Owner Operator vs. Driver

Having a good mind for business does NOT make you a truck driver. Being a good truck driver does NOT make you a good O/O.

You claim to have business experience so you must already know that the main reason a business fails is because the owner knows nothing about the industry he is in. If you are a quick learner you could probably learn enough about the trucking business in 2 years to go out on your own. But buying a truck with no trucking experience is a sure fail.

 

Most are definatly not against someone being an o/o but rather realism. Way too many ppl have wild fantasies about becoming an o/o and what it is like. There are posts all the time of i wanna be an o/o but im clueless. Then when a successful o/o is real with them, which sinks fantasy island they get all upset, which then leads to guys getting salty.

I would say most guys would want anyone to succeed. If you take time to use the search button you will find tons and tons of info on what it takes and how to do it. If people were against it doubt anyone would bother sharing their knowledge and experiance.

 

Your points are well taken. I was referring to most of the threads from company drivers, not O/O threads. Sorry for the confusion. You all will be a big help, with your knowledge and experience. I realize it takes awhile to learn the business, as any business would. And I agree that jumping into any business without proper financial stability is a huge mistake. I am sure I will spend at least one year as a company driver, if not my whole driving career. I may never be comfortable enough, with the business end, to but my own rig.
I appreciate the info here and will absorb as much of your experiences as I can. Whether i am an o/o or a cd.

 

As an O/O, how much you make will depend on LOTS of variables, who you lease to, brokers, lanes you run, but lets say you make $1500 a week after fuel, tolls, etc.... thats $6,000 a month take home.... truck payment?? 500-1500 a month?? now you make $5500-$4500... insurance, depending on authority, $100 - truck $600 cargo? now you make $4000... oil changes, maintenance, etc. $500-$800?? - now you make $3200... now, TAXES - 25% - now you make $2400 a month... $600 a week.... OOH.. and dont forget that INEVITABLE and UNPREDICTABLE tire blowout on the side of the road, in the middle of nowhere.... $500-$700 to get that fixed, so there goes ONE of your weeks of pay....

Keep in mind, these arent everyones numbers, they aren't my numbers either. Every trucking operation has different numbers, but I know a hand full of guys who run like this. They run all over NC and SC and are home almost every day, kinda like what most company drivers want, and expect life to be like if they can go O/O. All you hopefuls, just REALIZE, that the number you make AFTER fuel, is what pays for EVERYTHING ELSE,

 

$800 a month for oil changes and maintnace? Im in the wrong business.

 

The ABILITY to make good money is not the issue in this business. Issue with most that aren't able to do it is not understand the business side. And I am not talking about cost of operations stuff. Understanding the different business model in the industry. What is the better model for you? What are the chances of success in the region you live in. What we do won't work in many markets. Can you figure out the difference in the various markets so you can evaluate your plan? Most O/O's can't.

This business has changed significantly in the past several years. And changes are still happening. Do you have the knowledge to spot the changes and the resources to capitalize on them?

Forget what the typical company driver says. They know how to drive a truck. And forget about what any O/O that is leased to a carrier. They know nothing about the business side. They have hired a company to worry about that side. Get you information from people that are in the business.

 

$800 is money that should be set aside for maintenance for down the road, when your motor blows up 2000 miles from home, and the local shop bends you over and charges you $20K for a rebuild.

 

Very good point. There is the mindset of the company driver, the mindset of the leased o/o, and the mindset of an o/o with own authority. I progressed to the latter, and every step is a big one. When I was a company driver, I thought I knew it all, then, as a leased o/o, I thought I knew it all. When I started running my authority, I realized I knew nothing.

 

He's referring to a Schneider National account delivering to Dollar Stores . You might be better off with food services like Sysco or beverage companies like Coke , Pepsi , or beer distributors .
You don't give a location . I worked for Eastern Seaboard Packaging . They have locations in MA , DE , GA , PA , and FL . They deliver boxes and moving supplies to U-Haul and van lines . They hire drivers with little experience . Most runs are day trips with a few overnights at some locations .

 

That made me LMAO!!

F2F = Carrier
Rollin coal = O/O leased to F2F...........