What am I Missing?

If I own my truck (meaning nobody has a lean and the title is clean) and I won my trailer (same thing here) why do companies care how much experience I have? I mean I understand why they want experienced drivers but what risk do they have versus what I have it I own the truck and trailer?
I ask because I do own my truck and trailer and have never been a driver before in my life. I bought the truck and trailer for my own personal use around the farm. I kind of think it would be fun to up and find a load to say to TN (I live in MI) just for the fun of it and get paid a few bucks. But everywhere I look I see posting for O/O's with experience and just don't understand why? if the company owned the truck and trailer then I can understand but when I own the equipment it just does not make any sense.
Can anyone shed some light on this?

 

Simple. Because of your liability and risk exposure for an accident because of the greater potential of dangerous operations. Most insurance companies don't want the risk. Trucks don't drive like cars and it takes the experience to lessen the risk and exposure.

From a retired federal DOT official

 

Good Job!!!!!!!!!!

 

OK, so you own the truck and trailer. But are you licensed to legally drive it? Do you have all the necessary permits? Do you have the necessary insurance? Do you know the FMCSA rules and regulations?

It is not unusual to see a truck with a load that is worth over a million dollars. Shippers want someone who is an experienced professional, not a "hobby trucker."

I'm not putting you down here by saying that. Just speaking the truth.

If you really want to make a career of driving, then go through a school, get on with a training company and get some experience. Then folks will be a lot more interested.

 

Still does not make sense to me. If I own the equipment and carry my own insurance why would it matter?
I don't have any facts to support this but I would be willing to bet that those that own the equipment they drive not only take better care of that equipment, but also are safer drivers....again the theory being that I don't want to damage something that is mine. Sure rookies can make mistakes but verterans can to and I have heard MANY MANY times on this board that there are two kinds of drivers: those that have been in an accident and those that will be in an accident.
I guess I was unaware that insurance rates for cargo vary based on the driver. What I mean is that the cargo insurance cost to carry load X from Point A to Point B would be the same regardless of who the driver is? I understand the liability insurance of driving the truck may differ but for that actual load it would cost more for a rookie?

 

You missed the point and no I DON'T really want to make a career driving. I have a career but love semi trucks and am fortunate enough to be in a position where I was able to buy my own equipment just becuase.....plus I do use it around the farm so yes, I am properly licensed AND insured for what I do.
I was simply asking because it woud be nice to take a road trip once in a while when I WANT to. Seems kind of dumb to just hop in the truck and drive 10 hours for the heck of it. But, if I had a load then it starts to make more sense.

 

You don't carry insurance on the load, only the vehicle when driving commercially as opposed to on the farm. Carriers are required by law to maintain cargo insurance, not you. Their insurance would go sky high with a driver with no experience. Big Don et.al said it correctly. And carrying someone elses commodity is a lot different that carrying your own. Check very closely and see if your vehicle insurance covers a load. I doubt it very much and if it did you couldn't afford it being a part-timer.

And we haven't even discussed how much anyone would be required to pay for insurance if you killed someone while driving a truck commercially as opposed to "on the farm". I'd also bet this insurance is also not covered on your vehicle policy as this is a carrier mandated insurance. It's a lot different driving over the road than from the farm and down the 2-lane to the elevator. I grew up on a 2,600 acre farm and I know.

 

"You don't carry insurance on the load, only the vehicle when driving commercially as opposed to on the farm."

So every load will have a different rate of insurance?
My load while on the farm IS carried under my insurance policy, as long it is MY load. But then again, I elected NOT to plate my truck commercial. But I could have and I understand my rates would have been higher as well.
I understand that a load COULD be worth a million $ but let's be honest here, not EVERY load is worth anywhere near that amount! And as a newbie, regardless of who you drive for, it would be pretty irresponsible for any carrier to send someone with little experience to haul a load worth that amount. So for me, I would not be looking for those types of loads and it is unfair to use that comparison.
I guess the type of load I would looking for would be along the lines of sawdust used for bedding pruposes. Not alot of weight and not a high dollar load but still needs to get from Point A to Point B.

 

Replate it, get your authority, get proper insurance, and go truckin. there are insurance companies that will carry you, maybe at a higher premium than an experienced driver, but they will.