Help me deicide if leaving my job to become an owner operator is a good idea.

I'm sure everyone see's these postings all the time. Guys wanting help deciding what to do with there lives. I'm no different. I don't have anyone I can personally talk to about becoming an owner operator. All I can do is search online and watch videos, to hear peoples opinions. What I'm facing now... My wife (it always starts this way right!!), she is going to school for medical and wants to move out of the high plains of eastern Colorado. She is in Colorado springs with my folks for several months until she finishes. When she does, she does not want to live back here, not saying its because of me, but this place is a dirt and corn wasteland. I want out too but my job is pretty good to me! I drive an average of 8500 to 9000 miles a month. I'm salary at 40,000 a year. I get 3 full days off a week. I go out loaded and return empty. Yes I am a company driver. I should have started with that. I like the job, but I cant take it with me anywhere I decide to live. So I am looking into possibly buying a truck and hauling for a company. I want to be brutally honest here. I have FAIR credit. I am getting by just fine but I would like to be able to pick and choose when and what I haul to where, all while being profitable and doing what I must to keep payments. I would love to take this job with me. I think I can make better wages elsewhere though. Any thoughts or maybe recommendations? Anything I can add? Is this a terrible idea?

 

Yeah I have family there that I visit occasionally. Have been looking online to see whats available, and I get these job listings from indeed.com that are from companies like roadrunner. They don't show a home office in the state. So not sure what to make of it. This is just a plan to make a plan lol. Im scouting for the future. The wife finishes school in June so I have some time. I believe I am pretty good at keeping record of repairs, mileage, etc. Only had the one driving job for 4 years so I don't know if its different for you guys at swift, or schnider, but I have to turn in mileages, within each state. Keep maintanence logs.
Also I have been looking at used trucks. They are all spec'd differently and I haven't decided yet what it is I will be hauling. So I am establishing an order to the problems lol. I mean I assume most loads are around 80,000 lbs. Not all but im sure every company will push that limit if its a problem, so I am thinking that most trucks will do basically the same job. I know a light duty truck is not going to haul oversize and overweight loads, I get that. I guess I will ask those questions when it comes time to go shopping. I do have faith that I can at least match my current income after expenses with the right job and a little hard work. In five years I will own the truck and make that much more. Maybe, Im just ignorant of the truth of that side of the industry. I hear a lot of horror stories of guys leaving the job due to something like a payroll check of 38 cents. Thanks for the info everyone!

 

Yep that's a good idea. I have until june. That's when she gets finished. I mean, shes going to be doing an externship for 6 weeks but I know when shes done, were definitely going to be moving. If she can afford to cover out vehicle payments on her own, I will probably move down with her. Been looking at Roadrunner. Heard a few decent things about them.