Beginning of Beginning question.

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by xFreeWord420x, Apr 8, 2012.

  1. xFreeWord420x

    xFreeWord420x Light Load Member

    243
    78
    Mar 10, 2012
    Leetonia, Ohio
    0
    I have only been driving for around 18 months.. Been kicking around the idea of saving up to become an O/O. But this isn't going to happen for atleast 5-10 years. I was just wondering if there is any money to be made as a LOCAL O/O.. or even only going out a couple nights a week, or 5 days a week TOPS.

    I don't want to start saving, and put the time and effort in to getting it started, to find out I have to be gone weeks on end. I know the Local Scrap company I work for now has brokers, but don't really know any of them, or see them much.. but they seem to be doing alright.. I want to get out of scrap hauling to, btw, if that helps.

    So basically, can you make it as an O/O without being gone for more than a couple days here and there? Any local O/Os out there?
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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

  3. fortycalglock

    fortycalglock Road Train Member

    6,164
    6,613
    Jun 25, 2011
    Tourist Town, FL
    0
    Of course you can if you haul the right stuff at the right rates. That's my strategy and being in OH it should be yours too. I wouldn't haul scrap for less than $10 per mile, 1000 mile minimum. I value my license and zero points too much. Down here in FL I run regional most of the time and am home more often than not, but when that high dollar load out to Seattle pops up occasionally, I'm on it. I get the OTR bug out of me for a few months, and actually have a life.
     
    MNdriver Thanks this.
  4. tomkatrose

    tomkatrose Light Load Member

    224
    161
    Oct 22, 2010
    Los Angeles, CA
    0
    Regardless of what you decide, if you do not start saving, you'll never get the choice.
     
  5. xFreeWord420x

    xFreeWord420x Light Load Member

    243
    78
    Mar 10, 2012
    Leetonia, Ohio
    0
    Thats awesome to hear man. Thanks!.. Like I said, it is a very long time down the road. I don't even know close to enough about mechanics, the politics, or prices.. Or even finding my own loads vs. leasing on to a company. I plan to do my research and everything, and learn as much as possible. I try to talk to as many drivers as I can, so I figure after 5-10 years of networking, I might have a grasp on either of those.
     
  6. xFreeWord420x

    xFreeWord420x Light Load Member

    243
    78
    Mar 10, 2012
    Leetonia, Ohio
    0
    Roger that. I don't know if it is a smart plan, but I plan to buy a very used truck, in decent shape, to run my first year or so.. So I can pay cash, and not have the overhead of a truck payment too.. So, if things don't go as planned, I can park it and drive for a company. Then after saving up for a year or so, buy something nicer.. so on and so on.

    I was told to have at least $20,000 in the bank before I even think about becoming an O/O.. is that a fair assessment?
     
  7. fortycalglock

    fortycalglock Road Train Member

    6,164
    6,613
    Jun 25, 2011
    Tourist Town, FL
    0
    20,000 is high in my opinion. The more you do have, the more likely you will succeed however. These days, I'd want at least 10k with a paid for truck, though. This is how I did it, from the shoestring startup thread. However for every one of the "shoestrings" that succeed, I'd say at least 10 don't.

    From http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...r-operator/154436-shoestring-start-ups-3.html

     
  8. xFreeWord420x

    xFreeWord420x Light Load Member

    243
    78
    Mar 10, 2012
    Leetonia, Ohio
    0
    That is another thing too.. right now I am the sole provider for my family. My gf, Me, and a 2 and 3 year old daughter. That is another reason for my 5-10 year wait period. The gf is planning on going to school for some sort of nursing degree.. so then if I fail, it would hit us as hard.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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