New driver going straight to O/O

I was company driver for a few years but like you been around the business all my life if you love driving and don't mind headaches go for it.Worst you can do is fail just stay away from the lease purchase

 

If you have a real knowledge about the industry, not just knowing a few people,then it might not be so bad. You should really take a year though, drive someone else's truck, learn what to do it certain circumstances, then jump in to the O/O game. Knowledge takes time. And not saying that you don't know what you're doing, but as a new driver, even though you grew up in it, you need to know what toll trucking will take on you, mentally, physically, emotionally, etc. You need to know how to do certain mechanical things on your own so you're not needlessly blowing time and money at shops. Drive for a company first. See if you really want to go into business for yourself. And remember this, if you want to make a million in trucking. Start with two million. Obviously that's a bit of a stretch, but it will give you an idea that guys aren't becoming O/Os to get rich. Good luck to you and good luck on your new career.

 

My husband and I are team drivers. We too were thinking about going head first into owner op, as my husband had been around the trucking industry before. with the prices of insurance, buying a truck, and other costs associated with trucking, we decided to go with a company for a year to really be sure we wanted to proceed forward. It is really hard when you want to have control from the beginning, but I don't regret my decision as it gave me a great learning experience. We did a lease with the company, NOT a lease purchase, just a one year lease. While they didn't run us very well at all, and it has been a struggle, we did learn about managing fuel, fuel cost, truck payments, we had support from a company when we ran into new situations such as overages, and damaged product.
I'm not telling you that you shouldn't go head first owner op. If you can, go for it! you have a great support system from your family. But, do consider maybe going with a company for one year or even six months to get your feet wet. I don't the decision we made because of all we've learned!! Good luck to you!

 

You have to love today's young people. Hey watch a couple of you tube video's walk around a truck stop 7 times. Look at all those nice trucks pulling containers. Then think to yourself. Let my buy an expensive truck. Pay expensive insurance, because I'm sure all the insurance companies are dying to insure a 23 old with no tractor trailer experience. I can even lease on to one of those many eastern European owned container companies out of Jersey. Then I can drive down some of the best roads in the country everyday. Gota love New York and Jersey. Not even sure where I'm going to park my truck, but its New York. There's parking every where. Then After 6 months or so of my back hurting from all those nice paved roads. I'll just sell my truck for twice what I paid for it and maybe get into the shrimp boat business. Worked for Forest Gump

 

I would drive company for at least a few months to make sure before purchasing a truck but thats my opinion

 

I would never purchase a truck... Unless someone gave u one then go for it... Sell it and pocket the money!!'

 

I assumed you would buy a used truck, but even a used truck can be very expensive, because they nickle and dime you to death. Even new trucks with warranty's cost you down time because it takes 3 to 4 days sometimes before the place can even look at your problem. Time is money, and wheel's on the rack = no pay. A nice tow to a shop can run you a 1,000 easy. I'm not even an O/O and I know all this. You would know this as well. If you would get in a truck and learn the ropes before thinking you can handle the headaches. You also probably don't know how sleezy this industry is. Even though you can just take a look on this site. At all the drivers who get ripped off. A company driver getting ripped off may be a few hundred dollars. O/O getting ripped off can be in the thousands of dollars, and normally happens when you need it most. Do your family a favor, and see if you even like trucking before you make an investment that will only suck savings out of your bank account.

 

Here's a pharmacist who had an Idea like yours. Maybe you don't want your own authority and all, but just put yourself in this guys shoes. He also entered the industry during a bad recession. Another thing he would of known not to do. If he would of not let his brain think that if a dum truck driver can do it. So can I. http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...erator/70022-instant-o-o-and-load-boards.html