Wanting to get started as an Owner Operator as a new driver?

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Since you want long haul trucking,the first step is to get a cdl through a cdl school, either private or trucking company school. Then hire on with a coast to coast trucking company. There's a dozen or so that will hire you the day you graduate. Attend a school that's at least 160 hours.
Where are you in South Carolina?
Be a company driver for 1 or 2 years and in the meantime, become a member of www.OOIDA.com which is a business website for the owner-operator. You can learn a lot from that website about becoming an owner-operator and the costs involved. Insurance is costly; 10's of thousands of dollars up front for an owner-operator with less than 12 mos.experience.

 

Best to start off with zero business experience and buy a brand new truck through a lease-purchase program at one of the megas.

But seriously though, it's best to find out if you even like driving the truck before buying one. 14 hours a day of work is a lot just to drive and load/unload. Now tack on 2-4 more hours of business paperwork, broker calls, customs work, etc.

 

36 and kids grown up early starter

 

They probably have a tester on staff, too, which gives you an advantage as you'll have the chance that you can talk to them and see exactly what they want when you test.

 

Let's see, other than a couple of sarcastic replies (which I rather enjoyed), ZERO responses have been to go right out on your own. Everyone has said start with a company gig and learn. I hope you're listening! Bad time of year to start out on your own even if you were ready.

Keep reading, keep learning and get in someone else's truck soon.

 

Honest opinion, run company until you figure out what lanes you like, what type of trailer you like, what type of freight you like. By this point you’ll have a basic knowledge of trucking and how things work. Now you can start looking for a company that will fit your needs as an o/o (it may very well be the one you are working for as a company driver)

Once you secure the work, go find the truck and or trailer.

No time lines, you’ll know when you’re ready to pull that trigger.

 

Go with a company first.

 

Here's a few companies you can check out that hire new cdl grads:
Freymiller - www.drive4freymiller.com - then click on "Recent Graduates."
Magnum Ltd.
Senn Freight Lines - Newberry, SC
Navajo Express
All the above hire new cdl school grads and run west coast.
If you want any more names, let us know.