What to do...leaving a company

My husband has been driving for five years, and I have been driving for app. 1-2 years. He has been an owner-op for four years, and I have never been a company driver, always drove with him.

We just lost our job, but we own the truck, an '07 Volvo 670, in excellent condition and almost paid for (a small bank loan on it). Now we have to decide whether to get our own authority, or lease on with another carrier. I have found some decent info on getting your own authority, but I still have questions, if anyone can help.

How much time does it take to get your authority, from the time you start until you're ready to take your first load? How much are the real total costs?

I've heard that load board freight is often a ripoff, but how else do you get loads. Hire a broker? I keep hearing horror stories about drivers being ripped off by brokers (stealing the fuel surcharge, etc.)

We were making about $2500-3000/wk as an owner/op team with a carrier. Would running under our own authority make enough more money to make it worthwhile to do?

Or if nothing else, are any decent companies hiring O/O? We're in Southern Arizona.

Thanks for any help. Feel free to PM if you have anything specific for us.

 

That's encouraging. I was thinking it would take several months.

Well, we already have to pay for taxes, plates, insurance, we're already incorporated, and we already have an accounting firm that we like, so most of that is covered, but we might need to buy a trailer.

You mean you don't get paid FSC? I'm not familiar with the expression "in the weeds". Considering fuel is about 60 cents a mile or more, I think you need the FSC, unless you mean that the revenue you make is enough to comfortably pay the fuel? I think I'm missing your point.

That's after fuel and most other expenses, but we still have to make a small monthly tractor payment (paying off the rest of the balloon). But, it's also after a 10% maintenance account deduction, so tires and most mtx expenses are covered out of that.

We have to deal with FHUT and a few other things. Would it be dreaming to think we could get $2 or more a mile if we provide everything?

 

Does it matter whether or not the accidents are preventables, or who caused them? The last time I checked, CSA didn't care if the wreck was caused by a drunken four-wheeler coming across all four lanes or by the commerical MV, it was still the truck driver's fault. I think the idea is to get "us" out, so that they can use cheaper foreign drivers, but that's another discussion.

 

I don't think we're paying the workman's comp, although I know we were at one time, because we were hit from behind by a U-Haul truck, and the workman's comp bugged me night and day to try to get me to make a claim. Unless we're required to buy it, there's not much point, with just me and the husband running.

Well, the hubby has been in PHX job shopping all day, so maybe something will come through. I don't mind leasing on with a carrier, except that they put you through a lot of humiliation. It seems like they treat everyone like children. Since I was a professional person for the ten years preceding truck driving, I really don't appreciate the condescending signs and messages that they continuously send out.