Taking the plunge. My journey as an O/O.

You and everyone else, that's why it typically pays so little. Then you've got to deal with showing up to a trailer with air leaks, flat tires, missing paperwork, etc.

Buying a trailer was the first move that actually boosted my income significantly. The insurance was actually cheaper than having a non-owned trailer policy, too. The only real problem I have with owning a trailer is that I can't just park it in the driveway depending on where I take home time or visit people.

Once you stop chasing miles and get start getting paid fairly, live loads and unloads aren't that bad.

 

For many, myself included, own authority was an escape from rather lousy lease terms and ability to pick my own freight. For many others, it is a prerequisite to work on ideas: getting own freight, build a fleet etc.and this should be the primary reason of getting it.

Own authority is overrated in terms of income and profits on the spot market.
Even though, the sky is the limit, it does not guarantee anything.
In times like these, you can net $5-7 grand a week after fuel but the good times never last for too long and are largely outnumbered by mediocre and bad times.
In consideration of a longer time: 3-5 years, many o/o who are leased on, may have the same income or better with many less business responsibilities.

For example, in April/May last year I averaged less than 1.30 per mile and I did not work for half the June at all. In the whole of 2019, I averaged less than 2 dol per mile and with extra repairs it put my net income below an average pay of a company driver. 2018: most of it was good.
2017: first 7 months lousy, the last 5 good. And that's how it goes.

 

You just gotta find good customers that don't make ya wait all day. That's half the battle. I'd say my avg dock time for my customers if I had to avg it out would be 1:15 min. Believe me I hate sitting as much as you do

 

Bob your missing all the fun at your terminal............

 

I never ordered one but my father wasn't afraid to give belt dressings out .

Wonder what ever became of Spyder, he just disappeared off the board last spring. Hope all is well.

 

I can relate. Lol