Being an owner operator

You can get some pretty good information on being an owner-operator on www.OOIDA.com

 

Better to stay a company guy right now. Sure it's not what you want to hear. But if I told you your def gonna make more money, I would be lying. Can you make more as a o/o, yeah. But unless you have work lined up before you buy your truck I would stay away.

 

I've run my own truck for about 16 years now, I usually buy new. Haven't gone broke yet. Got close one time.
The two big secrets I've figured out:
A) you have to be faithful at doing preventative maintenance. You take care of the truck. It will take care of you.
B) money management. If you have a really fabulous month, don't go and spend it all. Keep a savings account for those times when things go wrong, or maybe you just want to take some time off, but the truck payments still have to be made.

 

There goes that word again, "Lease"......Being lease to a carrier does not give you the freedom in the real world and does not make you an Owner/Operator.
Also, for your 411, anything 2000 and newer will require you to have elog.

 

Would like some advice from someone who been doing this 37 years .......be a company man and go union preferably teamster or longshoreman. You will thank me later. Once you get experienced, if that isn't a cup of tea for you, them try to jump of an O/O.

 

Website's? Try old school.....101 style.

 

Definitely diesel dave offers good advice! Go company driver for awhile before even considering going owner op. Also, you will sleep so much better at night saving $$ and buying your truck/trailer cash if you decide to go owner op. Buying old is good if you are handy with tools and have desire to do your own work, otherwise....... save up more for a newer truck still under warranty ( and not just a lubricated parts only warranty... it is usually the emissions and non lubricated parts that can send you to the shop more frequently.