Agreed. $200k gross is low. Paying a driver and fuel, maintenance, taxes, insurance, goobermint fees…etc…barring any incidents and big mechanical failures, the best you will do is break even. That’s not profitable. You will not be able to sustain that.
So, now you’re thinking about all the owner ops and small fleet owners in business. How did they do it?
1. They drove for someone else until they learned the business. Part of learning the business is learning the freight and freight lanes, knowing how to turn a wrench, understanding the cost of operating, and what a profit margin is. You are thinking that you can buy 3 trucks, hire some drivers, be a boss and watch the money roll in. 3 trucks, $700k, no idea of what you’re doing, you’ll be broke in 6 months.
2. They are disciplined. A company driver goes home, gets out of the truck and relaxes. Owner ops and fleet owners don’t have the liberty to think like that. The business takes priority. That’s your dirty arse under a truck on your days off. There’s ALWAYS something that has to be done.
“Why can’t I pay someone $120k to do it and keep $80k?”
You pay me $120k, I would happily accept. You will be busted in 3 months instead of 6.
Looking to start my own Carrier company
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Davewheeler, Nov 30, 2025.
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