Is Owner Operator my calling?

You seem to have the do what it takes mentality required. I'd look around for an excavating or construction company to see if you actually like trucking before sinking the money into buying a truck. Texas is an awful big state, even staying in state you could end up out overnight a couple nights a week.

 

How do you feel about about climbing the decks and loading 9 cars in the direct sun in Miami in July or August or maybe tarping a flat bed in the same place at the same time of year and then driving ten hours after you sweated your ### off for four?
Grass is literally not greener on the other side of the fence lol.
If you go to driving do good research and choose well.

 

Why not just run with coca cola or a local p&d job. Those guys make bank and some will even pay for ur school.

 

That’s not a bad idea. Selling everything, keeping the money, trying Trucking for a while on someone else’s dime. Maybe keep some equipment in case you don’t like it? Keeping choices open, you can always sell the rest, buy a Truck. At least give it 5-6 mos. before buying. Prices are high right now, won’t last for much longer. Prices can only come down on equipment. Maybe as much as 35-40%. Happened in 2000, again in 2008-2009. Watch the factory order backlog. Once it drops down some, others start cancelling. Then it’s a matter of time.

 

I’m sure Chinatown recommended some companies that pay good that would have you gone most nights.

The problem is , you are making fairly good money and are home with your kids every night .

in trucking , you might be home with the kids every night , but you will leave early and get home late ,

Being around your kids while they are growing up is more important than a few extra dollars .

 

Only you can make that decision. I would call for insurance with no experience and see what kind of money you're talking about first. It may stagger you the amount of money.

I don't know about your business but in this business the economy has a big effect on it. A time is coming when these rates are going to drop. If the economy is really bad you may find yourself working hard for not a lot of money.

And trucking can be very unhealthy also.

If it were me I would probably try to develop the business you already have established or find a way to better work with it or do something similar to use that as an offshoot like Paving or Excavating.

If not, keep doing research and ask research type questions.

 

A 5 out 2 home job is very rare in my experience. What they mean when they advertise weekends off is a 34 reset, not 2 days off.

 

I sounds like you have the work ethic to succeed. However starting out in trucking as an owner operator is a bad idea. Its like starting out as the chief of police with no experience in police work. I recommend you start out as a company driver, and get one of your employees to run your landscaping business. Also what you need to consider is that you are going to be working 7 days a week for the most part. Because as an owner operator if your not driving it your working on it. Whether your turning the wrench yourself, or taking your truck somewhere for repairs or maintenance.