Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

New Driver with own authority

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by mkbrower, Oct 27, 2021.

Page 1 of 9
  1. Oct 27, 2021 #1
    mkbrower

    mkbrower Bobtail Member

    28
    35
    Oct 25, 2021
    0
    Hi everyone, I am 58 and will probably be forced to leave my employer due to vaccine requirement In the near future. I would like to work at least 5-8 more years as a owner operator. I’m done working for someone else. I would not consider myself wealthy but I do have a substantial savings to buy my own equipment and pay the bills till I get my feet wet. Not looking to grow a company or become wealthy, just like driving and make a decent living the next 8 years.

    just looking for any advice from experienced truckers who started their own authority as to what traps to look for the first couple of years.

    Thanks!
     
    mkbrower, Oct 27, 2021
    mkbrower, Oct 27, 2021
    #1
    pumpkinishere and gabe11 Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Oct 27, 2021 #2
    TallJoe

    TallJoe Road Train Member

    7,490
    16,266
    Apr 12, 2016
    Chicagoland
    0
    Have you been a company driver or are you coming from a different profession?
    It is different when you know that trucking is something you can handle vs coming from a stationary job and directly becoming an owner operator.
     
    TallJoe, Oct 27, 2021
    TallJoe, Oct 27, 2021
    #2
  4. Oct 27, 2021 #3
    BigNorm4Life

    BigNorm4Life Bobtail Member

    46
    50
    Jan 21, 2017
    0
    Get you the newest used glider you can afford or and affordable new truck with the max extended warranty
     
    BigNorm4Life, Oct 27, 2021
    BigNorm4Life, Oct 27, 2021
    #3
    mkbrower Thanks this.
  5. Oct 27, 2021 #4
    mkbrower

    mkbrower Bobtail Member

    28
    35
    Oct 25, 2021
    0
    No experience at all other than towing a 42 foot toyhauler around the country. I had a father in law and son In law who drives and get two different perspectives but each tell me I should have no issues with a semi. I will still reserve judgement until I have actually driven one. I do intend to drive with my son in law some when starting out. I’ve worked in the power industry so no stranger to hard work and I work a lot harder than my SIL (I hope he doesn’t see this).
     
    mkbrower, Oct 27, 2021
    mkbrower, Oct 27, 2021
    #4
    pumpkinishere, Oxbow and TallJoe Thank this.
  7. Oct 27, 2021 #5
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,397
    143,377
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Chinatown, Oct 27, 2021
    Chinatown, Oct 27, 2021
    #5
    pumpkinishere and mkbrower Thank this.
  8. Oct 27, 2021 #6
    TallJoe

    TallJoe Road Train Member

    7,490
    16,266
    Apr 12, 2016
    Chicagoland
    0
    Mister... your savings at your age are too precious and this is extremely high risk business. If you plan to buy equipment now, you'll be overpaying big time and unfortunately only used equipment is available. I would drive at least 6 months to a year to see how that works on my body and mind before committing any substantial money to it.
     
    TallJoe, Oct 27, 2021
    TallJoe, Oct 27, 2021
    #6
    btlang, Shanebklyn, Oxbow and 9 others Thank this.
  9. Oct 27, 2021 #7
    shooter19802003

    shooter19802003 Road Train Member

    5,654
    42,106
    Feb 8, 2010
    Idaho
    0
    This.
     
    shooter19802003, Oct 27, 2021
    shooter19802003, Oct 27, 2021
    #7
    JoeyJunk Thanks this.
  10. Oct 27, 2021 #8
    SL3406

    SL3406 Medium Load Member

    539
    1,433
    Jan 10, 2011
    Oklahoma
    0
    The risk of getting the vaccine to stay at your currnent job until retirement is quite small compared to the risk you're taking by spending your savings to jump into the trucking business feet first with no real experience. I agree you won't have any problem with actually driving a truck, but the driving is the easiest part of the job.
     
    SL3406, Oct 27, 2021
    SL3406, Oct 27, 2021
    #8
  11. Oct 27, 2021 #9
    mkbrower

    mkbrower Bobtail Member

    28
    35
    Oct 25, 2021
    0
    Thank you for the feedback and I understand completely what you are saying. I have enough for retirement so that will not be an issue and believe me I’m not into throwing money away. I have to do something, it’s the way I’m wired.

    I think at this point my biggest fear is backing into a crowded truck stop. Those spaces look tight.
     
    mkbrower, Oct 27, 2021
    mkbrower, Oct 27, 2021
    #9
    pumpkinishere Thanks this.
  12. Oct 27, 2021 #10
    Lennythedriver

    Lennythedriver Road Train Member

    1,965
    6,335
    Feb 14, 2020
    0
    You need experience!!! A lot more to bring an O/O then most think. I’ve been out here 3.5 years, I recently thought very seriously Of driving for myself but when I ran all the numbers and the cost of a good used truck having doubled in the last year and other factors I decided just to stay on as a company driver.
     
    Lennythedriver, Oct 27, 2021
    Lennythedriver, Oct 27, 2021
    #10
    JoeyJunk, RedForeman and Dennixx Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 1 of 9