is it worth it to be a true o/o?

So it's definitely a company driver's market to have at the moment.

How long does each cycle last?

 

Hard to tell what's going to happen or we would all be retired sitting on the sand watching scantily clad females bounce by, but I will tell you my opinion, before 2008 things seems to move in sort of a 7 year cycle, since 2008, as far as I am concerned, all bets are off.

Why, because I think with all of the "establishment
wanting to at least LOOK like they are doing some good, I just have no faith in the published numbers.

This doesn't mean that if you have the will, the money, the work ethic, the attitude, the smarts, and everything else it takes make it go, you shouldn't do it, I would how ever be VERY careful about who/whom you hook your wagon to, that goes for brokers, partners, and manufactures alike.

 

I wonder how many trucking companies was started by some guy with a 9th grade education and a willingness to work for every penny. Drove a POS truck for sme guy until he could afford his own POS, and leased it on under someone else's authority. Business plan my arse. The guy beat the bushes to find work, and it paid off. Maw asked, "What's the plan, Paw?" And Paw answered, "Find some work." This day and age where so many feel entitled to a lifestyle of the rich and famous, a hard working high school drop with a double digit IQ can STILL be successful.

Yeah, I see people all the time, talking about buying their own truck and doing their thing and developing a business plan. And they never do. All talk, no walk.

Come to think of it, I didn't have a plan either. Had bad credit from when the housing market tanked. Wanted a truck, saw the truck I wanted and couldn't get it. Lost it. Saw a driver driving a truck that I wanted and I said to him, "Sir, if you decide to sell that truck, call me." He called me 6 months later. He was behind a few months on his note from one of those Buy Here Pay Here places. I talked to the BHPH joint and they signed the truck over to me after I got the past payments caught up. No business plan, just work ethics and a bunch of tools from Harbor Freight.

Sure, I had help along the way. Was talking to a driver in Fontana, CA about buying a truck and he offered me his old open headache rack for $150. He lived in Iowa. Met up with him and he gave me the rack...even helped me bolt it in. Was sitting in the J in Baytown one night when I heard a guy offer to sell a 3 door enclosed headache rack for $300. He was at the TA. I Drove over, gave him $300 for a practically new headache rack (wasn't even scratched on the inside). Drivers sold excess ratchets and chains. The company would throw the stuff away, and I wasn't too proud to dumpster dive. Ran recaps that first winter in Canada. Met a lot of good hands along the way.

Guess I did like he drivers before me. Start on a shoestring and when you upgrade, pass your old gear down to the next hand starting out. Had a driver come through that I gave my old 5/16 chain to, gave another the open headache rack, light bar to another, front bumper to another. You don't need a business plan as much as you need a network and a support system when starting out.

I'm not going to down lease operators. I've known some very successful LOs. I don't like it. But if you like it, that's cool. I still would like to see you all successful.

Saw an old truck with mismatched tires on it. I thought, "Hey, that was me my first winter in Canada!"

 

Wow. Bitter much?? Check back in when you have reached "real" businessman status.

 

Probably a company slave.

 

Almost everyone gave you constructive advice. just because it isn't what you wanted to hear does not make them ########.

 

Some one needs a HUG,in order to make it in this business you gotta have THICK SKIN!! SUCKITUP

 

Big Chevy. Your 60k a year driving job is cool. But if you said your not going anywhere financially. Then you need to check your lifestyle. If you have too many bills going out, your wants instead of your needs, that an issue that needs to be addressed. Do you want to challenge yourself? Are you willing to take the risk? You have guaranteed $$$$ coming in. Are u willing to give that up for some "satisfaction"?

Any of the vets on this forum can lead you to the promised land, but they can't make you cross that river. Fear of that river sets in. When you ask for opinions, listen to what they say. Don't get offended when people are giving you direction or their point of view of your questioning. A lot of times there are underlying details that you need to figure out. Listen, 1st and then react later after thinking about what they said. Many of the vets here have suffered the famine and feasted on the good times. Many of these O/O's have 10+ years in their business. Ask any of the vets here and they will tell you they were ready to throw in the towel when bad times came up out of nowhere. But their burning desire and vision kept them going.

Have you developed a business plan for this venture? There is so many variables in this industry that you will need to consider. Just where you live at, That's a DEAD AREA for flatbed freight. And the pay is below $1.50 per mi. Question. What will be your operating costs doing flatbed? Do you want just to break even or make profit? A lot of things to think about. Remember this: THIS IS A BUSINESS not a hobby. The few have took in the time, took the risk and became successful over time. Many and I do say many, have failed and lost everything because of not researching. "It's nothing personal, it's strictly business." And that's the mentality that you need to develop, to survive in this business. Continue to deep dig deep, step out of your comfort zone. You just don't know how deep that river is until you stick your feet into it.

Live long and prosper.