owner operator wage questions

I hardly need a lesson from you or anyone else, I've been an O/O for over thirty years and have quite a lot to show for it. I couldn't ever even consider driving for a fleet and being treated like a P.O.S. and like I can't walk and chew gum at the same time!

Owning a truck isn't for everyone! It requires a lot of self discipline and dedication. I've seen so many guys that were pretty good company drivers go out and buy a truck and within a year they had a bunch of tickets on their MVR and had gone through all of their savings and even a couple that wound up divorced over it.

Return on investment is built into my rates and always has been as a part of my business plan That's why I won't haul that cheap dollar a mile freight and it is why I stay with a very small carrier that refuses to haul that low rate garbage!

I stay very busy and have enjoyed a pretty high degree of success at this over the years.

 

As I had clearly mentioned in my post, I wasn't trying to give you a lesson. I was simply trying to put forth a point of view.

Kudos to you on having been such a success at owning your own truck. But your assertion that driving for a fleet is tantamount to being treated like a POS is patently ludicrous, ignorant, condescending and offensive.

Good luck to you, and I do not wish to engage with you any further.

 

I'm way late in adding my 2 cents worth here. But sure, you end up buying a job for yourself. But at the end of the loan term, if you want to bail on the business, then sell your truck. You've just got paid for 2 or 3 years, paid for a truck with the added income you wouldn't have had being a company driver, and then reap the "free" profits on whatever you get for that paid-for truck. Then you can crawl back to your mommy's basement and live it large for a while.....

 

Gotcha....makes a lot of sense. Cheers !!

 

This statement REALLY sums it all up
I am doing it at .95 a mile. of course the company provides everything. My truck note is reasonable. The only thing that I do not like is this workman comp thing!
I provide my Truck, they put their name on my door, they provide a trailer, they find my freight for me, as a 1st time O/O, or as one so eloquently phrased it as "Fleece Operator"
I am leased to a Co. that has or will be 100% O/O here pretty soon. They only have 17 Co. truck left. Now there Lease deal, A FREAKIN JOKE!
I studied this company and another 1 for a couple of months. You need to ask a whole bunch of questions. You will have a BUNCH of nay sayers here and there.

DO NOT LET ANYONE DISCOURAGE Y0U!

yes, you do need somewhat of a sense of business, and a whole bunch of luck and dedication

 

There is no reason to become an o/o today. The only way is to do it under your own authority with your own trailer. Get off your but and find your own freight. otherwise your just a company driver witha truck payment and a repair bill. Do the math. If you look at the numbers from the best of fleets to lease on to it just dosen't make sense. After your deductions your pay will be around .40 cents per mile, drive a company truck so when you get tired of it you can just quit with out the finacial burden. (unless specialized hauling) I'm talking general freight hauling, which is what most people will be doing.

 

pay for plates is just another way to lock you in and for the most part percentage is the fairest way to go

 

I know. But Getting to that level reguires some duckets that I do not have at this time.
A TRUE O/O does everything for His/Herself. I agree with that 100%
now can I use your Authority?

 

Well it sounds like you are in the best possible position to pursue being an O/O. No big bills at home, pretty much debt free even after getting a truck, sounds like a good situation to be in. Granted I have no idea how much cash you have available, but if you can get everything set up and be completly debt free, with enough cash to pay you regular bills at home for say 4-6 months, and the reserves to make repairs to the truck/trailer 10-12G's is what I have read most agree on, you would have an advantage from the start. I don't recommend basing you income expectations on what your friends are/were making, too many variables. Another thought, just my opinion of course, but I would consider financing the truck and keeping the cash you have for repairs, capital, emergencies, etc. Use the search if yoou havent already lot of good threads on expenses, problems, suggestions on here from a lot of experienced drivers. Just a few early morning thoughts, best of luck to you......