Team Owner Operator Help Please

Hi all,
I've read several threads here, and an information is quite confusing.
It sounds here like it doesn't make any sense to become an owner operator at all.

Reasonable question: why people keep becoming owner operators after they worked few years as company drivers.

 

Independence

 

If you can master it, it is the pinnacle of one's career. If you've already got it good, and wouldn't be able to do much if any better at all as an oo... Then it would be a step down the ladder rather than a step up.

 

The perception of freedom from micro management, control your income therefore destiny is very alluring.
But if do not know all of the details of how the business will work or are operating on the hope load boards will pan out. They will more than likely flop. There are people who speak highly of gross income or X dollars per mile/week/month. Though to be understood, one must fully consider the expense side in addition to saving for future repairs, down time, legal issues, taxes etc.

If there was a Hold my Beer moment for careers, this would more than likely be it.

 

To better understand the picture can I please put here some numbers, and you guys will add the missing ones and correct the wrong ones, ok?

Let's say, ZArmstrong and his friend created a company and leased used truck from te dealership

From other topics I figured that average lease with full service is around $3500 /month or 800 / week
Full Insurance for new company is 20K/year = 1700/month = 400/week
So in total lease + insurance comes to $1200 per week

Let's say, an average dryvan load is $2/mile
Diesel consumption is 5 miles/gal

In average team drives 7000 miles per week w/o tweaking LB.

So we got gross 7000miles * $2/mile = $14,000
Diesel is 1400gal * $2.8/gal = $4000

$14 - $4 = 10K after diesel
$10K - $8800 after rental_insurance
After some tolls and minor maintenance we have $8000 or $4000 per body

Major maintenance is supposed to be included into the lease, right?

Of course I am missing all road taxes, permits, so all your input will be appreciated

 

The cost of a team operation is anywhere from 225-250k per year. Not including driver pay or taxes. Based on 250,000 miles and a new truck.

 

Perfectly reasonable question. For a 34 CPM mega driver making less than 35K gross, the answer is different than for a 100K driver.....