help!!! i am thinking of becoming an owner operator

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by iamthenewguy, Jul 5, 2011.

  1. iamthenewguy

    iamthenewguy Bobtail Member

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    sorry if there are similar threads, but if there are i guess i wasnt looking hard enough. after only about 1-1/2 yrs of driving i am totally disgusted with being a company driver and have come to realize i will most likely not be any happier at any other company...but i like driving and there really isnt any other sustainable income in my area that would support a growing family such as mine. the home time i have...out 6 days home for 2... is the only positive thing i can possibly say about my job. i used to make 2x the money delivering pizza 30 hrs a week but that was in a different part of the country. now i am working 12-14 hr days for chicken scrap and have nothing left over at the end of the month. my wife wants me home more often.... but i would settle for similar hometime to what i have now. i have alot of questions, i am hoping a few good minds can either teach me everything from square 1 or tell me if i am crazy for even thinking it could work. i have been trying to do some research and run some numbers, but i cant even see what current rates are like on load boards are...or anywhere else. i have heard $2.00 is not uncommon, but i like to look at the worse-case scenario and anything better is a nice surprise. also i would prefer start-up capital such as a line of credit, rather than just truck financing...this would cover my butt if i had a cushion to start with. i cant even begin to save with my job............advice? info? anybody?:biggrin_1square8:
     
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  3. rickybobby

    rickybobby Road Train Member

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    If i was you i would use the search button. Trust me you dont have to search hard on this topic.
     
  4. Winchester Magnum

    Winchester Magnum Road Train Member

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    The biggest tip I could give is to wait until after the 2012 elections and see if that results in sending competent pro business, pro American people to washitington.

    That is as clean as I can say it without trying to turn the O/O forum into a politicts forum. But I think its a valid point worth considering. Many US business are sitting on capital , waiting to see what happens in Nov 2012 before investing much more than they need to get by until then.
     
  5. SpankingGT

    SpankingGT Light Load Member

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    ANybody notice that used truck prices went right back up. I was looking at a 08 century with 313k miles listed for 42k and the same one is now going for 57k. WTF

    But like some one else said, this topic has been beat to death. If not careful with your planning, you will lose it ALL!

    Good Luck.
     
  6. Cowpie1

    Cowpie1 Road Train Member

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    Yeah, the used truck pool is getting smaller. Some of these have been moved overseas or to Mexico, and there is a demand for them here to stay away from more emissions equipment. Guess I'll just keep my '06 going.

    That being said, it would be a serious gamble to jump into the game now. There is no real clear picture that the economy is going ot improve much in the next two quarters. Some suggest it is going to dip again. And only God knows how the regulatory scene will play out. If one has plenty of cash on the side, then it might not be too bad a time to jump in. If finances are pretty weak, then it might prove to be a risk not worth taking at this time. The first year is the most difficult and leanest.
     
    BigBadBill and BigJohn54 Thank this.
  7. Kittyfoot

    Kittyfoot Crusty Ancient

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    Sorrento, Louisiana
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    Here's whatcha do...... get up at daylight and find you a nice thick brick wall. Bend over 90 degrees at the waist and run towards it as fast as you can. Bounce off the wall, back up and do it again and again. Keep this up until dark.

    If you still want to be an O/O at least you'll be good at beating your head against a brick wall all day long.:banghead::scratch::biggrin_2559:
     
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  8. condocassanova

    condocassanova Light Load Member

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    my sig says what I think
     
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  9. Winchester Magnum

    Winchester Magnum Road Train Member

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    Your sig doesnt mention investing thousand$ and thousand$ of dollars into a game where the rules are made by the government, and constantly change for the benifit of everyone except the trucker trying to make a go of a new business venture.
     
  10. Krooser

    Krooser Road Train Member

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    Truck prices are up....the dollar is in the dumpster so the export market is good. Relatively few trucks were sold with '07 emissions so there are less late models in the used truck marketplace...
     
  11. The Admiral

    The Admiral Heavy Load Member

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    Well,all i can say is with 1 1/2 yr's under my belt i had a long way to go. I was still making medium to large mistakes and basicly learning the trade. Taking a butt chewing is way easier than having to pick up the tab for those mistakes. Then again maybe i was a slow learner. Experience wise and economy wise i would wait another 1 1/2 to 2 years. And if you are not already mechaniclly inclined start hanging around people who are so if nothing else you can repair the small to medium stuff when you do jump in.
     
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