Pit falls of the owner operator

Mullen's been pretty good to me so far, touch wood. I pull for their dry bulk division. Quite a bit of our work is in the patch, in northern AB and northern BC, so a lot of bush work. I'm not into the bush work yet, as I haul primarily to our construction-related customers, and sometimes to the patch customers in Lac La Biche, LLoyd, Whitecourt etc.

What's been your experience with Kindersley ?

 

I assume your a leased op then?

My experience with them was good, and over the years it has become extremely unpleasant. They treat the drivers like #### and are ignorant as ever.

I really want to purchase my own iron and go pull decks. I am trying to find companies that run northern alberta, the yukon, I love northern trucking, I love the isolation, hardly any car traffic, or traffic at all, the weather the wildlife, just awesome to me.

 

no theres no diff in US-Can cheap freight is cheap freight just us yankees pay less for fuel.

 

No, I'm a company driver. If you like running in the north, you might wish to check out Mullen, and UTL. If you're interested in tankers, check out Caron. Also, CalGas is looking for drivers too, for hauling propane in super b's, all across the west. I've seen their yard in LLoyd.

 

Well I feel that I need to get my own trailer now. Cuz apparently THAT'S where the money is. I hear trailer ins. is A LOT. And the payments (unless u find one for cheap) are nearly identical. But I just don't know where I wanna start. I'm thinking end dump. But what to haul? Garbage? Gravel/rock? Sand? Any suggestions?

 

I agree with the trailers make you money. I have 4 trailers and 1 truck all payed for. When I started 27 years ago all my friends that became O/O bought new trucks and pulled someone elses trailer and there all gone a long time ago . They used to make fun of me driving my old 74 freightliner cabover but I was pulling my trailer. I have a MC 331 Tanker a MC 307 tanker a Flatbed A train and a Grain train. I can only pull one at a time so the other three don't cost much. I get calls alot to rent them because there in nice shape and can go throught any scale. I did try that but cost more to repair then I made. No one take better care then the owner. It works for me just my 2 cents.

 

end dump is going to run you a lot on insurance,especially if its frameless.freight rate goes like this,the more likley you are to turn it over,the higher the rate, thats the way it is most of the time around here.
flat bed is less dangerous,unless you haul coils,and insurance is not as high ,more work to do with flat,i have 3 trailers,1dump,1 flat,1 hopper, 1 tractor. these folks are telling you right on the trailer,you get paid for whats on your back not under your butt. good luck to all of you and be carefull!