I'm kinda sad... is being an Owner Operator really that bad?

Wellllllll said... I cant divorce my truck and thank god everything is paid for but alot of great points on this post... like ive stated previously you have to be STRONG WILLED and COMMITED...Some days you will look in the mirror and ask yourself is this worth it..My answer was Heck Yeah..40 yrs later im still doing it..

 

Well Semper Fi, Devil Dog!

You have more going for you than 90% of the individuals out there, so long as you apply the discipline and skill sets ingrained in you in the Corps.

If you're 6 months from your bachelor's degree, why not go back in the military as an officer for some period of time, then come out and do the Guard/Reserves?

It is the ultimate 'back up plan' to have in your hip pocket. Trust me, I know a little bit about that one...

 

ou already got 25 k saved. You are already a leg up on the dreamers!

 

you get out of it , what you put into it,its tuff but it can be done you just have to watch every penny

 

I agree with fortycalglock, I am leased to the same company he is except longer.

Your avg lease operator have no business being a o/o because they bought a truck with the preconceived notion that you buy a truck and drive it and make all this money.... WRONG !

The one thing I learned since buying my first truck in 96 was that this is a BUSINESS first and foremost. You have to have a clue about the economy, understand how it works and understand that if your pulling a flatbed, that you are NOT going to find freight in the middle of NV, NM or AZ, and if you do, you will be lucky if it even pays for your fuel.

With that said, you also need to understand that if your only earning .95 a miles plus fsc and your not making enough to pay yourself.... running more miles is not going to earn you any more money.

I like trucking, I've done well... my equipment is paid for and the most I've ran in the past 5 yrs is 53,000 miles a yr, but I've worked hard, no scratch that... I've worked smart to get where I am. I will be the first to admit that I've been very fortunate as well.

You want to be a O/O ? Go for it.
Remember that trucking is more then being a driver (those guys are going out of business every day) you need to understand your cost, you need to do as much of your maint as possible. These shops get $100 an hr with 3-4hr minimum... your time is free in comparison which allows you to invest that money in fuel or tools for future repairs. I do all my own accounting, maint and record keeping.

Trucking is a business and you don't stop being a business owner when you turn that key off.

Do you still want to be a O/O ?

 

Rob, most of us can already tell you aren't the typical wannabee that comes on here and asks dumb questions that would easily pop up in a search. 2 days ago this was posted in the finance section

For every one of you, there are 20 of these. There are many idiots that actually succeed in this business, so a guy/gal with a brain has much better odds.

 

It's not that anyone's trying to get you shaking in your boots. You just need to go into it with eyes wide open and no illusions.