Ontario Owner-Operators today, is it worth it?

It's a shame you're so full of yourself and your own "vast" knowledge that you don't know to whom, or about what, you're talking. There are drivers that make more than judges. I personally know drivers that exceed $20,000 per month during peak season. Those jobs are never advertised. My own small fleet of highway spec trucks averaged nearly $2,000 per day per truck, of which drivers were typically paid 25%. And that is at the low end of this market segment. Some of those earnings came from a company where Prairie Boy is a key person. Although I have no involvement currently as I left trucking last summer.

It's a shame so many drivers settle for so little... and bring the average down.

Prairie Boy has made a number of significant contributions over the years to this industry, not just locally, but on a national level as well. He is a strong advocate for fair pay and benefits for drivers, including all that they are legally owed and has provided support in the pursuit of same for many.

Lastly, you could take some of your own advice; "Please save your sarcasm, rhetoric and incredulity."

 

Now, now. It doesn't matter to whom I am speaking, as I don't suspend my common sense simply because I am instructed to. Let's leave the whole "do you know who I am!?" argument to politicians who are pulled over by lowly police officers for merely violating the law.

I don't negate your (friend's) claims, nor am I big sarcastic, rhetorical or insulting by simply pointing put that the claims being made here are not typical or in any way average for drivers or owner operators in Canada (or the US).

Most company drivers earn a comfortable living and most owner operators enjoy the freedom of running their own business while earning a comfortable living. The going rate, according to a poster here, appears to be a few thousand dollars to the truck each week. I don't endorse or refute that number, but certainly can't get behind anyone coming in here and insulting the hard working people running their own business. It's wrong to try to make people look stupid for running their business in a way that lets them live comfortably. Period. It doesn't matter who that person is, not what they have supposedly done.

My mind is made up, no amount of arrogant grand standing will change it. To each their own, and good luck to you.

 

Actually, you are, as well as inferring that at least three of us in this thread are lying. You should stick to whatever it is you're good at, but trucking rates in western Canada and general industry knowledge isn't it.

BTW, what I posted was not phrased that way. Rather, it was to illustrate that there are others on this forum that have very significant experience and industry contributions and can quite readily support what they are posting. Neither myself, nor any of the individuals that I personally know, have any need to try and elevate our status beyond that which is as a result of actual accomplishment.

 

Lady or whatever you are. I've only been in this business since 1960 so what in hell would I know.

I have also owned a couple of successful trucking companies which I have sold.

There are members on this site that know me extremely well and that work or worked for the company I presently consult for. Some of these members I have hired myself.

We are not freight haulers as you probably know the industry to be. We are a very specialized contractor that provides 95% off road services and heavy equipment hauling. As mentioned earlier, our driver starting rate is $30.00 and hour and runs as high as $47.00. I'm sure something like that would never interest you as you don't come across as anyone that can stand a little prosperity because you don't seem to think that it exists.

I could care less if you believe the numbers I have given you. By the way, our laborers start at $23.00 and hour plus OT after 8 + benefits, pension, Tax Free Subsistence allowance etc etc. (And they are unskilled, but smarter than a lot of truck drivers that work for peanuts.)

 

The point I have always tried to make is the fact that Carriers want Owner Operators and/or Lease Operators because they can get their freight moved much cheaper than a Company Driver would cost them.

 

Wow, I am a company driver and have never had less than a 6 figure salary since I started driving in the patch. $48,000? I earned more than that delivering groceries in downtown Victoria.

In all fairness an MPP or judge put in far less time than any driver earning 100,000 plus dollars a year. Education earns you the ability to earn more money for less work, but if your willing to do more work you can earn the same money.

 

Me thinks the "gentlemen" doth protest too much.

Good luck, boys. I did mean it when I said we're done here. Your minds are made up; as is mine.

 

You did mean it? Why did you come back? Have your self a good day.

 

When you first came into this thread, you all but called some of the others liars. You have not listened to clear and well thought it responses and you have been less than courteous. So I don't think anyone here its really going to miss you as you leave, don't let the door hit your ### on the way out.

 

And yet...