What would be the best owner op company too start for?

I've hit just about six months in this industry. I'm wondering though cause eventually I've thought about having my own truck once I hit a year and some months. With all these rules that company drivers have too face. I am curious too see if anyone knows a good company too start out for when it comes too owner op. Currently I am a company driver with Schneider. I've always heard Landstar is good, but if I'm correct you have too have you're own truck before even starting too fill out an application. If anyone could help me out that would be nice.

 

LS will hire you if you have a clean record and over a year experience. You can get prehired without truck but need a rig b4 you can start orientation of finish the hiring process. They only hold prehires though for a few weeks, so dont apply untill your a fe weeks from getting a truck. No harm in calling them to get a specific timeline.

 

Do they have a lease purchase program? Or would you have too go to a dealer and purchase a truck?

 

How has your experience been at Schneider? I am thinking of going with them after school. Did you team drive? I heard they drive that pretty hard on newbies.

 

Do you really think you have less rules? Drug testing, safety and new entrance audit come to mind, but the list is a mile long. If you want to be an owner operator and hope for less rules you better get more experience and think hard about your decision.

Also if you are looking at lease purchase or owning a truck make sure you do your homework and have a good record keeping and accounting system. That will put you ahead of a lot of guys that just blindly sign on the dotted line and have really no idea how their business is doing. You have to be a business owner first and driving the truck is just a small part of your new business.

 

I'm not so sure Landstar is the best place to start for a first time owner operator. It's a great company, but you have to have the experience and business sense to make it work. Nobody holds your hand here.
I'd suggest leasing with a company that has dispatch (non forced) services and mentoring for new owner operators.

 

Cracking me up....
Under a year in the industry, asking about fleasing a truck from a company, less rules as an owner operator, and so on.
OP, stay at Schneider bud. If and when you feel like you have gained the experience to go buy your own equipment, then do so. Do not flease a truck from a trucking company, and learn how to run a business and carry out basic repairs before jumping in and becoming a statistic.

Martin

 

The best company to start with is the one that fits your individual needs and requirements (both operational and financial), and if you don't have the ability and experience to make those decisions, perform the analysis and due diligence involved you need to stay a company driver because you are pretty much guaranteed to fail as an o/o.

 

There are a few companies with good lease programs. Do your research. Lots of guys on this site that love to hate on lease deals and only have second or third hand knowledge. Pick the right program, work hard and you can do much better than a company driver.

 

Do your research...DON't do a else purchase. Finance a truck when you can afford it.