail. The jackball criminals that own the big outfits are the same ones that offer the gouge financing for independents. They're turning the screws on both ends.

 

IF WE COULD JUST GET HALF THE DRIVERS in this country to say "@#$% it" for one day...imagine the change we could create.

 

@MikeinReno - we all have to do something to make a living. In that sense, yes, we're all slaves. You get to choose your type of slavery, and which master will put the yoke on you, but if you like eating and living indoors, and you didn't inherit a bucket of money... you pretty much have to wear the yoke. If you don’t favor being a company driver, and you don't favor the owner op route, what are you suggesting? Flipping burgers?

 

I've taken home 1200 a week as a company driver. But I know the company was raking in at least 4x that.

 

No. I'm suggesting a quiet revolt within our community. A simple passing of knowledge.