Non CDL box truck

My dad drives an 18 foot truck all over the country and I have some questions about how that particular industry works.

I heard up to 26 foot doesn't require a CDL, so what's the income potential there? He claims you can net up to $8000 a month as an owner operator who has your own truck but I'm skeptical. Currently he works for a company that provides the truck and covers all expenses and brings in about 40k per year working 3-4 weeks then taking 1.5 to 3 weeks off. He made about $4500 in November so that's a hypothetical $3500 that the company is eating up. Does this math seems right.

Also, suppose I get my own 18 foot truck and purchase the appropriate insurance. How do I get in touch with the actual load? Is there dispatch/load broker companies that sell these contracts as the actual commercial companies write them up. I called one company that provided heath insurance, they mentioned something about "load boards". what are those?

Thanks

 

There are guys who work for that company that own their own truck but still receive through their dispatchers. From what I hear they don't spend too much time on layovers.

 

I know it's about max weight capacity but most non-CDL jobs ads list length of truck. In any case I got more info from my dad, they work with Expedited freight under 10k lbs that don't require log books and those owning their own vehicles net 6k monthly which sounds more realistic to me. They work with Freight Forwarders to get dispatched to loads.

How clean of an MVR do I need? I have two minor fender benders that caused no damage in the past 3 years according to my personal car insurance carrier. It won't be squeaky clean till Novermber 2020, and the personal insurance reduction doesn't kick in until March 2021.