Wanting to be a Owner Operator after CDL School

Insurance would be the main reason this would be financially ignorant, unless I wanted to lose money just to prove I could do it.
The business side of it could be better planned if i took alot of notes about cost, location and time as I traveled my first year or two. After reading on this website, a used truck rebuilt from the start with new components may cost 50-75k, but should be very dependable. Having a CDL license may behoove me to have an extra trade to fall back on for income.
Being into construction, home renovations, and currently an ironworker for the union, a CDL license may prove to help me if i ever decide to combine some of my experiences to make more money in construction. Another idea was to own/rent some heavy equipment and be a heavy equipment operator.
Not really sure where this is going, but I am becoming more interested as time goes on in just getting my feet wet and owning a CDL license

 

Sounds like you really know what you are talking about. Great post that covers a lot of ground in a short amount of time!

 

I am very risk averse, and actually enjoy driving. There are better drivers. There are better business owners. I almost certainly work harder than I have to, in order to minimize my risk exposure.

That said, I know what I have already talked about, but my deep knowledge in the industry is not impressive compared to lots of these guys. I am closing in on the end of my 4th year driving, and my 1st year as an o/o.

 

Well if you are closing in on the end of your first year as OO, and still looking at the bright side, I would say you are doing something right. The first year gets a lot of folks.

 

All of these guys are right. They all have experience. Whether it’s log hauling, tanker, doubles/triples, reefer, etc... with that being said. If you do choose to go the Owner Operater Route. Here’s the best things you can do. 1. Take a mechanic with you even if he charges you 500 dollars to go look at a truck. 500 isn’t nothing when a transmission, or engine goes. Stay away from trucks up in the I would say 750,000-1,000,000 mile mark. There on there last leg and going to need a overhaul soon. Have plenty of money saved up! One engine could cost anywhere from 15,000 on up to 30,000 depending on if it’s a overhaul, rebuild, and whether it’s a CAT, Cummins, Detroit, Volvo, etc... find the best insurance deals you can. Also just to start running a truck you’re looking at 1500 for tags, 500 heavy highway tax, there’s 2,000 and you haven’t even took a load, or fueled your truck up yet. These guys are right on everything they have told you. Everyone is different though. Some people have more luck than others. Will you fail, who knows? That’s not up to me, or anyone out there. You are getting all the info from these guys trying to help you succeed. Another question to think about. Do you know a diesel mechanic, or someone you can trust to work on your truck that’s also not going to charge you a arm and a leg. The thing about trucking is, you never know what’s going to happen. You could be driving at night, or day and everything is going along fine and then boom, a tire blows. There’s so much on a truck moving parts that it always seems like something is going out on it. Also, if you become a O/O keep everything all you’re receipts. I have mine in a storage thing that says fuel, repairs, miscellaneous, etc... you buy fuel, food, a cb, a radio for your truck, antennas, o rings, etc... everything you buy you keep for your taxes as a write off. Best of luck to you sir!

 

Most of these guys have a lot more experience than me. I have been driving on and off for 9 years. I have did a lot of different jobs from Construction, Security, process server, car detailer, help mow grass my dad owns his own lawn care on the side, I was in the Military, etc... The reason I always come back to trucking is cause I enjoy driving and the money is great for not having a college degree. With that being said Corrections, and truck driving is a thankless job! Most of the time cars won’t let you over, they cut you off, slam on there brakes, etc... Everyone in the world forgets without truckers, AMERICA stops, period! No fuel, food, clothing, etc... everything is Atleast on a truck at one time. N for the love of God. Stay away from containers!!!! Intermodal work!!

 

No one mentioned this either I don’t think. How is your driving record? No DUI’s, speeding tickets, red lights, etc... just remember everyone is going to buy a truck and make millions there first year. You always hear the talk about a O/O and how much money you can make trucking, but you never hear how costly it is to run one! Everything looks great on paper! You see on websites O/O making 175,000-250,000! Looks great doesn’t it? Well let’s do some easy math here. Say you made 200,000 that year as a owner operator. Atleast 75,000-100,000 will be fuel depending on what transmission you have, engine, mountains, flat land, etc.. Then say 10,000 in breakdowns. There’s 85-110,000 you have spent in just fuel and breakdowns. Not including insurance, heavy highway taxes, tags, etc... so now at the end of the year your looking and thinking, ####! I made 50-75,000 dollars with all that stress, planning, etc... Now I’m not saying 50- 75,000 is bad money, but like other guys have said you can be a Company driver and make that with no stress. I’m just saying when you see 200,000 to 250,000 a year it looks great to anyone, but when you break it down it’s not near as good as that. I know I have wrote you a lot on here, but everyone here and myself wants to see you succeed. I’m not saying you won’t make it, but I want you to see the truth.

 

Until you know all the answers to your own questions. Invest your time before your money. Age wont matter if u can pass medical exam.

 

If the chechnyans from chicago and turbin heads from wherever can come to America and run their own truck, then by God, so can you! You might just have to live in the truck 4 months at a time and run your clock PERFECTLY while always getting loads by being the cheapest guy. However, if you want to live as a human being and as an American with some kind of quality of life, then it might be a little harder going. Thats when your networking comes into play to make a decent living.

 

Amen! They pass out CDL’s like candy anymore! These guys come over with no experience and drive a semi! It’s sad how America has become!!! Give all the illegals free healthcare, housing, College, etc... screw the Americans!!!