Being an O/O under a Carrier's Authority

I plan on doing the same in 2018 sometime. Building a truck to my exact specs. This one will have about 800k on it by then at my current pace.

 

Average fuel discount on this settlement was .41 cpg off the cash price. Average fuel cost 1.99 per gallon. So far this month my rate on all hub miles 1.47 per mile on 7552 miles ending on the morning of the 16th. Other than a habit of thinking I can be two places at once, these guys do a good job.

 

Been awhile but still moving along. I've hit three deer since the last post and the passenger side third of my bumper is gone and the driver side has a perfect hoof hole in it. I'm getting that replaced in January and adding a deer a guard. Replaced power steering hoses and O ring today at a Peterbilt dealer and had them track down another leaking coolant hose. Little tedious things that continue to pop up here and there.

 

After running in circles around Denver the other day I finally got loaded and planned up through Tuesday. The money load, surprisingly, is a short run from Springfield to St Louis that pays me 1760.00. I don't know how they managed to score a rate like that. Picks up Monday after I get empty and delivers first thing Tuesday.

Truck went to hell the other day and I ended up with a new air dryer, a new air supply line behind the dash, a new cab height control valve, a new purge valve, and a new (can't remember the name) valve that controls the balance between the two tanks. Leaks kept popping up and when the air dryer went, there was no way I could put this stuff off until time off. Peterbilt of Green Bay, WI suck but Peterbilt in Appleton, WI were great.

 

They always post their rate along with mine on the settlement. They have sent me a rate con a couple of times to get me the pickup info faster than waiting on them to get everything in the system. They don't run a self dispatch system. It has only come up once that I was like, if you can't get a load, let me put one on the truck. I did that twice at the last place I pulled for.

I have some ideas in my head for April or so. I am seriously considering running my own authority. I'll have the money saved up to make it happen. These guys are doing a great job and it makes for a tough decision.

 

My payment is 1675 a month that I recently added 300.00 a month to for a total of 1975.00. Looking toward the future and running a new truck that payment may reach 3000.00 a month. No payment is too high but the rates you get and your other costs determine what kind of equipment you will be able to run.

I continue to evaluate running my own numbers but I haven't convinced myself a one truck carrier will result in greater profitability than I achieve now. However, if your goal is to grow and become a small fleet owner I think running your own is definitely the way to go.