Being an owner operator

I agree with the idea of it works for some and not others. But this whole 'real' owner operator had to have their authority is a crock.

 

Thats the easy part. Its what happens afterwards is what makes or breaks a guy. One has to discover there gift of gab and the will to go around and knock on doors and drum up freight. Depending on where you are, times like now you'll make more money delivering pizzas than trying to survive off load boards alone.

 

Guys I'm just a company driver but plan to own my own truck somewhere in the future. What I'm taking from y'all is that there isn't a certain set way of making it. U don't care about labels whether I'm considered a true owner op or not. As long as I can make my payments, get it payed for and make a decent living then it's a success. I've driven for 16 years but just local hauling equipment. Now that I've gotten a taste of the big road I'm hooked.

 

I don't really feel the need to run non-stop. But what you call non stop and what I call it may be completely different. I know I am home every weekend and if the stars align I am off on Fridays also. If I run ove 2000 miles per week then I did something wrong or got paid really good.

 

2000 miles a week? Dude why you working so hard?

 

i lease on to Conway, 3 1/2 years now and still there, consistent miles, consistent money, don't have worries about "slow freight" or "load boards suck," they factor, I get paid every Friday, so it's certainly not a bad way to go. I run when I want, have load refusal, go home when I want for as long as I want. I'm home now, 8th day, getting kindof used to it. Guess I'll set out again someday.

I set aside $.15/mile for maintenance escrow, it piles up, then my truck eats it. It's a good number. I've grown old, don't know that I want to commit for another 3 or 4 years, but I'd buy a new truck if I did.

The freedom of choice and where/what to pull is worth more than money. There are those who say the money isn't as good as company? One guy even mentioned pizza delivery? (he may have been kidding, I don't know) I get quite a lot more money leased to XPO, actually. Believe me, in my life it's more than "worth it" to own my truck, it's the only way. Have some money (not debt money) get some experience, shop around, be careful.

Do NOT listen to "Shop guys," dispatchers, re cruiters, other drivers, or sales reps. Be on top of it yourself, and if you need more information, go get it direct, don't listen to anybody, really. You'll be the only one in the truck, so be the only one buying the truck. Best to you.

OP, how much wheel time do you have now?

 

4 days per week, out and back twice, wife won't let me stay home more than that.

 

That's an average of 500 miles a day. Yuck.

All kidding aside, some weeks i run a lot of miles, others like last week i don't run 800. All depends on what the freight market is like at the time.