An owner operator should make exactly what he earns, not a penny more or a penny less. The guy who minimizes his expenses and maximizes his productivity will always make money that inspires envy from guys who won't learn how to care for their own equipment or discipline themselves in such a way as to be productive. Only the Communist thinks everyone should make the same regardless of what they put into their work.
For 2 years I've just read all about blah, regarding blah, considering blah. And no one will put forth a number. WTF? I only drove for CRE for 3 months, and ran my nuts off. On 3 separate occasions, I witnessed Dan England Jr. and his wife getting into his white twin stack / 600 HP Century to go on a run. It said "King of England" on the sides. I'm gonna use Dan's number. Then they had about 6000 tractors. So on a given day that's 1500 deliveries. So Dan makes $150,000 a day. That was 13 years ago. But that's the benchmark now, since no one will step up.
There is no benchmark in trucking, or any business for that matter. Some fail, some survive and some prosper immensely; but all 3 think they "work their butts off".