if it works for bigguns why not oo's

any insight appreciated, I,ve been self employed for the last 17 yrs (non trucking), at any rate my business failed due to circumstances beyond my control, i recently went into trucking, I have to say I LOVE IT, been wanting my own truck/business, talk to other oo's, most saying don't, my question is, how are all these big companies making any money, when one guy that owns and cares about his truck and customers can't,??????

oo,s have no hundreds of support people,leased lots, maint expences, ect ect ect ect ect, why is so difficult for one guy with pride of ownership to make a living in this industry?

 

there is lots of people in the trucking business who have no right to be. The run out and get there authority then hit the load boards and haul the cheap freight off them. they either dn't knw how or are to lazy to get there own accounts. you need at least 50% of your loads to be from your own customers to have a decent shot at it. then you have the whole thing of the big guys treat it like a business meaning they keep a much closer eye on fuel mileage, truck costs, maintenance, dead head etc. Many owner operator run out and buy the most expensive truck they can find, slap on a bunch of chrome, deadhead it all over the country then tae it to the dealership every time a lightbulb goes out

 

Makes sence, TY for insight, I want my own trk mainly for control reasons, I'd like to have all the bells and whistles but I think all that should come thru time and my success, for now I just want a decent trk that I know the history of and is going to be reliable. I want loyal customers that want to see me succeed as a result of what I can do for them to make them not have to worry about it when I say I'll have it there, don't worry.

What is the best way to find customers.......knockin on doors, cold calling ect? Seems to me that the smaller the cust the better? A reliable broker, maybe even word of mouth?

 

do it the most economically you can to make sure you can make a living at it then you can work u to the bells and whistles over time when you know your situation better

 

the best way to get customers is to drive for a company and steal theirs...lol

why can't a single guy do good???


hi I wanna insure 1 truck with a 5k deductable

that'll be $12,000.00, thank you come again...



hi I wanna insure 2500 trucks with a 50k deductable and you can tell me who to hire...

well hello gorgeous.... lets go out to the course (golf) and discuss what we can do for you... bring your girlfriend, no wives aloud...

 

Telling you more than you want to know.

Fuel is $3.84 cash at a truck stop near me. As an O/O you would pay that price, all day.

As a company driver....with a fleet discount. I pay $3.36 a gallon. Plus my company collects the FSC.

It's not only about cheap fright, it's those deep discounts the big guys get. Which you have to help pay for.

 

geesh...

 

OR.....find a good company that has good freight that will allow you to make your own decisions. Most of these companies have fuel discount programs that will save you tons on fuel. And don't mess with anyone that won't give you 100% of the Fuel Surcharge. PERIOD. Once you find out what their requirements are for a truck......then you can buy your truck.....lease it on with them....and start making that living the way you want to. You will want to decide whether you want your own authority or run under theirs. There a companies that do it both ways. You can make a living out here. But, you have to be smart and have a short learning curve.....you don't want to make the same mistakes too many times....they can get expensive. To come off the street green.....and go straight into getting your own loads is dangerous.....it can eat it's way through your savings....family....house....etc. In a hurry. There is a lot to this that people that aren't in it can't imagine.....and the actual driving is just the beginning......and believe it or not....there are a lot of people that can't get past the driving part.....they just can't get it. Drive for someone else for a couple of years.....if you still want to drive....Make your move....you'll know A LOT more about how the industry works.....and any early mistakes will be on someone else's dime...... Just my 2 cents.

 

Ive been doing just fine in the almost 7 years of truck ownership, you can make it with one truck, sure there are hard times, just have to tighten up the ole belt and work harder...... Self employed is where its at, as independent as it gets! That means no "fuel discounts" and no "maintanance programs" just pure old school trucking!