A few questions for owner operators

1. You can buy a new Freightliner cascadia and get probably 8 mpg steady. It will most likely rattle apart on 4 years and 1 day. You can buy an older pete or kw and it will hold together forever, but it will burn more fuel. You could also buy a newer pete/kw glider and drop an old engine in it. This would be what I would do if looking for a new truck.

2. Your insurance will be based on TRUCK driving experience and claims. If you have little experience, it will be expensive as hell. If you have claims, it will be expensive as hell. Do not be surprised if you get quoted 24,000 a year from some.

3. EVERY expense that truck incurs. CAT scale tickets. Fuel. Repairs. Tires. Oil changes and grease jobs. Insurance. Plates. IFTA. Fuel card fees. 2290 heavy use tax. NM tax. NYHUT. OR WDT. KY WDT. Indiana fuel surcharge. And many more ... Oh, of course,
*****DRIVER WAGES***** Add to these expenses what YOU ARE BEING PAID NOW, to your business expenses.

4. I can't say good or bad about Werner but you should look to see how many times that E-log prevents you from making a delivery or pickup, or basicly just using your time like someone with a brain would. How much lost productivity does it bring? You may do better off somewhere where you can bend the rules a little when you need to. If this device records every move you make so rigidly, it may hinder your success. I would never put a truck on with any outfit that pays x per mile. That is how company drivers are paid.

 

Being a O/O is obviously broken into two parts. One part is driving the other is running a business. Me as a new driver I am most concerned about getting a load from point A to point B safely. The business/logistic side can be handled by other people if you want no part of doing it. I am sure there are many O/O who do everything themselves and that is just great.

I think the transition into the industry as a new O/O can be made easier if you have people with a working knowledge of the industry working for you and helping you a long the way. I am not sure how many O/O actually hire people to work for them but I am sure there are some out there that do.

 

Cobra may I ask what makes you want to be an o/o and how much do you make a year?