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

What? My gross was 4785.

My net was 2200, not including a 541 dollar maintenance escrow account deduction, but also not including taxes.

 

2209 dollars went into my checking account. 541 dollars went into my maintenance account.

My only maintenance expenses were a couple bottles of antigel and wiper fluid.

My pre-tax income, after expenses, was over 2700.00

If I set 30 % aside for taxes, that leaves me 1890 *estimated* net.

I am not foolish enough to make long term predictions yet, but if I put 1730 post-tax dollars in the bank on average every week, that will allow me to spend 25k on repairs and make as much as I made as a company driver.

The biggest concern here is the reliability of the truck. I have already been driving this truck for 250k+ miles. It has no obvious serious maintenance needs. I am a careful driver, keep my RPMs in healthy ranges, and do not abuse the clutch.

Does that mean I wont get a fun surprise major maintenance bill next week? No.

I might not succeed here. Nothing is guaranteed, but if you want to try and poke holes in my confidence, you are going to have to use a meaningful argument.

 

I have been a company driver 3 years. I plan on staying an o/o under Crete authority for between 1 and 2 years, if I do not hit one of my exit strategy triggers.

If I choose to stay an o/o, I might then go to a company with a load board and run under their authority. For a year or two.

After that, I may choose to run under my own authority.

This timetable is not guaranteed, or firm.

It is, however, my plan. We shall see if I can make it work.

 

Thank you.

For the record, though, I do not mind criticism. I am both cautious about important things, AND stubborn as a rock. My tolerance of criticism is far higher than my tolerance of incivility or idiocy.

So, I will listen to pretty much anything people want to say here as long as they stay civil and aren't utter morons.

That said, I do not expect a bag of gold to magically drop into my lap. I DO expect to work hard and I will certainly make mistakes. Very rarely will anyone start their own company and be financially successful without busting their butt for a couple years.

So, I am not a fool. My eyes are open. I AM giving up some potential earnings as an o/o under Crete authority. In exchange, Crete is handling a lot of the background stuff that an o/o under their own authority has to deal with.