How much money do you make? How green is your grass?

This is what I did last year......includes everything except out of pocket repairs and personal taxes (around $15k).
For me, it's more about not being micromanaged. But, if you're comfortable with it, I'd say one of those LTL jobs is better. Frankly, it's all about how much BS you're willing to swallow. Oh, and one more thing. If you're going to run linehaul for one of the bigs, you will indeed be home every day........because you'll be working every night. IMO, you can stuff that.

 

Find a good teaching job in a city.

 

It’s nice to see a well thought out post like this. How much money are you wanting to eventually make? Are you good with 80k/yr or do you aspire to make 100’s of them per year? Some people want more freedom and/or the pride of having their own business. Some people are building towards having multiple trucks and a full blown trucking company. Some like to bring home some bacon and feed their families and that is number one.

What is it you want out of life? Do you have a wife and children? Do you want to retire early? Where do you live?

 

For some people ( I'm not one, but I know a few), they'd rather make $30k a year as an owner/op, than $100k as a company puke.

Why? The answer is usually the same. The freedom it brings (whether perceived or real).

 

The OP asked a lot of questions and I can’t answer them all. I wish it was an easy answer but there are way too many variables to give him an answer. In my opinion someone has to want something besides a job to make the numbers work as an owner op. I like owning a truck and calling my own shots as far as how I work and run my business. If he has a desire to be successful doing things others say won’t work, he may be able to be successful doing it. I definitely like being a owner op and I do make more than I did at my six figure company job, but the money is not my top priority in life. It is important, but not number one.

 

If you're a company driver, the grass on the other side of the fence is definitely greener.
Problem is, you have to mow it, you have to weed it, you have to water it, and you will spend all your working hours and a lot of your off time taking care of that grass. Forever.
Owning your own truck can be a life style and it almost always requires a life style type of commitment.

 

I am sure that owning a dozen of pigs is more demanding than owning a truck. As far as I am concerned, it should be more rewarding too.

There is a certain point in a man's life that money is less significant than ability not to be under someone else's command. So not only owning a truck but also deciding what to do with it.

 

Well what if I already spend 90% of my life in the truck and make $80k. How much greener (%) can the other side be with the same amount time invested?

 

And sometimes you have to admit to yourself that the grass is greener on the other side because you're not over there ####ing it up.

Not everyone is cut out to own their truck.

 

The journey begins - purchased a truck.

I post my numbers here, have done for the last 5 years since buying a truck.