Local freight as an owner operator

It is hard to get a grip on local markets without being involved with them, many times it takes people who are padded enough to get started. Get your CDL, get on the road, then take a job in the market you want to be in and learn.

As for a truck, go to a dealer and ask them, it isn't like buying a car. Go to a dealer and talk to one, tell them of your plans and they can walk you through the specs you need for the work and give you a price.

You guys going on the internet and looking for prices won't give you an idea because a truck for local work is not the same as over the road work.

 

Gotta love the echo chamber LOL

 

I would recommend going to Let's truck.com and take some of the online courses there on becoming an owner operator. Then follow that advice and most importantly spend some time first making sure you are cut out to be a truck driver. If you do enjoy it then while a company driver save up a lot of money and run your company truck as much as possible pretending you are an owner operator (figure how much you would have spent on fuel if you were paying for it. Find out if possible how much your loads are paying the company, etc.). Best wishes to you!

 

I eat at restaurants a lot so I’d like to open one. How much does it cost?

 

anywhere from 50k-2m depending on what type of restaurant you want to open. The ones you eat at truck stops will cost you on the lower end of the range I gave you.

 

If you want to run local, why would you want a sleeper truck, when a day cab may even open some doors for you.
Like others have said, get your cdl and see if you are even cut out for it first, then start planning for down the road. I don't know if their is any actual statistics, but I bet something like 80% of the guys that starts the process of getting their cdl bails out in less than a year. Trucking is not just a job, and even local it is still a lifestyle, own the truck and that lifestyle changes dramatically.

 

@starmac The turn over rate is about 96%. This industry is not growing the shortage is because of heavy turnover rate.

 

I am not talking about turnover, I am talking about those that start and find out it isn't the gravy dream job that is going to make them rich in three weeks, so they can't cut it and get out.

 

I am talking about all the above. When you have that much churn all of them are the reasons behind it. The number one reason is the lifestyle living out of a truck. There are not that many people who can do that. Including yours truly. After my training, if I cannot find something local and on my own terms, I am out too.

 

There are always local jobs, dump trucks, concrete trucks, cement bulkers, propane delivery, drink delivery, etc, the list is endless. Most local work is more work than many drivers will contemplate, and sometimes the hours can be a deal breaker for those wanting a 5 day a week 9 to 5 job too.