What's best experience level for O/O insurance?

I thought I might take a break from running a business in my later life, but that's not going to happen. All company driver jobs seem to have a person at the mercy of outright crook's, and leasing is a barely legal fraud game. The only way to make any real money is O/O, own authority. Huge piles of paperwork and red tape, already been there. But I am asking what's the best level of experience to get for decent insurance rates before starting?

What's the list of biggest overhead expenses:
Fuel - top
Insurance (snakes) - next
tires, TAXES (more snakes), maintenance, etc.

The insurance game, basically It's the old "protection racket" game mobsters once used, only legal now days and DOT mandated.

 

You need to drive for somebody before.Making the decision to become an owner operator.There is a steep learning curve.Many O/O are not making any more than a company driver after all there expenses.Its hard for one truck to complete with all the company drivers out there.Plus all the risk

 

I say mechanical condition of the truck is the most important. It either makes you money to pay for all the expenses and some extra to have a good life, or it sucks everything out.of you, leaving you broke and depressed

 

Why do you think people want to skip learning the business as a company driver.If you had never worked in a restaurant would you buy a restaurant.What if they don’t like driving.Some people come on here and say I just bought a truck can anyone tell me what permits I need or insurance.Seems nuts

 

My insurance after 5 years of company driving is $12k for my first year as an O/O with my own authority.

 

Some guy the other day said the cheapest insurance he can find is $60,000.00 per year because he has no experience.

 

I can’t see how anyone could afford that. It’d be stupid to start an O/O business without at least two years working for someone else.

 

What's he hauling blackpowder by the ton? I started out as owner/op no driving experience to speak of was right about 14 I've got it under 12 a year later

 

I'm guessing at one to two years. It'l take that long working company to do a startup finance on the truck, and that would be a starter truck having 400k miles. Thankfully I'm a good mechanic.

Someday, maybe I can get a new one. Truckers never get old you know, they just get a new Peterbilt.

 

You know it really gets me, when people talk like this, they don't get how the game is played and why things are the way they are.

This should not be an easy game to get into, we already have a lot of marginal and crap carriers out there driving the insurance prices up and pushing the rates down.

We should see serious means testing for people applying for an authority. We should get rid of lease purchases and we need to get rid of the crackerjack licenses.

As far as the op, become a driver get five years on the road and then get quotes for insurance.