Owner/Operator Advocate

FYI, your survey has some questions that are difficult to answer:

If your a true O/O not working with a company, you will find loads your self or work with multiple brokers to keep your truck loaded. the only time you just have one broker is if you have a dedicated route or atleast end up int he same areas all the time. You may also find one with with loads all over so you can use one, but i think most of us use multiple brokers and choose one that has freight in the area we are. If we end up int he same areas a lot we will have a list of good brokers and bad ones so we know who to call and can build a relationship.

If your working with a company ("leased on" although this has nothing to do with leasing a truck, you can own the truck and still "lease on with a carrier") you probaly have a dispatcher. In this case the disbatcher wither has loads themselves, or works with brokers to find freight. the driver does not deal with brokers directly. There are companies like Landstar that let you work directly with "agents" to pick your freight. I'm pretty sure they are similar to working directly with brokers.

I worked as a company driver (company truck) for TMC hauling flatbed. I worked with a Fleet Manager (fancy name for dispatcher) and had no control over my loads. I then bought a truck and worked for landstar. I called multiple "agents" to book my loads directly and chose what loads I hauled. (I think agent is a fancy word for broker, but not 100% sure). I then got a speeding ticket and landstar no longer wanted me hauling their freight (covered by their agents). I now work for Arnold (driving my truck) because no one else would take me. I now get dispatched, but have the option to choose where i go and refuse any load I dont like.

A true O/O doesnt least on to a company like LS or Arnold and they have their own "authority". These drivers work directly with brokers or shippers to keep the truck loaded. Many of a us start out leased on so the company takes care of billing, insurance, permits etc. and it less hassle to get started. Leasing on also ensures you always have freight since your not on your own trying to find it.

 

I just tried to take the survey, as above some difficulties surfaced.
1. Terminology: Owner operators usually fall into 2 categories: Those that have their own authority or those that lease to a carrier.
Brokers are individuals or companies that find freight in the marketplace and arrange to get it moved. If you have your own authority, you deal with brokers. If you are leased to a carrier, your carrier deals with the brokers.
If you lease to a carrier, many functions are taken care of for you, licensing, fuel reporting, finding the loads, billing the customer etc.
If you have your own authority, you do all of that.
The vast majority of owner operators are leased to a carrier. Structure your questions with that in mind.