Taking the plunge. My journey as an O/O.

Bob. What are you doing? It's not like your the head of analytics for a Major league ball team. We all know the numbers.
Take your skirt off and GET TO STEPPING! At this point I don't know how else to say it. I don't even care honestly, but you seem like a good and honest dude. It's like watching the Titanic go down.
Failing and returning to a company driver is not a option when you have been a company driver all along.

 

Wish you all the best buddy I'd love to hear how your going in a year or 2 the key here is being able to have the cash flow to cover all your immediate costs for start up once you get going and have a steady steam of cash in the bank everything should work out fine no more bosses and dispatchers to worry about just your own self.

 

Ill tell you why. I use contract freight to position myself into a market. Then i book my own loads. All free behind the 5th wheel. So basically im working both sides of the fence with fuel discount maint discounts and access to National tire accounts. All that for 70% . 70% doesnt sound like much but when you negotiate loads for 3 plus a mile thats better than forced disp. This week ill have 5900 gross on 700.00 in fuel so thats. 3600.00 to the truck @70% on less than 2500 miles. Leasing to a carrier not that bad. Carrier automatic pays 60hr Detention after 2. 100.00 per drop on contract loads. Im currently avg 1.68 to truck on all miles based on the odometer. Or 2.35 on loaded miles only. Deadhead is killing me im at 25% . Pulling reefer its hard to book ahead do to dock times . Your empty never fail loads are gone to . Working for a carrier allows you to learn and build your OWN bridge for the future . I dont cross bridges in trucking unless i build them myself.

 

But wait. I thought they were all bad?????

 

It ain’t over till it’s over. You’re still in the game. You need to put the shop in your mirrors. Run that Truck, it’s a tool, that’s deprecating every day.At some point, you need to quit pampering it. Preventative safety issues aside, make the money first, then spend a little, if desired. But since you’re not planning on keeping it very long, I wouldn’t pamper it. Get your money out of it. Resale value will be the same, anyway when you trade it. Basically getting peanuts for it. At the rate they’re paying you, you need to run the miles. If you don’t get a little further ahead, it will be hard to go on your own, or even to Change Companies, as that costs $$$ too. These Companies know that, and like to have you trapped. Work your original plan.Run it. Stay out of the shop. Avoid the double whammy of no revenue and a repair bill. Take a few days off, spend one day working on the Truck. Count the money you saved,as revenue you kept. Either way, your a slave to the Truck. Deciding who gets the benefits of your slavery, is up to you. Stay out of the shop!!! Lol. Trucks are tough.Oil and grease, belts and hoses. Batteries and tires, brakes and shocks if you can afford them!! That’s it!!! No more goodies. Lol. You don’t have time for gaming anyway. Good Luck, I have confidence you’ll work hard and end up making a little more than a Company Driver this year. It’s irrelevant anyway. You won’t know till the Trucks paid off, in retrospect.To make that work you need to micro manage revenue/ spending on a weekly basis. And rest will take care of itself. The idea is to make money. Saying your doing an experiment, as a learning experience for others is BS. Avoiding reality.

 

I pay to have something done..if they charge less per hour..than I make an hour at work

 

I understand, not wanting to work on the Truck. I started doing my own oil changes a few yrs, back, when the cost went up to $300. It’s pretty easy. But seldom do I grease it. I pay for that, and watch them do it. It’s worth it to Me, not crawling around getting greasy,and a sore back. I Still save $100. I’m currently doing my clutch and resealing the rear structure on my old Truck. What a job. Way in over my head. Learning as I go.First and last time for me, Lol A lot of jobs are better done by the shop, This is definitely one of them, but would have cost at least $4000-$5000, I’m sure. I’ve got downtime, but also enjoying being home. To be clear, I’ve taken my own advice, a little too far, Lol One of the good things, about you having a newer Truck, is hopefully avoiding costly repairs. Doing the small time consuming stuff, will pay off, should a big ticket item, arise. And it will, as in my case. And I’ve got a lot big jobs to do, or have done. Going to pick my battles a little better in the future. Some jobs, with the heavy parts involved, just belong in the shop.