Having trouble getting my wife on board with being a Owner Operator

I just closed another business and started driving. I've got no payments, and the skills to do all of my own repairs. I got my authority May 12th, pulled my first load first week of June (did tons of work to the truck before hauling), and with the very unexpected breakdowns and downtime due to parts availability, I've probably still not made money yet.

Had 15 good days last of July, first of August. Made good money, but drove a little hot. Couldn't have done it on e logs, and shouldn’t have done it anyway.

From my VERY limited experience, especially with your own authority working for cheaper brokers (not all, but you will have to), it would be tough to make that work.

 

You've spent 65k on repairs and tow bills in 6 months on a 70k dollar truck?

 

Your wife is right. But no risk, no reward. Alot of years I make less than some union drivers. But I work less days than them. My wife came from a family of securement. My dad went mostly 50, of 52 years driving in his own ride. Was it easy no. Was everything bought and paid for by the time he was in his 40's, Yes. Its a life style, not a job. I run old equipment. Spend alot of time working on it, outside of driving. I just started my 40's. I owe nothing but house payments, yes payments. One bring in income. I dont drive a 70k pickup however. Adapt and be prepared. I've almost been broke a few times. But you don't quit, because it's not a job. Almost 10 years in and my wife is kind of starting to understand.

If you are honest and have the will to do anything, you will be fine. I dont mean financially, I mean changing a clutch on a hot weekend while the family is at the lake.

One time I got to thank dad for instilling the work ethic in me before he passed. Here he though he was to hard on us boys. I regret non of it.

 

Your wife is the Kingpin to all of this. If she's onboard do it. If she's not on board don't do it.

And by the way her concerns are very reasonable and Common Sense and very valid.

You sound like you have this pretty well thought-out but the problem is if she's not on board every time you hit a little speed bump she's going to be screaming and complaining. $60,000 is not a lot of money for an owner-operator. So most likely you'll have to go into credit which again brings you back to her concerns. Every time you have to devote extra time to the truck she's going to feel more neglected and angry.

Every time the truck is in the shop and you can't draw a paycheck and more money is going out the window and the bills are piling up she's going to scream and carry on.

In short, having the truck can be a financial drain, but it can also be a drain on your marriage which the combination of the two could literally end up in divorce.

There is no way you can "make" her get on board with it. Some people do not want to run a business, some people do not want the risk whatsoever, regardless of the reward.

You cannot make huge life-altering financial decisions that could end in ruin, without having her on board.

Think carefully.

 

But also 60k can be alot.

 

Pretty much. And before you say it yea yea i know....trust me i know. Not smart and i fell into the trap of "well this will fix it finally" and no it wasnt planned like that. A big chunk of the repairs (about a third) was the ecm, sensors and wireing which allowed other problems to manifest. Hell when the 5th wheel crack and literally fell off my truck was about 10k all on its own.....that was a fun day.

 

Your truck reminds me of that movie “The Money Pit”.

 

How have you not just lit the thing on fire?

 

To respond to the OP.

Is your wife scared to go into business or is she’d scared to go into business with you? Does she know your not cut out for business? Or does she just not want to make the sacrifices to make it work?

There is no cake and eating it too in trucking. It’s a tough deal. But, once you learn it then it can be very rewarding.

I’d been in trucking a few years and remember telling the KW parts guy one day that I have zero idea how anyone makes it in this game. There is literally no money in it. I chuckle at it now as there is actually a ton of money to be made but it doesn’t happen easily or overnight. It’s definitely a school of hard knocks type of deal.

Good luck with the ol lady. Be nice if she will stand by her man and take the leap of faith.