Are you thinking of being a owner operator (Consider This First)

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Trenton325, Nov 30, 2024.

  1. 201

    201 Road Train Member

    11,859
    24,173
    Apr 16, 2014
    high plains colorado
    0
    Precisely why I became a company driver, and that was 25 years ago. This sounds a bit extreme, I don't doubt you, but as mentioned, you got the truck at exactly the wrong time. Heck, you are better off with a truck with 800K, as all that has been replaced. Sorry, you can't win today, and you gave it the old college try, but O/Os will simply be priced out of the profession and no sense in feeding into that. The real problem is, you are kind of stuck. Nobody will buy the truck, and repairs will continue to plague you. I say, get out now, suck up the loss, get some great company job, and build yourself back up. As you found out, O/O is 1 step forward, 2 steps back. You'll rarely get ahead. Best of luck.
     
    broke down plumber Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Grumppy

    Grumppy Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    3,010
    10,122
    Dec 11, 2010
    West Monroe, La
    0
    This is a really good thread. Everyone needs to save this thread and every time a new guy comes here, who has never been in a truck & wants to become an O/O right off the bat... show him this thread.

    And this is just the truck. We haven't even discussed regulations, insurance, brokers, load boards, shippers/receivers, bad loads, poor pay, accidents, tickets/fines, issues caused by others, eating on the road and other general expenses. A truck is just one part of the whole picture.
     
  4. NightWind

    NightWind Road Train Member

    2,610
    18,528
    Nov 11, 2006
    Sunny South, AL
    0
    @Trenton325 Just curious how many actual miles did you run in 5 yrs? I'm doing a cost per mile break down spreadsheet and want to use your info to test the formulas
     
  5. Midwest Trucker

    Midwest Trucker Road Train Member

    5,858
    21,043
    Aug 31, 2018
    0
    You would have much more money in your pocket if you’d just bought a new truck. Congrats on making it through all of that though. It’s not easy.
     
  6. NightWind

    NightWind Road Train Member

    2,610
    18,528
    Nov 11, 2006
    Sunny South, AL
    0
    @Midwest Trucker
    How would he have had more money in his pocket when 99% of his repairs are just general maintenance
     
  7. Midwest Trucker

    Midwest Trucker Road Train Member

    5,858
    21,043
    Aug 31, 2018
    0
    It’s much cheaper and more efficient to operate a new truck. Especially as many miles as he is/was running.
     
  8. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

    20,514
    13,253
    Jul 6, 2009
    0
    It's impossible to do a cost per mile breakdown..way too many variables.

    Breakdowns can be anything and happen at any time. New tires are slightly more then recaps but usually last longer. Economy can be everywhere. Mountains vs flatland. Winter vs summer. Insurance seems to have prices everywhere.

    Way too many variables. No 2 trucks will have the same costs.
     
  9. NightWind

    NightWind Road Train Member

    2,610
    18,528
    Nov 11, 2006
    Sunny South, AL
    0
    I don't think the request was directed at you however I will explain it. I am aware of that however I can use the additional data to create the correct formulas which includes variables in them
     
    Feedman and Iamoverit Thank this.
  10. NightWind

    NightWind Road Train Member

    2,610
    18,528
    Nov 11, 2006
    Sunny South, AL
    0
    You still have to pay for the parts and labor or do you actually think that everything is covered under warranty or that it won't break?? Then you have increases in insurance cost and a truck payment to make. I don't EVEN know why I try to explain this to you people who put mouth (keyboard) in gear before you think the situation through it's entirety.
     
    Feedman Thanks this.
  11. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

    5,380
    26,981
    May 2, 2021
    0
    I would say there's a whole lot of subjective there. Average 10+ truck fleet, probably right
     
    Feedman and NightWind Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.