New driver as owner operator ???

I wouldn't think that age would be a factor. If anything, your age is in your favor. You have been around and you know the difference between bull and reality. As a mechanic, you already have one thing in your favor. Plus you already know the company whom you want to lease on with. If you were a 25 year old newbie, I would say run away as quickly as possible. But as a 60 year old with your eyes open, who knows, it just might work out for you. Only you know if you are willing to take the risk involved and are willing to work as hard as you need to. There are a lot of successful O/O out there, but many more who have failed.

 

When I'm 60, the only thing I thin I'll want to do is buy a new boat and go fishing....

 

Well, you will have to be the one to decide. But I felt that it probably would not make sense to do it at 59. Now, a couple of years later, with the economy going the way it is, I believe I made the right decision.

 

just can't sit still can ya? I wish I had a truck to put ya in I would. your the kinda guy I like driving

 

Ultimately, it is your decision. If you know the people you gonna be working for, you are ahead already...
When I started thinking about buying a truck, wife told me " If you don't try it, you'll always be sorry that you didn't"....

 

Hmmmmmmmmmmm
Keep talkin'.

WheW!
You had me scared there for a minute.

Have you also considered it just might be a GOOD idea?

Are you outta your ever lovin' mind?!
You haven't said YeS, ......... yet?

Sounds like you completed the honey-do list.
Congratulations!

HeY!
I have an idea.
WhY don't you give Big truck truckin' a try?
So far, I think it'd be a pretty good fit.

As well it should be.
There's another poster at another web site who retired from the military and went truckin' as an Independent Contractor pulling a refer. He tells others that having the pension income took the pressure off of driving a Big truck, as far as income.

He seemed happy to run only as hard as he felt like, and often mentions the fact that people are STILL gonna have to eat, and Big trucks will git 'er done. Refer trailers can haul dry freight, too.

Ok, here's what I'm thinkin' ---- ready?

That the small truckin' company that wants you to lease on with them, wants you, ....... well, ...... there must be a reason.
You're inexperienced in OTR drivin' that's a minus.
You have Big truck repair experience. I'd give that a 2+
Now, ........ do they want to do this because they LIKE you?
Or are they desperate, and just lookin' for someone to relieve one of their headaches?

If they like you, and they have a secure customer base, I'm thinkin' they'd also be willing to provide the support you'll be needin'. And I'm certain you will.
Besides drivin' -- you'd be gittin' valuable experience on how to handle the paperwork.
THEY should know how to handle all that goes on off the Big truck.
YOU would need to learn.

I know several husband/wife teams.
Daddy drives, and his TEAM MATE wife, at home, handled the books and stuff I won't get into here.
Some of the wives drove the Big trucks teamin' with daddy on occasion, some didn't. But I think the ones who keep the home-fires burnin' have the rougher job.
Just a thought.

But most of all, ......... well, ..... you're a mechanic, right?
It's easy for me to imagine a Big truck truck mechanic gettin' to experience what a pleasure it is to pilot a well maintained Big truck down the highways.
One of the things near the top 5 on my MUST Do list is get to know my mechanics.
They could tell how well a driver drove a Big truck, or didn't as the case may be, by looking at the transmission. I made it a point to take a peek inside and they explained it.
I thought that was cool of them.
But I digress, ................................

I LOVE to feel and listen to the ENGINE.
Especially engines with torque.
And gawd bless those who keep the power purrrin'
You'll get to know every normal sound that Big truck makes,
and when you hear a new one, you'll try to figure out why and where it originated. And fix it, if necessary.
Some new sounds come with old(er) age.
But, I doubt I need to tell you that.

It impresses the HaiL outta me when a good mechanic can just listen and figure out what other mechanics don't even hear.
And I'm thinkin' they'd be listenin' to the engine sing instead of the music radio, as they cris-crossed the highways.
Hills?
Mountains?
What mountains?

I don't recall you mentioning where the Big truck you'll be driving is gonna come from. That could make a big difference.
Used Big truck prices are down now-a-daze. That's a +.
The wrong used Big truck could break the bank. I'll let you rate that one.

But sittin' pretty in a nicely spec'd Big truck with the necessary support behind you as you learn the ropes involved in Big truck truckin' sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me.
Almost too good to be twue.
But I know those thangs happen ---- successfully, too.

You'd have to get him away from me, first, MM.

Even if he doesn't have actual OTR experience, I'm thinkin' he knows his way around the Big truck truckin' block. I doubt it'd take him long to catch on, and a perfect fit in a smaller truckin' company.

Haven't I heard that for every dream drivin' job there's a dream
driver livin' their dream?
I forget.
If nobody said it yet, ........ by golly,...............
SOMEone oughta.
Ya reckon.