What is Good Truck for owner operator!

Well, I've had nothing but trouble with Freightliner and Peterbilt dealers, the best was KW. While it's true, trucks can be rebuilt, Freightliners and Volvos, from experience, will drive you nuts with minor repairs. This stopped working, that works once in a while, electrical systems are the worst. My '72 Pete in my avatar, never let me down, and all the lights worked and everything. I've heard of KW's with 8 million miles!

 

This site is so full of misinformation and a lot of bad advice that it’s mind blowing. Every thread like this boils down to 5 pages of saying don’t do it, stay company driver. That’s ridiculous.

Year of trucks owned/still own: 1996, 1999, 2003, 2013, 2014

Not one truck was worse than the others except the 1996, but I bought it knowing it needed more work. When looking at vehicles do a good run through with a mechanic and try to haul a trailer with it.

Honestly as long as you do a thorough pre trip every day, fix/replace things worn or ready to go before they do, fix stuff as it comes up, not waiting until it all snowballs, and get a working relationship with a mechanic, you can make some serious money compared to a company driver. I pay cash for all equipment and don’t finance anything. Always have a maintenance account. Don’t lease with megas, fly by nights, or Amazon.

Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Many people fail and are more outspoken than those who succeed.

 

The reason is simple... I don't play well with others.

 

You’ll fit right in. Lol

 

@NewbieTruck, there is a 50% chance you'll make it in this business no matter what truck you buy or how you go about it. If you aren't comfortable with that drive someone elses.....where they want you to drive it.......when they want you to drive it.....hauling what they want you to haul.

Here's my challenge for you. Apparently anyone can go out and buy a half dead Cascadia and get started in this business. My challenge for you would be to keep the front bumper intact for one year. I have only seen this done like once.

 

With all respect, why do you think there's 3 pages of "don't do it" and then a handful that say do it. An O/O can be profitable, if your dad owns the company you pull for, but by and large, O/O's today, take the initial brunt of a turndown in society. Fuel, insurance, parts, service, are all fair game to these crooks, and a single truck owner just can't compete. I sold my truck 20 years ago, and deemed unprofitable at THAT time. In the future, and not that far, O/O's will, except in rare cases, be history. Sorry, I've done both and this day and age, the only reason someone remains an O/O today, is because they simply can't take orders from a boss, and will haul for nothing to do so.

 

LoL, You couldn't make it 20 years ago, when the country was boom'n, so everyone else is doomed to fail & must be trucking at a loss..? Yet I can run a 28yr old 4 axle rig, primarily on the spot market & continue to be profitable & grow..

Here's another bombshell for ya. I've never drove a company tractor, or worked for a trucking related company a day of my life. Been an independent OO from the get go.. Oh yeah, my 28yr old tractor is the ever so dreaded FREIGHTLINER!!! Argue all y'all want, the FLD is solid money making rig. Probably the best freightliner ever built & can generate the same revenue as any fancy Paccar..