What are the worst states for loads for Owner Operators?

Ok.... where do I begin with this one.. relying absolutely on load boards is another component of a bad business model. And if you get the CORRECT fuel surcharge, it can very well pay more per mile than the fuel cost per mile... ergo, you made money on FSC... I have done it, in a W900.

 

No truck payment
6000 fuel
No trailer payment
500 insurance
I am the driver

Would you recalculate, please?

 

Fuel surcharge is dependable because it’s built into the contracts.

 

Well if you have a paid off truck, trailer, low maintenance costs, rare breakdowns, own authority not giving away a percentage.
Yeah you can do okay.

 

@Power Meister are you an Owner operator, company driver or accountant? Curious minds would like to know who we here on TTR are dealing with ?

 

If you are leased to a carrier, with a paid off truck, that you take care of, you aren’t giving away ANYTHING. Even at Landstar with their 35%… which if you do the math, actually comes out a bit under 30%. Because dollar for dollar, you could not get insurance, tag, permits, take care of IFTA, load board subscriptions, drug tests, and all the other compliance BS for anywhere NEAR the number that 35% represents. Add to that fuel and tire discounts, and you could very well do far better leased to some carriers than you could do with your own authority.

 

You cant take depreciation into your P&L on a fully depreciated and paid for asset, so calculating that is meaningless. PM may be a little bit more expensive, but on the right truck there is almost no chance that a tiny little computer chip will go out and leave you stranded. Likewise the chance of a 20,000 OneBox replacement or similarly expensive repair to a SCR/DPF system. Also, if your costs are low, you dont “make the big bucks” simply by driving more.