Question for the O/O

The average Owner Operator makes the same as a company driver. The good Owner Operators make way more then a company driver.

Anyone who owns his own business puts in lots more time then someone who is an employee. So on an annual basis, the Owner Operator makes more but on an hourly basis, who knows. Company drivers don't have to do their own maintenance. Owner Operators can either hire it out or do it themselves. If they do it them selves, the hours they put in doing it does not show up as income but they save so it does show up as profit.
You have seen factoring mentioned. Some people want paid quickly so a factoring company is born. They take a percentage of your pay for advancing the broker's payment. The broker takes a cut also. The more money you have up front the less it cost you to do business. You do not have to buy insurance if you have enough money to post a bond. So you can save being self insured. You can find your own loads and avoid paying broker's fees. Lot of different things you can do. You can do them well and make a lot of money or do them poorly and lose a lot of money.

Company drivers have much less risk therefore much less reward.

And don't forget the opportunity cost. Money invested in trucking is money that you can spend elsewhere. Time spent trucking is time you can't spend elsewhere.

 

50 to 75 % out of business by 18 months mark. That's all you need to know to decide about the average numbers. As far as potential, who cares if most fail? Everyone sees yourself a small fleet owner in a few years and then the reality sets in.