Why did you decide to become an owner operator?

Last summer, I took seven consecutive weeks off, the last one of which was mostly spent on a couch recovering from the vacation. Why? Because I could.

That was my reason for becoming an O/O.

 

I never even considered anything else....I knew I wanted to own one of these from the time I was a little kid.
The financial responsibilities are staggering these days...My fuel bill alone is around $13,000 a month and there are many other costs, some are planned for and others are unexpected that you'd best have cash on hand for as well.

But I wouldn't trade this for anything.

Like katz said....Time off is never a problem!

 

What those two guys said.

 

I want to be an O/O so I can hang broken tarp straps from my steps.

 

I never wanted to be an o/o. I was happy as a company driver, because while in training, I quickly realized a lot of o/o were dumb, or just had no business sense. Keep in mind this was 2000. Fuel could be had for under $1.00 in some states. The big companies were paying .87-1.00 per mile, and required 5yr or newer trucks. Trucks cost about 90-100k new then. Even with a fuel efficient truck, you'd still make less than a company driver when all was said and done, and NOT have the proportional amount of freedom. I was a sales manager prior to trucking, always commission based, so my brain is wired to find the profit in a deal. There wasn't any there.

The second company I went to was an out and back regional. The guys there averaged 1.20 mile or more. An o/o upgraded her truck, and posted her condo cabover for $4,000. This truck had been at the company for a couple years, passed their inspections, yada yada yada. All it need was a qualcomm installed and it was ready to go. I made a lot of money, and had very little risk, as I could go back to being a company driver if I needed. I once had 4 paychecks I hadn't cashed because I didn't need the money. Oh yeah, I was home every weekend and in and out of town almost once a day. I found another driver there, a year later, and bought his truck for the dealer's offer of $8,000, sold the cabover for 4,000 to a friend, and that was what made me be an o/o. A year after that, I got my own authority, to make the big bucks and have more time off. Six and a half years later, I leased to Landstar and am very happy.

 

You asked but I don't have to answer. This is why I became an O/O with my own authority. My truck and trailer are paid for and I can let them sit in the yard at home any time I want. (If the wife lets me). She is the only person I have to answer to. Just took two weeks to care for and bury my 84 yr old mother with NO worries about having a job or upsetting anyone's apple cart. I will do it MY Way.

 

Bingo.

 

so i could have the control over my life, from time off when i want, to knowing where i am going next. to run my truck as i see fit.

 

I became an owner-operator for the pride of ownership, and to quit slip-seating junk equipment. I wanted to learn more about maintenance and costs. I enjoy keeping accounting worksheets and filing accurate tax returns. Call me crazy.