Owner Operators, who’s in and who’s out? (poll)

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Midwest Trucker, Jul 21, 2025.

What’s your status?

  1. Had my authority and I still do.

    38 vote(s)
    35.8%
  2. Had my authority and no longer do.

    4 vote(s)
    3.8%
  3. Leased on and still do.

    19 vote(s)
    17.9%
  4. Leased on and no longer do.

    2 vote(s)
    1.9%
  5. Had my authority and now lease on.

    1 vote(s)
    0.9%
  6. Was leased on but now have my own authority.

    3 vote(s)
    2.8%
  7. Had authority or leased on but now company drive.

    6 vote(s)
    5.7%
  8. I’m a company driver and wish to remain so.

    25 vote(s)
    23.6%
  9. I’m a company driver but hope to own my own truck.

    3 vote(s)
    2.8%
  10. None of the above but I’ll explain.

    5 vote(s)
    4.7%
  1. ElmerFudpucker

    ElmerFudpucker Road Train Member

    5,131
    56,081
    May 17, 2024
    0
    It’s not nearly as much of a grind when you’re financially stable enough to not feel like you have to truck. I may not be rich, but I’m not hurting and like you I’ll truck until I’m physically not able.

    And I’d sell it all today if I was able to keep my schedule and my pay, but that’s likely not to happen. I could have one or the other, but not both.
     
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  3. abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

    3,900
    9,131
    May 2, 2010
    ludlow MA
    0
    I’ve said it on here before I do like clean air, but I’d like to see a medium, preferably without having to add def,

    If slowly working myself back from the 2 accidents and actually have it in mind I do want to order a new truck, I don’t know when the cut off is though because I definitely don’t want to be a first year guinea pig
     
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  4. gentleroger

    gentleroger Road Train Member

    7,482
    20,345
    Jun 1, 2010
    0
    I don't use failure as a pejorative. Even if I were, a business failure is not necessarily a personal failure. An owner can do everything 'right' and still fail.

    To me, a 'successful' business exit mean the business (or it's assets) gets sold for more than the initial investment. I'll even go so far as to say an intentional wind down that covers all business debts without an extra would be a 'successful business' - provided the business has been profitable over it's lifetime and could continue to operate.

    However when the business cannot continue without a significant capital influx, then it's failed.

    I would categorize the recent shut down of Carroll Fulmer as a business failure. They're going out in a classy way and probably leaving with a nice chunk of change left for themselves, but they were in a position where they couldn't move forward and they couldn't stand still. The difference between facing a catastrophic lawsuit or a catastrophic equipment failure is moot - at least to me. Business choices were made that put the company into an untenable position.

    I'd even call DeBoer a failure. They got a sweat heart deal from the Schneider family who over payed out of friendship, but DeBoer didn't sell because they wanted to. They had maybe 6 months before default. They hadn't done anything 'wrong' (at least as far as I know), they simply got "caught in irons" in challenging business environment.
     
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  5. 86scotty

    86scotty Road Train Member

    4,498
    12,166
    Aug 27, 2017
    Appalachia
    0
    Dude, c'mon. Apparently you haven't constantly learned a thing. You can't just be stable and happy in this game. You've got to suffer! You've got to be miserable! You've got to blame the man, the industry, the immigrants, the brokers, etc!
     
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  6. gentleroger

    gentleroger Road Train Member

    7,482
    20,345
    Jun 1, 2010
    0
    Well, yes, or course. Any good catholic knows you need to be miserable and blame "the other " for it.
     
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  7. abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

    3,900
    9,131
    May 2, 2010
    ludlow MA
    0
    18 weeks down in 14 months due to 2 non at fault accidents and a second motor tossed in the middle….. don’t want to say I’m hurting but I don’t really have much left if I get another chunk of time missing like the above again

    I have the opposite problem of most guys, I’ve got good paying work, and I’m willing to do it, them wild cards haven’t been very kind though, but that’s trucking.
     
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