Why not get your own authority if your o/o?

Maybe there are guys unprepared like OP going in unprepared, but it seems like OP started this thread to learn about this stuff before taking a step in his career.

 

While the paperwork may be tedious and all the other stuff.

I, myself, have gotten to the point I just don't want to work for/with anyone anymore.

At the same time, I don't know if I"m ready or willing to run my own show either.

 

LMAO!! Dealing with brokers definitely feels like the life of a vulture at times.

 

The question that you are asking really is comparing apples to oranges. For each individual person in each individual segment of this business it will be a different answer.

Being leased on can give you many benefits. Like not waiting for your money. Like not fighting with Brokers over detention that you may not get. Or truck ordered not used. Or access to customers that the company that you are leased to has an army of salespeople selling to. Or large Fuel and tire discounts. Or working somewhere that if your tractor breaks down you're not responsible to repower the load because they have a bunch of other owner operators or drivers working for them that they can grab the trailer.

For some people the right company is very much like having their own authority. Like Mercer for example. They don't care how long you don't work for them so if you want to take a month off they don't care. You just have to pay your weekly fees.

Yet when you have your own authority you truly are independent. There's no one for you to answer to except the regulations. So there is a great deal of freedom in that.

Depending on who it is and what the outfit is, some guys do better leased on than with their Authority. There are plenty of guys right here on the Forum that had their Authority and they leased on somewhere and it worked out better.

There are other guys that have their Authority and that works out better for them. You give up less of a percentage, you can make more money, but you have more risk and more responsibility basically. Sometimes it may or may not be worth it.

Just don't make the mistake of thinking that because someone is leased on they're not doing as well as someone with their Authority. And don't make the mistake of thinking that someone with their Authority is definitely doing better than someone that is leased on.

The whole thing can be very deceptive to inexperienced eyes.

 

I chose to run o/o under the authority of the company that treated me decently as a company driver.

I did this for several reasons. First and foremost, I am a relatively cautious person. I had no desire whatsoever to try to learn all aspects of being an o/o simultaneously.

Secondly, the pay is lower per mile, but I do get paid for deadhead miles and loaded miles at the same rate. I do not get FSC on empty miles.

Thirdly, fuel discounts, and the ability to stay on the company health plan and company truck insurance.

I bought the truck this year in mid January. I am on track to make roughly the same net income as a o/o as I did as a company driver.

It's a stepping stone.

 

There's an old song from 1980 from the Climax Blues Band- and a Chorus that goes like this.........

"As my head was spinnin' round"

Sounds like thats whats going on with you. Not sure which wqay to turn.

 

Nope. I just don't want to otr, eld, or dot.
Don't have that staying local. Although, I'd deal with eld if it's home every night.

Lots of otr work, but if I do that. It will defenitly by my own show.

Used to be local stuff advertising on a daily basis. But for whatever reason. Everyone is MIA. Including ND, OK, TX, and FedEx.

 

Everyone’s different,depends on your preferences and priorities. Some look at the responsibility and wisely decide it’s too much of a risk.I weigh the risk against relying on others. That’s never worked out well for Me. Being Leased to a Carrier has its advantages. Mainly, letting You focus on Driving and operating your Truck in an efficient manner. That’s enough to keep anyone very busy. Having the Authority adds more costs, deadlines, and record keeping. It’s really not that much trouble. But has to be kept up with, regularly. Either way, You can be successful. Depends on what you want. The whole system encourages Competition. Everyone had to start somewhere, You’ll figure it out. It’s really not that hard.

 

Authority is primarily meant for someone with ideas of owning a fleet and hiring drivers or allowing owner operators to lease on, then finding their own customers, setting up a terminal, hiring mechanics ...building another Werner. On the other hand, a solo owner operator with authority; a person who wanted to dispatch himself and be free of any constraints imposed by a carrier but not necessarily expanding, is an afterthought.

From my own experience, a solo o/o having own authority, pulling random brokered freight, does not necessarily mean better money at all, even though there are many more serious risks and liabilities involved. There is no need to apply for authority, if you can find an honest cut paying and ethically minded carrier that has a decent array of their own customer accounts to choose from and/or let you dispatch yourself. Where and who they are, would be a good question to ask.