Does becoming an owner operator pay?

Don't do it, stay company slave

 

Real question is how deep are your pockets? Buying the wrong truck will bankrupt you quick. Get a good reliable truck and you will make money.

 

im an owner operator and i see these types of threads pop up all the time. Its all the same question. If you really have to ask the question like this, then just keep moving. Theres a lot involved. You dont have down time. Down time is spent working on the truck. Forget about making any money at all first 2 years. YEs you can make money if you did your homework and are a good with tools. gold mine and an easier life, no.

 

Bills.

When I bought my tractor I had about 28 days before the first payment is due.
Fuel is needed, about 600 to start, three times that much to finish the first week. With three more to go.
Find a trailer, insurance, registration etc.

That was my first week. Due to reasons unrelated to buying trucks the seller which was a facility designed to craft OO's in a 4 year schooling decided I was not wanted. According to him deaf people do not get to do the things normal people do and not in trucking. Sorry sir, discrimination dies hard for him. I was probably still trucking when that old coot passed. Serves him right.

Ive run for OO's before and after a while you get to thinking like them rather than just a company schmuck steering wheel holder sitting on a stack of plastic.

 

If you're Tony Soprano's daughter, I don't think you have much to worry about.

 

Why do you want to be a O/O ? Why i ask is this is very important in helping to motivate yourself to being able to succeed in business. If your really serious about this endevour pay an accountant to do a proper risk analysis it'll be the best money you ever spent and tax deductible too! He will give you a good indication of what your start up costs will be what you'll need to earn he'll look at what money you'll need in reserve to help you cover all you running costs till your first pay check comes in. What he can't do is help you cope with all the anxiety you may well suffer if your waiting to get paid by some dodgy broker/ shipper and waiting to find a back load, and any break downs you suffer while in transit. any way happy trails.

 

I'm an owner operator and you make more than me right now, I guarantee it

 

Its a life style not a job. You like spending sat, and maybe sunday in your garage working on the truck or trailer. Now I don't everytime, but yes I do enjoy maintaining my stuff. Its feast or fathom. One month broke joke, next your diamond jim. I can tell you this, if your gonna be a owner op, there isn't much place for a camper, boat, race car, snowmobiles, and sad to say Harley. That's my only toy. It gets dusty anymore.
But I had it before I was a owner op and its paid for. No point to buy a new one, but not giving up mine. Or a wife that is a business major that has no clue why you can't spend the money in your trucking account. Never give a spouse direct access to business account. Money will not be there. For that reason, and protection in lawsuit. Have them listed as transfer upon death on account. It is nothing to have 20 or 30k in savings. Think covering, new account for 30 days, or you break your leg and need payroll, or truck insurance, or blow a engine.