Thinking about becoming an o/o

Don’t get hung up on the make of the truck, look for something with the right drivetrain and cheap to fix. You want to keep it moving, not wait four months for parts.

 

Only problem I see is that $3.00 a mile freight may not last forever , better plan on $2.50.
Buying a emissions truck is a gamble, dealers will have truck polished up and no codes. You can dyno it, take oil sample, rig dig it, then on the way home it may throw 5 codes and derate. Be prepared to drop another 10k and hope it is fixed.

I would by a old truck and rebuild and refurbish and know what you have.

 

This is probably something that you want to hear.... But I suggest you start as a company driver first, I would recommend a year, but that is up to you. This way you can decide if trucking is for you, you will also brush up on your skills. As I have said many times jumping into trucking as an owner operator, is like starting out as the Chief of Police. There is so much to learn, and there is a very high failure rate for new owner operators. Good luck.

 

While I agree there is, I'd say his situation is different.

While I'm new to driving a truck, as a mechanic I was obviously around drivers every day.

Most that failed had no business, in business. They had no money, no financial sense, and made the assumption everything will go right until the money start rolling in.

The nail in the coffin is not maintaining equipment.

 

While I agree he is in a different position than most, I personally think it is a bad idea to jump right in to being an owner operator. He mentioned he got out because he was away from family too much. As an owner operator I can tell you first hand that it is a 7 day a week job, if your not driving it your working on it.

 

Obviously its your choice. I have been trucking for 34 years and was just giving you my opinion, as I have seem many, many do just what you are planning and not only did they fail but lost their shirt in the process.... I wish you the best of luck, and I truly mean that as I don’t like to see anyone fail.

 

Every situation is different. In my case, I also started for more free time. Yes, I'm spending most of my free time updating my 30 year old truck. Not always making repairs per se, but things I want done for my peace of mind.

So the majority of the income my truck has brought in, goes right back into it. That part will soon be over. I'm gonna stretch it with a cutoff from a 20 model freightliner, already have steer springs and hangers, steering gear box, and I'm going to replace the 13 with an 18.

I'll be building a new 60 series fit it this winter, then it'll be painted, and done.


After that, 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off.