O/O authority

They don't want the competition.
@Wooly Rhino just went through the process this year; maybe he'll give you some tips.

 

In my opinion it's much better option then leasing to a carrier. I would say go for it you never know if you don't try. Personally I can't imagine doing anything else. Is it more work and more risk sure but with that comes more reward. Feel free to ask any questions I been running under my own authority 10 plus years now step deck and rgn.

 

When companies start shutting down. That outta tell you it's a bad idea.

I wouldn't dream of getting in to the biz at this moment and time. With the oil crash of last year. Way too many trucks are looking for anything to haul these days. And bringing rates down dramatically.

IT'S A BAD IDEA.

 

Because that is what corporate America wants you to believe. They hate the independent trucker going into a business cutting out there share of the pie.

I own 2 trucks, and I'm not leased on to anyone's else's plan for me to make money for them.
it's not easy. You have to do most of your own repairs, and paperwork.
You'll find a lot of shippers favour brokers.

 

I've had my own authority since 2011, I heard all of the same negative comments about going on my own, truth to the matter is I had my cdl for a very short time and only worked for a small company for about 2 weeks before going on my own, there is a ton of things you have to do and have in place before you even move the truck, if in your heart you want to succeed then you will, pm me if you have any questions and I'll help answer them, good luck to you and I hope it all works out in your favor!!

 

I plan on starting as an owner operator for the new year under my own authority. I will still be pulling the same company's trailers, but making more money doing it as well as accepting 100% of the responsibility. All of the owner operators doing this that I've talked to personally say it's a good idea if you do your homework and manage your finances properly. It really is night and day reading opinions online vs talking to the people you see doing it. Every situation is different, though.

 

If you have business sense go ahead and do it, if you just know how to drive a truck than work for somebody else. Not every cook can be a restaurant owner

 

I like being leased. But I must have the same ability to solicit brokers or direct and run my own truck as I see fit no different from any independent or I would have to be independent myself. Really it's the best of both worlds. Yes margins are thin and it can be a challenge at times. I pass up on a lot of freight that I could probably make do with what rate is being pushed simply because I always need more to cover that cut off the top. I fight hard for rates. I have my own dry van. The company I'm leased to has/runs all reefers and I also have one of those. So I can jump back and forth between the 2.

A lesser percentage on the reefer for sure. But having a couple of options is nice. And I don't want to go out and rent/finance or otherwise buy a reefer. They're awful expensive. And I couldn't buy a new one like I have anyways. That's just my take and opinion. Less paperwork, less headache. Substantial fuel discount. They've already paid for themselves fighting a company on my behalf to pay for repairs on trailer damages earlier this year to my van. As an independent that would have consumed a massive amount of my time and been a big headache fighting to get that $1,500.