How do I get started as an owner operator?

Insurance is going to be expensive for a new CDL holder as a new entrant. My partner had her CDL for less than a year when we started our company, so most companies wouldn't insure us and the ones that would had quotes that were at least twice as expensive. It was $26,000 until she hit her year, and then we changed to another company for $12,000. We also have no tickets or accidents on our MVRs.

If you work for someone else for your first year, you will be able to learn a lot more about the industry. If you do make mistakes, the company will typically cover it. You might make less money that year, but you'll have less expenses. If you go on your own right away, you might not even make more money than if you were a company driver, but you will be taking on much more risk.

You also need to research the process for getting your authority. You need to file for your authority, which costs money and then you wait for like a month to get approved. You need a truck and insurance to activate your authority, and have a 90 day deadline from when you file. You'll need a driver file for yourself and a drug testing program. You'll need your BOC3, UCR, 2290, IRP/IFTA. There are companies that can help you get set up for a fee, like OOIDA.

If you don't have an idea where to find work, you should take the time to line some up. You could subscribe to some load boards, but some companies (especially good paying ones) will want your authority to have been active for a certain period of time.

I don't know where you can lease a truck, especially without experience or being in business for a while. I paid cash for my truck. If your truck breaks down, you fix it yourself, call a mechanic or a tow truck, or wait on warranty work to be completed if you have one.

There is a lot more to it. Get one of those books with all of the regulations and start reading.

 

Hey Dosel,
Great that you want to be a trucker, but like most trades you've gotta pay your dues. Aside from getting your CDL you should gain some experience as a company driver. There are driving jobs that pay well and this is also a good opportunity for you to try out the different types of trucking available. There are local, regional, over the road, drop n hook, flatbed, reefer, dry van, etc. If you don't know someone in your direct family that will take you on as a Owner/op with no experience, you will have to spend some time behind the wheel of a company truck. You are basically uninsurable out of the gate if you're thinking you'll skip ahead and open your own business. No one will touch you from the insurance companies without 2 years under your belt, and expect the first year to be pretty expensive premiums. That's just for starters... there's a ton of info on this site for guys to learn from and you can get an idea for budget to get started out when you do get to that point. For now, relax and find a CDL school that's reputable and not associated with Swift. There are no shortcuts in becoming an independent O/O. Better to learn while getting paid than on your own dime and in the end you may decide it's not for you, anyway. Then you can walk away with a skill but not have to file for bankruptcy.

 

Never said anything about how much money you do or don't have.
Just saying its better to work 9 hours at $25 per than 8 at $20 per that's all.
Just so you can say your fast? LOL
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Meaning that it is nothing to me to pay a little extra for fuel to get my day done and back home. This is a personal preference so we just disagree on that. I mentioned the income since most incomes are based on families with all of the expenses that I do not have. So the extra cost is not even noticeable.

 

Keep saying that but 20+ years down the road that sure does add up. Who cares if your 1st or 8th to the top of the hill

 

Ok then so paying for your own mistakes to begin with shouldn't matter either than.

 

The new guy never makes the good money no matter what job you do. There is always a learning curve, ladder to climb, starter position, crappy shift. If you think your going to go straight from CDL test to 70k a year you are reaching.
Good luck though

 

First price insurance for someone in your situation. You'll need 10's of thousands of dollars up front just for insurance.
www.OOIDA.com is a business website for the owner-operator. Insurance questions can be answered on there.
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Attend a cdl school and hire on with a Teamsters company that hires new cdl grads; PI&I Motor Express in Masury, Ohio. Start saving money to become an 0/0.

 

You can jump right into a big truck and hammer down on down the road.But with no experience and no clue you might lose everything, like your life, or worse,someone else's life.You can read about how to do it from a book,but there's no substitute for experience.Sorry, that's just the way it is.Ease on down the road and good luck.If it was easy everyone would be doing it.