so why do you want to be an owner operator?

To work for little money and more freedom.

 

I had gotten tired of crummy, underpowered company trucks spec'd out by some bean counter that never sat in one, and busting my hump for companies that wouldn't even thank you. I had the final say-so in what I did, and I was a total motor-head, and did most of my own wrenching. O/O's are kind of fading,( judging by how many job postings there are for O/O's) as trucks become more complicated, prices for repairs and fuel and insurance continue to skyrocket, and ever changing regulations. Quite frankly, I don't know how an O/O can make it these days, I guess it takes an even sharper individual. The freight is there, no doubt, but it sure is a different job now than years ago.

 

By "owner operator" I am assuming you also mean independent, own authority, owner operator ...

in that case,
1. To make more money and take the best loads that suit my situation. Being told where to go, when to go, and having someone else negotiate your load rates, while the company truck gets the best paying freight, no thank you.
2. Plan my life around trucking. Answering to nobody except for whoever's load is currently on the truck. Much easier to be home for holidays or events now rather than cross fingers and hope dispatch gets you where you need to be, when you need to be there.
3. More effective use of time while on the road.
4. Possibility to eventually have drivers or owner operators to do the driving, create a company people actually look forward to work, with no office shannagins.
5. Have my own big shiny truck someday 8)

 

I have never had a regular job. I have been "self employed" since the first day I worked for money. I dont know any better. The one thing I did do was to lease on, only because you need operating authority, and to learn how "this" works.

 

Everything but #4 for me. After seeing what some people did to other peoples trucks, there's no way I'd let anybody touch my truck.

 

Hi BAYOU, Actually, that sounds about right, the one thing you don't want, is to show a big profit. They may have grossed 90K, but with a sharp accountant, you can deduct a lot. They may have bought a new pickup, claimed it as a business expense, and wrote it off. Maybe someone else can verify this, but I did it all wrong. I got my check, threw it in the bank, and paid all my bills out of it. I should have paid myself a salary, even if it was $5 dollars an hour, and wrote the rest off. It's complicated, and I'd do it a lot different if I did it again, which I won't.

 

BMOB, Set how fast my truck ran. Tell them where I was going and when i would deliver. Keep my truck washed and polished. You ever been passed by a 91 MPH company truck. Don't think so!

The Sheriff stopped me and said, "I've been waiting a long time for you. I said, I got here as fast as I could and he actually let me go he was laughing so hard.

 

I was riding with my old man once, and crossing the FL scales we were told to park and have bills and logs ready. The bear comes over and says "I have seen your truck go up and down each week, how the hell you keep it so clean?" (Truck in sig) The officer used to be an O/O and had a mean looking W9.

All vanity aside, its #### near scary to be an O/O now a days. Every decision is a business decision it seems like.