So you want to "own " your own company

Only if the customer complains if we ruin their stuff. Usually they just say the heck with it. Most claims we pay out of our pocket if it's $50,000 or under and just move on to the next load.

 

Here we go...
I am about to graduate out of high school and always had an interest in the trucking industry. I am not so green in this line of work because i have first hand seen the challenges most of you encounter everyday (I.E Finding a place to park the truck, disrespectful shippers/recievers, terrible brokers, how ignorant drivers of 4-wheelers at times can be). I have seen several posts regarding owner operator rates and i am truly confused now. Some say that you have to state your rate to the broker and negociate from there. Others have told me that you have to look in the load boards, call the broker, find out the rate they will pay, and take it if worthwhile. Can someone tell me WHAT IS THE PROCESS THAT YOU GO THRU TO GET A LOAD OFF A LOAD BOARD. NOT THAT THEY PAY HORRIBLE OR THAT THE BROKERS IN THEM SUCK. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR THE INDEPENDENT OWNER OPERATOR WITH THEIR OWN AUTHORITY AND TRAILER. ANY ADVICE ABOUT BEING AN OWNER OPERATOR WILL HELP. PLEASE NO NEGATIVITY ABOUT THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY. IT IS WHAT YOU MAKE OUT OF IT. IF YOU THINK IT IS THE WORST, WHY ARE YOU STILL IN IT? I MEAN NOT TO OFFEND ANYONE WHEN I SAY THIS. OH AND WHOEVER IS AN O/O OUT THERE, CAN YOU GIVE ME A ROUGH IDEA WHAT THE RATES FOR DRY AND REEFER FREIGHT IS AS OF NOW??? THAT WILL GIVE ME AN IDEA OF WHAT TO EXPECT. I APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE AND POINTERS AND JUST YOUR FEEDBACK ON THIS. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANY TRACTOR ANY TIME SOON AND WILL PROBRABLY JOIN IN ABOUT 5 YEARS. THANK YOU AND HAVE A NICE DAY!

 

Well, it appears you're doing your research and that's always a big plus in my book. On load boards, find a load you're interested in and call the broker. They'll either tell you what it pays or ask you what you want to get under the load. Either way, everything's negotiable. Case in point, I called a broker on a load that I've been pulling on a fairly regular basis. Seems like a different broker lists this load every time. Don't know why, don't care. This load "averages" $750, give or take $25. I don't get bent out of shape over $25 especially since the load is always light and pays close to $2.00 per mile. I called a (new to me) broker on the load and was told it pays $650. I know there's some out there that would be happy with that. I told them I got $800 for it last week and can't take it for less than $750. I got it at $750.
Guys around here know that I bang my fist on the table about keeping overhead low. That's going to be the key to your success in my opinion. I won't take a load for less than $1.35 per mile. At that rate, I still make a profit. Those with big new trucks and payments to match can't afford a load at that rate. Regardless, I ALWAYS ask for more money. I have a figure worked out BEFORE I call the broker. If they can't do it for that, I pass. I agree with the Mantra of "Don't accept cheap freight". But all things are relative I suppose.
There is quite a bit of negativity on this forum and others. That's just the nature of the beast. Surround yourself with positive helpful people and you'll be all that much ahead of the game.
Rates are going to be all over the board depending upon which part of the country you run. I'm here in the Plains States and it's nothing too great, but plenty enough for me to scratch a pretty decent living without busting my hump DUE TO HIGH OVERHEAD.....
Good luck my friend!

 

Hello there!
What are the dates for 2010 CVSA safety audit?
8-9-10 th?

 

My husband and I are team drivers currently but are working towards becoming owner operators. I am trying to work up a spread sheet for start up costs, regular expenses and possible income. Figures are extremely hard to come by. I need a list of the things we need to consider. I know things like the purchase of tractor and trailer, though getting information on financing seems to be rather difficult. No one will give me a straight answer. Do we go used or new? We really don't want to do a lease option with some company we don't know. We have our foot in the door with a company that already knows us and appreciates our work. We are flatbedders. How do I find out what the costs are for IFTA, insurance, registration and licensing? What other DOT requirements do I need to consider? How do we go about legally naming our company? Somebody, anybody know where I can get the information I seek.

 

Inspections mostly and I believe those dates are correct.

 

I don't have any answers for you, but I'm sure this will be an interesting thread. I'd love to flirt with the O/O idea down the road a little.

I do think that the most important thing is keeping your overhead low. So going used would be the best bet. These things brand new are priced so high you'll have a heck of a hard time paying for it unless you've got a pile of money or a printing press making more... lol Oh and stay away from leasing... the company only wins there. Yes, you can make money, but they will leave you high and dry if you are not paying them...they still have too much control.

I look forward to seeing the answers are going to get here.

I am no expert, but I do have an opinion... lol

 

I would not have been able to start out by buying a truck that's a year or two old. I absolutely HATE debt. My first truck was a high miler, a 2000 Century Class. I bought it full well knowing and planning that I'd upgrade it within the next year. That worked as planned however I was about 3 months early in upgrading. Paid cash for the Freightliner. It was well under $10,000. Similar for the trailer which is a 2001 Great Dane '48 spread axle reefer. If I would have purchased a year or two old truck, I'd have a much higher than need be truck payment. I got a truck that I plan on owning for quite a long time, as anything much newer means more pollution control headaches. My Pete does have an EGR, but it's been replaced with the updated version. I may look into disabling it. Keep your overhead down!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

My favorite saying in trucking is, "It ain't what you make, it's what you get to keep that's important".