Questions from someone starting out.

Is it better to own my own truck or to work for a company that owns trucks?
As a truck owner is it easy to find steady work?
Is it possible for a Canadian to work routes south of the snow line during the winter or am I dreaming?

 

There is a snow line in Canada?

 

That snow line runs down through the northern part of the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, ect. So, no there isn't a snow line in Canada.

 

You need to work for a company and learn the business before you can just become an owner operator. You need to learn how to handle loading docks and distribution centers and everything else. Learn on someone else s dime not you're own.

 

And if you mean can a Canadian citizen driving for a Canadian company run freight in the southern states of the US during winter...the answer is "No". You can bring a load to the US, and work your way back to Canada...just as we have to do when we enter a foreign country; like Canada for instance.

OR, you can apply for citizenship in the US, and THEN drive for a US based company, and run where you want, when you want in the US. Just as us US citizens would be required to do in a foreign country; like Canada for instance.

OR, you can get your first load out of Canada to southern Texas...abandon the truck...cross the border into Mexico...spend a day in Boys Town...then just walk across the border like they do down there....and the US will welcome you with open arms and open checkbooks. Seems to work for the Mexicans.

 

I dont see why i dont start out OO. Im going to need to learn either way. And working for a company isnt going to give me experiance on the buisness end anyway. Plus i heard the only way to make decent coin trucking is to own your own truck.

 

I see you are not willing to listen, you can start out on your own but after about a month of getting your a$& handed to you by brokers that smell a newbie you will wish you were in a company truck. It will be too expensive to operate especially from a insurance prospective if you can even get insurance. And that is just the start. You will need to learn the best lanes, where is the cheapest fuel etc.. Not saying you won't make it because if you have a big bank roll behind you you make luck up. But that bank roll will disappear before you start to add to it.

 

i am listening. But you are the first person to give me a good reason not to own. i hadn't considered that i might not get insured. Im not asking if its likely that i succeed im asking if its possible.

 

possible,but not recommended.

go company to see if you'll even like driving for a living.

truck repairs,sitting trying to find freight can kill you as an O/O.

and don't try the lease/purchase plans.

research it on here. major horror stories.

with some idea of the industry,it could be a VERY expensive experiment.

 

Go to work for a company, loads you like make friends with the people there, ask how they arrange shipping or get put on there bid list, once you secure your customer base that is willing to use you then buy at truck, get your authority and insurance and always look for new customers at every delivery. A broker load does not need to remain a broker load, you could cut out half of there commission and save your customer money, while increasing your profit.