Are There True Independent Truckers Anymore?

YES! They are out here working hard every day and night. I'm a co. driver, but do know of a few who are doing well. It gets harder every time fuel goes up and freight rates stay the same, or brokers don't pass the fuel surcharges along to the O/O's.

 

Yes, there are Independent Truckers out here! Good question. Someone who has their own operating authority, brokers their own loads and does all the little things like taxes, fuel/road mileage reporting, IFTA and insurance, collections of outstanding billings and all the rest.
A driver leased to a company is just that, runnning under their authority, IFTA and hauling freight for their customers, usually for a flat rate per mile and fuel surcharge, if they can get it.
If you are interested in being an Independent, I would suggest that you learn the business as well as you can. Pick drivers brains for everything you can, and start building a list of brokers, agents and anyone whose help you may need to accomplish your goals. Just starting out, I would say wait for a couple of years before you do anything. It's much cheaper for you to learn at someone elses expense, why wreck your own truck when you can wreck some company's.

 

Going totaly independant isn't for the squeemish.. It takes a lot of time and effort to get established and on top of that you have ALL the responcibility.. ALL the paperwork, taxes, insurance, billing, ect. to do on top of driving. In fact driving the truck will be the easiest part of the job!

I keep getting bothered by my buddy, he is independant.. He is always trying to get me to do it too.. I realy don't want to, as I am pretty content where I am.. leased to a decent company..

True I don't get 100% of the freight..I get 75%.. good enough for me lol!