Owner Operator with a new truck

Best post of the week. !!

 

I'm a brand new owner operator and just like you I wanted a brand new 389 and I could have bought one from Lone Mountain, but being new to this and I didn't want to fail right out the gate (being new to owner op) and not really have a home life with my kids and wife I chose to drive something I could even afford on a company drivers wage (payment wise). I bought a 2012 International Prostar with 240k on her and I got a killer warranty along with it, that covers the truck front to back. I'll have it payed off within' 2 years. With my down payment, insurance, plates, whatever you may need to carry (chains, oil, antifreeze etc), workers compensation (optional) but I wanted it in case I get hurt, I'm into it less than 20k. Yeah I'm not driving what I really really want but my truck is not old and it's nice. It has low miles and I can AFFORD it. I'm hauling Gasoline/Diesel fuel throughout Nevada, California and Arizona. I'm renting a trailer though the company I'm leased to so I don't have to worry about that. Once I have it paid off I'll keep running it and get the truck I want later on. It's a learning curve right now and I don't want to worry about a high truck payment.

 

Shut up FuelGuy, we wont have this common sense thinking around here. We have no time for drivers doing it the right way, we want to hear about the epic failures of drivers not knowing there head from their @@s and losing it all!
Good luck, but it sounds like you wont need it.

 

Hahahaha! Thanks!

 

Well, there is no real salary. You make what the truck makes, and you take care of the truck and your business expenses, what's left over is for you to decide what to do with, pay yourself, invest into your equipment, etc.

Make 1 load a week you get that 'salary'
Run your tail off and you get that 'salary'

The work you plan on doing as an O/O is it seasonal or year round? That will affect your salary.

There's also the difference in what you Gross and what you Net. What you Gross is usually a nice number for conversations sake, but it doesn't mean a dang thing if you're not keeping any of the money that you make, your Net.

 

What kind of motor is in ur prostar?

 

It has a Maxxforce

 

Ridgeline said it best. LEARN the business.
fanciness wont make you money, Looks are part of the cool kids club, You wanna make money? Keep it Greased weekly, Drive it like a Lincoln, And don't get LAZY. Many fall apart because its "Too much work" or "life changes".excuses. Make no excuses and put your heart into it, You'll do ok.

If you want to succeed..This comes FIRST next to family. No ifs, ands, or But's about it.

Secondly, If you are going out full steam independency, Line up customers..If you plan on working Overflow freight that posts on loadboards via those handsome brokers..You'll make juuuuuust enough to get by, And then after 5 years you'll wonder why your savings account seems to never increase.

Best of Luck to you,

Your fellow owner-operator

 

Thank u