What are the estimated operating costs for an O/O?

I know that questions like this have been posted before and recently but I am hoping to make my question more specific.

I am starting out as a new O/O and I know that I need to have an accurate picture of the annual(monthly) operating costs and my estimated total miles so I can calculate an average cost per mile. With this number I can establish my own pre-tax income and the minimum load payment I am able to accept.

I found these Cost estimates on an article on some web site, but I respect much more the opinion of experienced owner operators on this web site. Here is what I found on a monthly basis:

• Truck Payment $1000
• Trailer Payment $600
• Truck Insurance $600
• Fuel $5,000 (6 mpg, $2.50/gal)
• Tolls $300 (totally dependent on where you run)
• Licensing/Permits $150 (est. $1800/yr)
• Tires $600
• Maintenance/Repairs $500
• Factoring $1100
• Office Expenses $500 (incl. telephone, faxing, Fed Ex, etc)
• Taxes $200
• Home/Salary $4000

Total $14,550

I'm hoping some experienced owner operators can outline, in a similar breakdown, the expected estimated costs that they have experienced, and how many miles they have been able to push in a year by driving max time but staying within HOS parameters (for the most part of course).

Thank you for your help. David C

 

I found those numbers on a web article somewhere. I know those are not accurate and probably just written on the fly by a writer rather than a driver. I only provided them to be used as a reference for the kind of numbers/information I would appreciate from you guys.

rollin coal: Whatever works for you I say run with it and to hell with whoever says you are doing anything wrong just because they would do things differently. So long as you're happy that's all that counts

others: I agree about the mileage and gas prices, which is why that list was just an example I found online but I am 100% it is inaccurate. My truck personally runs at a solid average of about 5.5mpg fully loaded with cruise control at 70-74mph. I will be trying different speeds to see where I get the optimum balance of mpg and good distance for delivery purposes.

But I am coming here in hopes that an experienced o/o can change those numbers to something more accurate, and possibly add/delete any other categories. I know that the most accurate numbers will come after I have been running for at least a full year and can backtrack all the costs incurred. But I am very interested in a fair early estimate so I know what should be my minimum average pay can be. Some people can run loads profitably at $1.30 per mile, others need a minimum of $2.20 to realize any profit at all. Everyone's different. I'm just trying to get an idea of a fair starting point.

BTW, I will be pulling a reefer nationwide wherever the loads take me until I have established the best set routes I can negotiate. So I guess up there should be an additional line for reefer fuel and maintenance too.

Your help is appreciated guys. David C

 

Thanks everyone,

Allow me to post this question a little clearer. If an experienced owner operator were to copy and paste the following list into a response, what dollar figures would he/she assign to each item?

Truck Payment $
Trailer Payment $
Truck Insurance $
Fuel $
Reefer Fuel $
Tolls $
Licensing/Permits $
Tires $
Maintenance/Repairs $5
Factoring $
Office Expenses $
Taxes $
Home/Salary $
Total $

This information is the foundation for establishing your average cost per mile. I know many other threads on this forum have asked specifically for what the cost/mile should be, but I was hoping somebody could help me break it down into a bit more detail so I could better understand the business and industry.

P.S. Ballpark figures would be fine. No need to be super specific.