owner ops happier or more stressed?

I'm not an o/o but I can say that there is alot more responsibility involved than a company driver. Not keeping up with finances can cause havoc on you later. I'm trying to get 4 trucks off the ground now and its by no means a walk in the park.

 

Yes to both is my answer. Yes I'm happier and yes I'm more stressed. Yes I am happier because I do make a little more money and because I can say no I don't want that load. Yes I'm more stressed because it cost more to be on the road and with more money comes more tax responcibility as well. There can also be stress added when you took that
load that you should have said no to and the one you should have said yes to but didn't. Yes I'm happier cause I can go home whenever I want to and stay there as long as I like. Stressed because if I do that the bills keep coming but the income stops alot faster than it starts back flowing again. You see all the positive about being an owner operator are also stressors.

 

I'm happy. Well happier than being a forced-dispatch, 65 MPH company slave. I own my trucks and trailers, as well as have a good bit of capital, which takes a lot of pressure off during the slow months. Those O/O's with no cushion and feel that they have to run whatever they find (as far as loads & rates) are probably not as happy. I mean, if you're going to sell your life to the bank for a truck note, why not just go run for a carrier as a lease op instead. There's nothing wrong with leasing to another carrier, and many times can be less stress and definitely less administrative overhead. But as a small carrier, I'm not buying jet skis, etc. Instead, I'm putting that money back into the company via business development and a growth model. Hopefully I can pass it on to my sons, or sell it for a good deal of green when it's my time to trade seats and take over the rocking chair on the front porch.

 

Vision is absolutly right. o/o with own authority can be a little bit more stressful than leasing to a carrier as far as the paper work shuffle goes. I have done it both ways and I am happier being leased on than running my own numbers. At the end of the day its all about the profit margin and in my experience they work out pretty darn close to the same.

 

Smart man! OP, in a nutshell, chrome and lights might make a rig look pretty but it won't make ya any money.

 

Happier or more stressed?

Yes.

 

How about calling it pressure instead of stress. Always pressure to generate an income. Stress, maybe when things go bad, but it's all in how you deal with it. I'd never willingly go back to being told what to do, where to go, when I can go home, mindlessly driving and delivering freight to wherever. Nothing fun about that at all. Put a good week of picking off spot freight on the books behind you and savor the moment. Then start all over again next week.

 

That's like asking if it's more stressful to be so good looking that hot women line up for you. Yep, definitely more stressful to have to choose between them every day!