Benefits of having your own authority.

I never was a lease operator. I went from driving for an owner with 4 trucks to my own authority. Based on this, I like the flexibility. Haul what I want; where I want; when I want.

 

Sorry to hear that BIGnature. i had a similar situation....reduced speed sign covered by tree and was let go from LS. Good luck finding something if LS doesnt take you back. As for your original question. Im dont have own authority but have talked to tons of truckers that do. From what i have observed, they make 30-.50 more gross then i do, but normally only beet me by .05 or so on net. I have yet to find a flatbed o/o that actually make over .10 more then me net. (I dont do heavy haul.real big oversize, so im not counting those guys) They do have more flexibility, but it hink they work way harder then i do for not much more money. Their gross is higher, but with added insurance, collections, and all the rest of the BS, they dont keep most of it. Just my .02. There may be some that blow the curve, but that just my observation from guys i've talked to about it.

 

My biggest problem is putting $300 in each one of my 3 trucks to move freight each day and waiting 3 to 14 days later to get it back.
Insurance will be around 5k a year with about $1500 down.
Don't worry about deadbeats that don't pay. A few phone calls takes care of that.
You are the boss. The accountant. The repair shop maybe. And the dispatch.

 

Arnold for 3 months...it was horrible....thats a gray dark period i try to forget lol.

I the went back to flatbed with TMC. ( I had worked as a company driver for them) Now I make more green the I know what to do with and am buying another truck soon. But, in all reality, if you can work strait contract deals, you got the best option. Many end up working with brokers, which to me is almost as bad as just leasing on with a lot more headache. At To Much Chrome, I drive my own truck and gross over 2/mile most weeks. Net is over a 1.15. Insurance is cheap (they pay cargo and permits) I make 73% pulling their trailer plus accesorial. i spend way to much on maintance though so i should be able to bring up my net.

 

have you considered a bank business line of credit? I had one when I first started really helps out in a pinch.

 

I second that....I dotn touch mine much, but its nice to have it if/when i need it. No interest unless I actually use it. For short term use, its much lower interest then a cedit card, and almost as flexible

 

I worked for a guy that had his own authority and 2 trucks for 18 months pulling dry van. I started with him fresh out of CDL school. He tossed me the keys, gave me his login and password info for the ITS and Members' Edge load boards and told me to have fun and make some money. I dispatched myself and ran where I wanted, when I wanted. In that 18 months I averaged $2.15 / mile to the truck for all hub miles, including deadhead. Average miles per week came in close to 2000. Mainly running northeast, with some trips out to WA, TX and FL when the rates made it worthwhile. Even took a load to Denver and found a load back to Baltimore that was profitable.

I might have done better if I'd developed some broker / carrier relationships, but I took the path of least resistance and simply booked the best paying load available whenever I was empty and had hours to run. YMMV.