Update - Booked my first load

Went out on my own on March 1st and booked my 1st load. Thought I'd post an update after I've been at it for 2 months. I've hauled 26 loads so far, and ran 6863 miles. I've put in 239.75 hours. I've been trying to stay close to home. I've only spent 3 nights out away from home. I only run 2 or 3 days a week. Ran 5 days a couple weeks ago, only 1 day this week (well 1 day plus an hour or so tomorrow to unload.) I farm as well, so I work on equipment or cattle or land in between. I have grossed $22600 so far. Figures out to be $3.29 all miles, $94.26/hour to the truck. I pay myself 35% for driving. All freight except 5 or 6 loads have been off the loadboard. I'm pulling a flatbed, and it and the truck are paid for. I prefer pulling the oilfield and industrial loads that it seems like the other guys don't want. I don't haul coils. I have got in pretty good with a couple brokers that are sending me some loads that are pretty close to me, and have been paying pretty good.

Haven't had any major truck or trailer issues, other than the normal. One blown tire. Regular maintenance. Just had exhaust manifold gaskets done on the truck, had one leaking. Have some things I want to take care of once I bank a little more. I have found out that EZ Pass and Pre Pass are your friend. Also, I'm ELD exempt, but I have been using Big Road on my phone, not connected to the truck. To me, it is WAY easier with the ELD over paper, because it always takes me a couple of scratch papers to get my logs right. But, I hardly ever run up against my hours.

I now know that being an o/o is not for the faint of heart. I have had my authority for 10 years. Started out with tow trucks, and then just ran my trucks for the farm. There is a LOT more paperwork as a for hire carrier. I am pretty particular when it comes to having everything in order and accounted for. If you are not that person, I would recommend having someone available that is. One thing that I have found out is that it is tough to book loads when you're out on the road. I have been trying to book my week either Friday before, or Monday morning for the week. Sometimes the pickings on Friday are a little slim. All of the brokers I have worked with so far have been pretty good. I always ask for an extra $50-100 on every load I call on. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I've only had 3 loads that I thought were cheap, and those were paired with really good loads so it averaged out. They were still over $2 per mile on all miles, but under my $2.20/mile that I feel is the least I want to run for.

I'm looking forward to what the next couple of months will bring. Hoping to put some cash back to have on reserve. Planning on making a couple trips to pair with some vacation and visiting some folks that we haven't seen in quite a few years. Thanks to everyone that offered advice and encouragement while I was getting things ready to start out on my own.

 

Haven't factored any, and don't plan to unless I absolutely have to. Haven't even taken any quick pay unless it's no fee. I'm trying to keep all I can in my pocket. I only have one broker that is a little late on an invoice. About time to call and check in again. I figure if I spread out the load with several brokers, that's less of a chance to not get paid.