If we are supposed to be these "profesionals"...

Don't make any more posts in this thread. Go to the "Ask An Owner Operator" section. At the top is a "New Thread" button. Push that and post there. Please read the many docked threads too.

As an owner/operator you are an independent contractor for tax purposes. This means you are responsible for paying your own taxes.

You will have to save money and make quarterly tax payments to the IRS. You will pay both federal Income Tax and Social Security/Medicare on this same quarterly schedule. In addition you will need to make the same type of payment to your state, unless you are in one of the few states that doesn't have income tax. You will need an accountant or tax preparer to even know how much to pay.

With all due respect, your chances of success are quite low with your lack of knowledge. Please tell me you are an owner/operator not a lease/purchase. You didn't enter into a lease/purchase with the company, I hope? If you did you will most likely see many negative statements instead of weekly checks.

You have a lot of research to do if you are operating a truck and don't understand your tax liability. Do you know your cost of operation in CPM (Cents Per Mile)? You need to do a lot of research in the owner/operator section.

I don't mean to be harsh but more fail than succeed. IMHO, lack of operating capital, lack of understanding true cost of operation and lack of research are among the biggest reasons an owner/operator fails. A lease purchase can only succeed if you do what the company tells you, run lots of miles and don't make anyone angry.

Checkout these threads:

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/ask-an-owner-operator/146942-how-to-become-an-owner-operator.html

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/ask-an-owner-operator/125507-what-estimated-operating-costs-o-o.html

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/ask-an-owner-operator/148340-keeping-track-o-o-operating-costs.html

 

the way i see it, the guys who would run 22 hours a day if it was legal, are the same ones running 22 hours a day even though its illegal

 

I'm with you too.. I'd rather take a 2-3 hr (or 4-5 why not? its what I is comfortable to me, no?) nap after 5 hrs driving, than try drive 11 hours straight (cuz you burned up 3 waiting around for loads, unloads, tarping, etc). not sure how the latter is considered safer. I guess all the robot geniuses can chime in and fill me in on that one? but they won't.. they can't.

 

You can do that with the new HOS, if you can properly manage the 14 hour clock. Also, who runs a full 11 any more? You risk a violation if your planned truck stop to park overnight is full.

I said this a million times already, and I'll say it again. If you run legal, a e-log won't make a difference over paper. That is what the FMCSA wants to weed out by pushing e-logs on companies. If you don't want to run legal, find yourself another career.

 

Nobody is saying we want to run illegally. We want to run sensibly. Under the old system wiithout the 14 hour clock, you could stretch your driving time to better suit your needs without being penalized for delays that weren't your fault, such as delays at a shipper. Back.then if you got stuck for, say, 6 hrs at a shipper, you could simply log off duty while you sat in your truck and surfed porn on your blackberry. Time stopped as far as your log book was concerned. But today, that 6 hour delay leaves you with 8 hours before you have to shut down. You can still log it off duty so it doesn't eat into your 70 but its still a penalty on your 14. So if you already drove, say.for 5 hrs or so, when you are finally cut loose, you now have 3 hours left to drive, fuel, whatever while under the old system, you would have 5 hours to drive PLUS 5 hrs on duty/not driving time to fuel, etc. You could be well rested in that 6 hrs at the dock and in both situations be safe to drive but under the current system, you only have 3 hours to do everything before you shut down again for 10 hrs. I understand what they were tying to accomplish with the 14 hour clock and under ideal circumstances it works. But we don't live in that ideal world.

 

Hey quickway...I'm not an experienced professioanl driver so I really can't give you advice as far as trucking is concerned. I can tell you that after 30 years in the printing business and in management I decided to give it up, as well. At first by choice and then I was laid off before I could quit. Lucky me, I landed another job at another printing company right after that. Was able to take a month off and everything...YAY!!! Then the ##### hit the fan and I was laid off from that job. That was on Feb. 5, 2010. I have yet to find a job. Went to SAGE Drivinf School last month and just graduated a couple weeks ago. I have orientation with a company (Epes) next week. There have been many companies calling me to come to work for them (they all love really cheap drivers, oh well, gotta start somewhere). What I' saying to you is, without knowing what else you can do to earn a buck and support yourself (and family?) it's realy hard out there and I envy the people that have a job that pays. I agree with your buddy...go fishing. Shoot, go down to the FL Keys and go fishing. Have a few beers in the sun. Catch some some serious fish and eat them. That's my humble suggestion. I wish you luck (and myself in my new career). Hell, I'm 50 and I am starting over. I'm grateful to have this opportunity.

 

Why not be both?

You and I both no people used the old rules to hide time that should have been on duty. Stop lying now yes you do.

Get your work done in a timely manner and HOS will have no effect on you. If you can not drive a full shift plan loads that are slower to match your abilities. If you have problems getting loaded and unloaded that can and should be adressed immediately with the shipper or reciever and should be compensated not covered for by the driver logging off to save his time.

Now all your bluster does not change one simple fact. You do not like Elogs because you can no longer lie to cover those things. Well not as easily. It is a stricter log book that is all. So work to get the HOS changed, adapt to the industry as it is, or as I suggested apply as a lot boy at the J so you can tell the tales of your trucking career while cleaning showers. Those are pretty much your choices. Choose however you wish.