Is being an Owner Operator worth it?

"If you have to ask, the answer is no."

 

Lots of naysayers. It's a dog eat dog world out here. If you are good enough at putting it together to make it work for you, it can be very lucrative. If you are content on having a pimp pay you x per mile "+fuel" you will do approximately the same as a company driver does. That is not to say if you call your own shots it comes easily.

So, more or less .... post 11 says it all ..

 

Sorry for cutting in.....but ther's been only two career loves in my life, truck driver and playin guitar.
Well I certainly cannot live comfortably in the music industry, and you can't mix the two.
So I got 20 yrs exp, minus the last two yrs, love the smell of trucks, love to drive, can't sit still,
love seeing the country. And I'm sick of somebody else's odor or mess, being local and slip seating.
So there ya go, I'm ready to own

 

Sure hasnt been this summer.

 

Amen driver

 

Is it worth it? I went from making $700-$900 a week to over $5k a week. You can take the whole month off and go back to work the next month like nothing happened. Your truck, you do what you want with it. Possibility of being home every night if you live in a good area with plenty freight. Its worth it. I would never drive as a company driver ever again.

 

I disagree. If you're asking, it means you probably still like trucking, but hate the company bull trash.

 

After fuel and fees I can take home about $3200-$3600. I pay myself a set amount and leave the rest for the business

 

It all depends on how the operation is set up. I do alright. My net last year was over $80K. I am well on target to meet and exceed that. Good month of August, my net was roughly $9300.... $3000 in payroll to myself, and $6300 my operation netted after that. I am set up as an LLC with a S Corp tax structure. Not Bill Gates or Warren Buffet, but not bad. Nice to live in a very low cost of living area of the country.

Oh... and it is a lease to a pimp carrier with mileage rate (flexible based on length of haul) and fuel surcharge. But I am home every weekend/holiday, by the house a couple of times a week minimum, and take 2 to 4 weeks off a year on top of that. No dedicated runs, I just select loads that keep me within a 500-600 miles circle of the house. Excellent customer base.

A tax cut would be nice though.