how much money?

10-4 on that.

Old buddy of mine was plumber's son. Whenever someone looked down on his father's business, he would say "It may be crap to you but it's our bread and butter."

 

just going off your standards of what you want out of trucking, I would say the only way you'll be happy is by being an o/o. It's really not for everyone, but there are somethings that you can't get out of a company job. It's one of those things where if you have to ask, it can't be explained.

 

I'll show you mine, wait, you don't work for the IRS do you ? [emoji12]

 

Man , the guy comes on here to ask for legit help and he gets bashed, gotta take the good with the bad on here Original Poster...

I can tell you to do you research and your due diligence , ask lots of questions and just remember someone touched on it earlier in your thread... The ones that will only bash you and offer no legit advice are either haters or are looking to keep the competition down(because they think they will earn more money if they discourage others from making the switch)

Might I suggest to read some of Double Yellow's Threads , Making the jump from company driver to Owner Operator.. Great Read...

Also , I have seen O/O's financials in the last few months, and the ones that are making good $ pre-tax and expenses etc.. Are grossing $140-$180k , you do your #'s from there ,there is alot of overhead and taxes to pay on those #'s ... The less home life, at home expenses you have the greater the return.. Budget and fiscal obligations can make or break anyone L/P , IC's & O/Os ..

Don't hesitate to reach out to OOIDA as well, and I know I will get bashed for this, but Kevin Rutherford's online podcasts and books are a good tool to utilize as well(some you have to take with a grain of salt)..

Either way, don't buy a job , invest into your future, make your business plan and move from there. Money is not the only thing you need to become a successful O/O , in my honest opinion , get a few years under your belt and then go from there, but if you just have to do it now, least sign on under someone else's authority and reduce your expenses , legal obligations & paperwork etc.. Good Luck , research,research,research.

 

thats the boots I wear most days they really just got comfortable

 

I am am not bashing the op, I am bashing the guy with no experience saying there is no money being an o/o. I started as an o/o from day one and never made as low as what he stated. Not sure what kinda o/o's he is talking to at the lunch counter or the ones you are talking to for that matter. As for as gross I turned $248,000 on 104,000 miles last year, that was to me after the company I was leased to got their cut. It wasn't my best year by far but not bad. I also take about 6 weeks off per year and I am home every weekend and a night or two during the week. I drive a 99 Pete 379 that has been paid for since the day I bought it. My fuel mpg's are 6.5 since I purchased it. (I keep track of every fill up). My maint was high last year, $33,000 because I spent $23000 on an inframe. I will leave my finances at that. I have also just purchased a Fitzgerald Glider and hired a driver. I leased this truck to the same company.
As far the op I think he almost has to go o/o with his list of demands. How much money do you need to start depends on you. I have seen people start out in debt with less than $5000 and make it and seen some with no debt and $50,000 in cash not make it, or should say figured out it wasn't for him. Obviously the more experience you have will be to your benefit. But not a pre requisite. As I said I started as an o/o with no experience but I leased on to my brothers company and had a lot of help from him and the other drivers.

 

He didn't talk to anyone at a lunch counter. Those guys would have laughed at him. He's been talking to the guys eating in BurgerKing and Carl Jr. You get quite a few people that come here, read up on posts made by people who were suppose to be drivers. If you're a driver, you hear other drivers brag about having a gigantic ranch in Montana, a mansion in Costa Rica, a supermodel whose sole purpose in life is to wipe his butt, and the time he put in as a Seal. If you're a rookie or a wannabe, you hear non drivers (people who either cannot drive or cannot figure out how to make money driving) giving advice.

So then these rookies take what is said as gospel, and they preach this gospel to other rookies and wannabes. The worse thing about it, is these people that do these things consider themselves to be 'educated'. THEN, they become "trainers" and get disciples.

 

man to tell you the truth is that the true income is all over the chart, a lot depends on you. People make it as o/o running $1.35 mile freight every day, how I don't know. Others make a small fortune. Some do great leased on to companies and some would do better leased on but enjoy the independence of be an independent. Many of those making $1.35 a mile call the ones making 2-3-4 or more bucks a mile liars, while the ones making it are saying you can't do it on $1.35 per mile. Kinda like being a waitress. Some good ones don't even make minimum wage while others make 2 -3 hundred per night. Has a lot to do with who your clients or customers are and how well you can sell yourself. If you don't have good customers and don't lease on to a company that does then that leaves you running off the load boards. Some running off the boards have very good negotiation skills and do very well while others just take what is offered and run with it. Other things to consider is that when an o/o gets to the end of the year he is throwing everything he can including the kitchen sink at the tax man to try and make it look like he made less than what he did. Trying to keep all he can from the tax man. Also depends a lot on how much time you take off. I normally take about 6 weeks. I have a daughter that is married and lives a few hundred miles away that we like to visit or take time off when she visits us. Most companies will not let you do that and I know it cost me money but it is my money and my truck so I get to call the shots. One thing to look at is that you will only make so much as a company driver, as an o/o the sky is the limit. Just depends on you and your skills.