Local owner operators

I do local end dump work and semi local power only and do pretty good for myself, but I am in an area where this is alot of local work, I also run midwest flatbed, my truck is kinda a jack of all trades truck, wet kit, decent off road, and can still haul a van down the highway if I have to. Being versatile is pretty key to success for a single truck operation, I am not tied to one thing and like it that way, if I only end dumped winter months would kill me, if I only flat bedded winter would slow me down, and right now I only power only and would like to mainly keep it that way because its easy and pretty productive money wise but I know when things turn for the worst I can go back to anything

 

They make small bunk trucks, easier to park one in the drive way every day then sleep over a steering wheel

 

I know that area pretty well even though I haven't live there for a long long time.. that's basically a suburb of Crapcago any more why would you want to drive a hood just running local in that God forsaken butt hole part of the world.. get your self a t680 or a 579 .. day cab it would make your life worth living & driving in that rat race infested septic pool alot easier

 

Absolutely worth it. And you’re not in a bad location. I agree with location matters and if you’re in the desert yeah it’d be harder. But being in IL you’ve got lots of agriculture work, and some great cities to make routes to and from to get home every day. Chicago obviously (puke), Milwaukee, Appleton/GB area, Rochester, Des Moines, St Louis, Indianapolis, Cincy, Louisville… but most importantly, all the gems in between - the ones you have to zoom in on the map to see!

 

Well worth it

 

Running local knocks some of your operating costs way way down. Think fuel and tires. Only way to go in my opinion provided it is doable for you.
If you want to go for a spin around the block you still can. There’s nothing out there otr that enthuses me considering how all people drive and the truck stop life.

 

About 60 or 90 days ago there was some female on here that worked for a broker in the Joliet area looking for O/Os to pull rail cans from Joliet to Waterloo Iowa.. that might be a idea .. the pay was good..You could dig through the archives and find the thread

 

Not arguing, but I’m not sure, at least for me, it would save on tires or fuel. I still run over 100k a year. Lots of heavy loads, crappy backroads, stopping and going at stop signs on county roads and little towns, etc.

But I do know radius has a big effect on insurance. For instance unlimited radius vs 300 miles would drop the rate. So if you can be local within 150, 300 miles it could save a bit.