is it still worth getting your own authority these days in the dying industry ?

There will always be naysayers. If you have the passion, the knowledge, and the money to start the business, you will likely succeed. This isn’t rocket science. Get informed, never stop learning, and never give up!

 

Well your timing is absolutely horrible. Not saying your can’t make it but starting on an upswing seems much easier. However, starting in a down turn and making it means you’ll have longevity.

 

Wait. For now.
Don't enter on a downturn of any market (except stocks)
Spot market sucks and is getting suckier every week.

 

Wait see where the market goes . Plus next year is an election year , consumer and investment confidence will be up and down until than.

 

@1_fly_fisherman


You have 7years of experience as an owner operator. I just dont get it.

 

The economy is doing rather badly and cannot improve. The pricing has increased to the point at which I decline buyinig first line retail products. I finished buying online on the bay and such, those will get to me in the mail. Not trucking to the store and since it's second hand products, has no impact on production here at home or in China etc. So there isnt much for trucking to haul.

And certainly not at .90 a mile. Know your minimum breakeven mile cost and do not allow brokers to give you cheap freight.

Amazon is moving into the entire Broker structure in the entire USA with a huge cut against the likes of CH Robinson etc. When the big three or five flame out unable to live on a low rate cut market (Amazon will survive, they have a disgusting amount of cash...) and the rates go to 5.00 a mile. You will be singing a happy tune.

Never mind the robot trucks. IF you think you can make a profit hauling .50 a mile running subsidized robot trucks costing a half a million go for it. You would be the first in a entire industry waiting for the first person to make the jump into the unknown pool filled with alligators with a robot truck.

If you cannot make your freight with rates being too low in your area, then migrate the trucks until you can load better paying freight. It';s like growing up in Baltimore City. Now the City is in advanced decay with excessive violence and so on. Literally nothing good to grow children or thrive in crumbling row housing. You emigrate to another state in which the land is beautiful, hardly any violence to speak of and certainly not crumbling housing. But rather new building going on all over the place. It will in 25 years become a crumbling failed situation but we will not be around that long anyway.

 

I get it!! Lol. I was an O/O for 8 yrs. Leased onto Companies. Always said I’d get my Own. The uncertainty though, and all the naysayers. Till I met a Driver by chance, who was so helpfull, and encouraging. I took his advice. Unfortunately He didn’t last long. Too many bad breaks. But He had more guts than most. Lol. What a character he was. All I can say is, there’s always a load somewhere. No matter who you drive for. Freight rates go up and down. The best time to get started was when fuel was high and rates were low, about 9 yrs ago. Equipment was very cheap. Same is happening now, on a smaller scale. Prices on used equipment is falling, as many bail out. It won’t be easy, but as @Midwest Trucker said, if you can make it through the lean times, you might just get to cash in on the good times. It’s always a gamble, educated guess at best. IMO most Americans talk themselves out of opportunities before they even get out of bed. Always a reason not to try. Usually fear of failure, understandably. Others come here from nothing, and have a field day taking advantage of all the opportunities. Is it worth it? No different than it’s ever been for the last 30 + yrs. just more minor hiccups in the bussiness. Is it worth it to you? Depends on how happy you are now, and your current financial circumstances. A lot to be said about Leasing to a Carrier.A lot less headache.With Authority, net pay may not be more, with the added overhead.Taking time off costs more. The added hassle of more bills due, makes it harder to budget. Sometimes the simpler the plan, the better chance of success. You never know, only one way to find out for sure.