Benefits of having your own authority.

Yes it was fairly smooth. The owner I worked for showed me everything before he went under. He showed me how to use the load boards, and let me book my own loads. I really didn't want to own a truck, but I was out of options. I just celabrated my fifth year as an O/O. I can say its been a good ride. Just hope new regs don't force me out. Id like to do this for at leat 5 more years.

 

Seems to me you could get your own authority, then get "LS Approved", then haul for the agents that you worked with when you were a BCO. A speeding ticket won't keep you from getting approved by Jacksonville to haul with your own authority.

As for the difficulty in getting paid. Let me just say that the blue "stars" are no angels. Jacksonville and some of her agents are a pack of lying, thieving, crooked SOB's.

 

I am a 100% owner operator and proud to say it! I do everything on my own IRP, IFTA, billing, maintenance you name it with that said I would never lease on with someone ever again I went through three carriers before going on my own. I was sick of having to look over my shoulder or worry about what others upstairs would think about how I ran my truck.
It's not for everyone and in the 8 years of being on my own I've only been burned one time $4,200 was kinda my falt that a buddy turned him onto me that buddy of mine said he is good for the money I do lots for him....

I do 80% of my freight thru my own customers I don't use brokers to keep me running some times I go months without ever pulling a broker load. I think it would be hard to make it on broker freight only but than again people do it everyday it's just hard for me to pull a load at half the rates I charge.

I'll say this getting my own authority was the 2nd best thing I ever did with first being the day I decided to sell off all my trucks and go back where I started..you ever need any advice send me a PM I'll help you out anyway I can but remember DONT FACTOR anything!!

 

@bayouhotshot thanks man, I know I see you all around these threads posting good info and encouraging others!

@rank yes, I was also thinking this same deal of being able to run the same freight as an approved carrier. I will have to talk to my agent about this.

@silver dollar congratulations man!

 

I already have my own physical damage insurance, but I would need to get cargo liability insurance? And bobtail of course, and the cargo insurance is usually the one that has the high down payments and is tough to get? And would the physical damage go up as well if go into my own MC#?

 

Insurance will be costly not because your new to trucking it's just because your a new company and they don't have anything to go off of with that said I'm with great west and my first payment was $2,100 I think the most I was ever told was $2,400 some will even split that up two weeks apart.

What ever you do better think real hard over the weekend you don't want to go broke sitting at home. Also I know someone that can get you everything in 24 hours ready to run so you don't have to wait 30days and this is from a very reparable company it will cost you $700 but your running two days later.

 

Wow! Okay @bayouhotshot, I will be in contact for that. Just need to work out this court case and go from there, cause I make good money here doing this specialized work and would like to stay here. If not, getting my own authority would be my next strong 2nd decision.
Thanks,

 

I can't believe they would do that you are innocent until proven guilty!! I have a speeding ticket from 2006 I'm still fighting over two days before my 2nd court date the judge passed away so they put someone else in there temporary until the elections come up three years later they got a new judge but the back log is crazy my lawyer said it could be a few more years before we ever go to court.

 

I finally made the jump and just went under my own authority myself. All in all it wasnt to bad, did all the filing on my own, should be ready to go in another week. Going tomorrow to my pre employment drug test to make sure I can hire myself. You will not need bobtail insurance when you have your own primary liabilty insurance, not that its a big deal since bobtail is cheap.

 

Wow! @bayouhotshot, no resolve yet? 2006?? Makes since I guess with the judge passing away and all. But yeah that's what I'm saying, I'm not guilty of anything yet, MVR still shows no new activity, so. But I messed up by sending in my ticket to them early I suppose, should have fought it out first.

@derailed, sounds like you got the ball rolling!