Is Part Time Owner Op Possible

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by MercySakesAlive, Nov 30, 2022.

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  1. MercySakesAlive

    MercySakesAlive Light Load Member

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    I'm a freelance driver who works in a few niche industries like television and live productions. Sometimes my phone doesn't ring for a month or two. If I owned a used truck(found one with low miles in good shape) then I could pad out those slow months with my own jobs. My stumbling block is the insurance rate. My question is: is there a way to DOWNGRADE your insurance policy while the truck isn't working? Does this model of business exist?
     
    MercySakesAlive, Nov 30, 2022
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  2. shanman

    shanman Medium Load Member

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    Sure cancel your insurance and lose your authority then reactivate your authority for the month or two you need it.

    you have to maintain insurance to keep your authority “active” otherwise your a new guy every year.
     
    shanman, Nov 30, 2022
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  3. 062

    062 Road Train Member

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    You can drop it to the minimum requirement, but I don’t know how much that would save you.
    Have you thought about working for a temp agency?
     
    062, Nov 30, 2022
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  4. MercySakesAlive

    MercySakesAlive Light Load Member

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    I don't know what a temp agency is in the context of trucking. Can you educate me?
     
    MercySakesAlive, Nov 30, 2022
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  5. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    temp employment agency

    driver leasing company

    do a search in your area.

    check craigs list, indeed, career builder, etc,etc.
     
    buddyd157, Nov 30, 2022
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  6. zinita17601

    zinita17601 Road Train Member

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    Is very doable,i only work six months a year and earn enough to live comfortably but everything i own is paid for:truck,trailer,house and cars.
     
    zinita17601, Nov 30, 2022
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  7. Cat sdp

    Cat sdp . .

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    Part time is possible if you subsidize it……

    Question is do you want to use your own money to keep the truck solvent?
     
    Cat sdp, Nov 30, 2022
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  8. Rubber duck kw

    Rubber duck kw Road Train Member

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    It's possible, I MIGHT hit 60k miles for the year this year. It doesn't pay very well though, I'd hate to be trying to support a family off this sort of lackluster work ethic.
     
    Rubber duck kw, Nov 30, 2022
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  9. MercySakesAlive

    MercySakesAlive Light Load Member

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    I don't know about subsidizing the truck... I was looking at a 2008 Freightliner I was going to buy with my own money.
     
    MercySakesAlive, Nov 30, 2022
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  10. Tropsnart

    Tropsnart Road Train Member

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    Fmcsa allows a voluntary surrender of authority. Many seasonal businesses do this every year. If you simply cancel your insurance it is considered an involuntary surrender. If voluntary, reinstate your insurance, fill out the fmcsa forms and within a week you are good to go. Our insurance agent said over 60 days the companies they sell for will consider you a new entrant. I did it from May through October. My premium actually decreased when I told them I'd shop around.
     
    Tropsnart, Nov 30, 2022
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