What exactly is the stuff you want to learn before becoming o/o?

Learn to drive first. Second, the mechanics at your company are your friends. No matter how big of a dick they are to you always be friendly. When you get your truck ask them if there's anything to keep an eye on. Every truck is different with their own set of quirks. When something is broken ask if they can fix it, followed by asking how you can prevent this from happening, and if you could fix it yourself once they show you how.

Little maintenance things kill a single truck operation

 

1) learn how to drive, as a company driver, and learn the business and it's ups and downs, and the MANY inconveniences and personal costs (monies you need), of being on the road, away from home for a few days, to a few weeks at a time....and i am not being insolent or a smarty

2) "some" knowledge of repairs, but you don't need to be a full blown mechanic

3) "some" business education, even if online classes from an accredited university

4) the CODB.....(cost of doing business), what fuel costs will be, insurance, pay, benefits, maintenance, bank payments, etc,etc. you will have fixed costs, like payments, insurance, maybe payroll, and you will have variable costs, that change from day to day, like FUEL, maybe tolls, etc.

5) see number 1

 

Learn what not to do. Dont think you can run out after a year of driving, buy a truck and freight will be lined up for you to haul. Just because that big companies has more than enough freight, doesnt mean its always easy to get. They have people cultivating customers for that freight, offering up enough truck capacity to cover their freight and sometimes more.

Know anything about working on trucks? Know what labor rates are at repair shops? How about just fuel costs for 1 week? How about roadside tire repair cost when it comes out of your pocket to have it done.

Like said, learn to drive. Hone that skill and take notes on everything else as you go.

 

if you have to ask, your not ready.

 

Wooooh, those are the things that you need to know ? So, you must learn all that and then you go and find someone to tell how to apply it ?
Basically the advise is put your head down and get whatever they give you and say THANK YOU!! don’t forget that!!!

Cut the crap and do your own thing !

 

Don’t walk on the grass......

 

Common mistake. Some guys think that they can buy a truck and money will just roll in. They get on a couple load boards and then check with TTR and ask for advice when they realize that all of their savings is gone and they can't pay their bills. "What am I doing wrong?"

You know how you hear people say, "I don't move for less than $2/mile." That's not smart. You don't go out into a dead zone area for $2/mile. Why? When you get the load delivered and start trying to find a load out, you will realize that all the loads in that area are 44000lbs and pays $.80cpm. And you have to go 1000 miles to get back into your freight lane. Or they sit there for 3/4 days (you waste a week when you do this) waiting for a decent paying load and finally find something paying $1.15/mile to get out.
Know Your Freight Lane

Ever hear these guys that go into a shop or a service center and don't know what's wrong with their truck? They may as well give that shop a blank check. If you don't know anything and you take the truck to them to diagnose a problem, they can experiment on your dime. That mean's you will probably pay close to a grand and not even get the problem fixed. That hurts! Now, I'm not saying that you have to be a master mechanic. But you'd better know enough about your rig so that you can do the diagnostics yourself and save big $$$$.
Know Your Truck

Driving is the easy part. Everyone thinks that "Hey, I have a CDL! I am a Trucker! I am a Professional Driver! I am the top of the Food Chain!" The biggest difference between the experienced drivers and the rookies is not being behind the wheel driving, it's the ability to Problem Solve. There are problem shippers. There are problem loads. There are problem areas. You have to know your business well enough to solve just about any problem that comes your way. The guys that are the best at problem solving will be the ones that make the money.
Know the Business and Know It Well

 

Become a member of www.OOIDA.com which is a business website for the owner-operator.

 

Learn how to run a business, do you know how? Being an owner op has nothing to do with driving and everything to do with finding the best rates and managing your money and being able to solve problems and put out fires... When ur a company driver ur just a driver when ur a owner, ur a driver a dispatcher a load planner a mechanic a sales person a CEO and a therapist all on the same day, u ready for that?