To go owner operator or not. I need input!

Old post but maybe it will benefit someone contemplating Owner Op or company driver? I have been trucking 35 years with over 5 million (company driver and owner operator) miles-so I feel I have some knowledge in this area. Today, it is difficult to be an owner op due to more regulations and high costs. At the end of the week you make just about the same as an owner op if you stay company. The thing I like about owner op is you can work when you want. As far as taking lip off shippers/receivers/the company-I never have from day one, so that's really not an issue with me.

If you go owner op, my advice is not to lease-purchase, not to buy any truck over $15,000 to start with, and to pay cash. If you can't make it, the bank is not knocking on your door for money. You don't need to worry about $2,000 a month payments. First time owner op-I would look on craigslist for a cabover tractor, cabovers for sale on facebook, and buy one of them. You can get a road-ready cabover for under $10,000 and they are all mechanical and easily repaired. They also do not require ELDs, and you can do most all the repairs yourself and most all small truck shops can repair them. There are many companies that have no age restriction on tractors and you will be happy it belongs to you-not the bank or the trucking company. Cabovers last a long time and as mentioned-easy to maintain and in demand for resale. That's it.