Another option?

Yes that's an option and that makes sense. But o/o and l/o have costs that don't make it attractive to train then have them leave, as an o/o you realize that.

The US Government is slowly shaping the trucking industry, slowly shutting out the small business. In 20 years the garden-variety Independent truckers will be gone like Independent store owners closed when Walmart, Kmart, and other mass-merchandisers undercut pricing and drove them out.

Today it was announced there is a bill making it's way thru Congress that will increase insurance costs by 600%. That will put even more o/o's out of business. It's coming.

 

My plan was work as a C/D for a year and then become an O/o. 1.5 years and im finally an o/o. i would never recommend starting as an o/o

 

I can share some of my story in this thread. I came back to the industry 18 months ago. Went to an independent school, Conway Truckload had an agility test that I failed so I hired on with Swift, who paid my tuition, reimbursed at $150/month. After 13 months with Swift, who treated me well, just cheap, I tried Conway Truckload again, got on as C/D and my takehome income went up about 40%. After 4 months of that, I bought a 2008 Freightliner and leased to Conway Truckload as I/C. Yes, it's true-that insurance rates go up substantially if I hire a driver. I figure to run I/C for 6 months to a year, then go O/O. I'll work for a company while I'm figuring out where the money is for me. I think you have to watch out for yourself especially when it's your money on the table. At Swift, $400-$600/week takehome. Conway, $700-900/week takehome. In my first month I/C, $1,200-$1,700/week takehome, before the remaining expenses. So each step has been per plan, and while it's just me, I can recommend finding out what's going on before you spend any money. Don't lease.