just got my CDL A and bought my own truck what all do i do to become a owner operater

hi sorry I just need help from yall experienced truck drivers but what all do I need too do and get too be a owner operater bc I have bought my own truck and also just got my cdl a but have no experience like yall all do so if you could please help me out with this on everything I need too do and get and buy and how it all works I know usually people start out driving for a company first but I herad if your good that owner operater is the way too go for more money and better everything im going too do this for atleast 40 years I love it and I bought a 1996 Peterbilt 379 with 15 speed and cat 3406e also or should I work for a company with my truck and how does that work but thanks for any replies on here too learn from yall best I can so thanks for coments

 

Call Progressive and see how much insurance is going to cost you. If you can swing that and get insurance then you can apply for your DOT and MC number which is your operating authority. There is much more to it but get past those steps first then get a trailer and get truckin.

 

Pray, a lot.

 

Become a member of www.OOIDA.com which is a business website for the owner-operator.

 

OP...you are going to hear all the negative stuff, take it with a grain of salt. I applaud you for taking the plunge and doing what you want to do. It won’t be easy, nothing ever is and trucking is like any other profession. Owning your truck makes you a business person more than just a steering wheel holder. Be smart, listen but always consider the source.
Good luck!

 

First call to www.OOIDA.com. They will have someone for you to talk to to answer all your questions..... Good Luck. A 96 tells me you wont be running out here to California.

 

find an accountant familiar with the trucking business.

save all your receipts.

 

o ok thank yall very much for the advice this helps me out a lot thanks

 

You are gonna get flamed pretty hard. The good news is you are readily admitting you have no idea what youre doing which takes most of the flamers ammo away.

Next step is the people who aim to help you are not gonna tolerate huge run on sentences. Mispellings and capitalization dont matter but you must work on paragraphs and periods and clear questions. The run on format will make it so very few read what youre saying.


Youre gonna need $2000 for base plates no matter what. Call your state capital, the IRP people are who you need to speak to, probably in the revenue dept. Be ready with pad and paper and write it all down. Step by step whatever they say to plate this thing. HUT tax also.

I suggest you lease onto a local MC number and rent a trailer. Youve got a huge amount of expenses to cover and the first trailer type you pull may not be where you stay so get a taste before buying. Dryvan rates may not be good but flatbed is a spendy trailer and a ton of expensive gear to start up plus securement knowledge. I dont think reefer is smart for you.

Try to find a local MC that will cover the liability insurance, cargo insurance, ifta reporting and provide ezpass/eld if you want one and maybe a trailer. Dont give up more than 30% of ratecon if you find a full package. You should only pay bobtail insurance. If they stick you with all insurance cost the percent they take needs to be way smaller.

Anyways you have a lot to learn all at once and getting on your own numbers is a mistake right now imo. Its too much to take in and still run freight, fix truck and sleep.

In negotiations.. Listen more than you speak. Dont give up your green-ness ever.. Itll get exploited.

 

Ok dude, I don't like to see failure but you have to listen to the negative more than the positive. here is the truth, you have a one in nine chance of making it as an owner with experience and a one in sixty chance of making it with no experience.

The problem is that you have just entered into a world that is very competitive at the bottom where you are starting and you with no experience will face people who will undercut you to make a penny over cost.