Who’s in and who’s out?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Midwest Trucker, Jul 21, 2025.

What’s your status?

  1. Had my authority and I still do.

    35 vote(s)
    35.4%
  2. Had my authority and no longer do.

    4 vote(s)
    4.0%
  3. Leased on and still do.

    18 vote(s)
    18.2%
  4. Leased on and no longer do.

    2 vote(s)
    2.0%
  5. Had my authority and now lease on.

    1 vote(s)
    1.0%
  6. Was leased on but now have my own authority.

    3 vote(s)
    3.0%
  7. Had authority or leased on but now company drive.

    5 vote(s)
    5.1%
  8. I’m a company driver and wish to remain so.

    24 vote(s)
    24.2%
  9. I’m a company driver but hope to own my own truck.

    2 vote(s)
    2.0%
  10. None of the above but I’ll explain.

    5 vote(s)
    5.1%
  1. Old_n_gray

    Old_n_gray Road Train Member

    1,212
    4,126
    Apr 9, 2016
    western pa
    0
    Ah you didn't fail. You just went to something better.
     
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  3. rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

    13,291
    26,826
    Mar 29, 2008
    TN
    0
    Yeah I don't hate driving trucks I actually enjoy it. Every bit of it and no matter how much it's changed in the time I've been doing it. I wouldn't do anything else it's my happy place. A lot of people spend their whole working lives being miserable doing whatever they do but I ain't one of em. If I ever had to leave the cab permanently for medical or whatever I'd be devastated.
     
  4. gentleroger

    gentleroger Road Train Member

    7,466
    20,303
    Jun 1, 2010
    0
    No, he did fail. And I mean him no disrespect, but facts are facts.

    Failure is over stigmatized - it is only through acknowledging failure that we grow.

    There's a guy I know who leased through SFI, then took the truck to Landstar, then Mercer, then became a company driver for a flatbed company, before returning to the mega that he left to do the SFI lease. At each turn his posts made him look like he was the Hero making the Smart Choice. He still thinks he was a successful O/O. He, Rollin Coal, and so many others made the same three mistakes:
    • Not taking an honest accounting of the work/risk to reward ratio and comparing it to other options
    • Not preparing to replace equipment
    • Throwing good money after bad
    During the 'boom times' when guys were on here posting their numbers, they never looked that good to me. Once you figure in the 401K match and health insurance, it looked like they were netting $5-10,000 more than I was as a mega company driver. When you'd ask about how they were planning for replacing their equipment you'd hear silence - especially from the guys running 'paid off equipment'. All that is fine, if they're happy then I'm happy for them - until we get to point number 3 where expenses exceed revenue. They keep trying to dig themselves out but only dig themselves in deeper which drives rates and wages lower for everyone.

    I have much respect for Rollin Coal because he has openly and repeatedly has admitted his failures and detailed WHY he failed. He didn't just quietly stop posting and disappear, leaving a trail of "look at how much I've made" posts behind like so many others. I can think of a dozen of Esteemed Members who didn't have that integrity.
     
  5. Banker

    Banker Road Train Member

    4,132
    12,018
    Aug 19, 2012
    0
    Out of curiosity what is the Golden Ticket company you are driving for now? I have given this one truck owner op deal 10 years and if things don’t get better soon (LOL) I may need a company job. It will need to be better pay than Buster Brown because that’s what I left 14 years ago to do this line of work. Just kidding the last truck I will ever drive has my name on the title.
     
  6. Constant Learner

    Constant Learner Heavy Load Member

    721
    1,081
    Jul 19, 2011
    The Moon
    0
    Miller highlife is the choice of the supertrucker, no surprises here...
     
  7. Constant Learner

    Constant Learner Heavy Load Member

    721
    1,081
    Jul 19, 2011
    The Moon
    0
    And what do you pay them, 50 cpm on 1099?
     
  8. Banker

    Banker Road Train Member

    4,132
    12,018
    Aug 19, 2012
    0
    IMG_5449.png
    I disagree, the highly paid, slightly spoiled Super Truckers are currently drinking nothing but Bud Heavy in the Aluminum bottle! The glass bottles aren’t approved for pool drinking.
     
    ElmerFudpucker and wore out Thank this.
  9. Constant Learner

    Constant Learner Heavy Load Member

    721
    1,081
    Jul 19, 2011
    The Moon
    0
    You should know the name of the company already, but I don't think the company will hire you, you're not qualified.
     
  10. Banker

    Banker Road Train Member

    4,132
    12,018
    Aug 19, 2012
    0
    Ok right! Wink wink.
     
    ElmerFudpucker Thanks this.
  11. wore out

    wore out Numbered Classic

    15,975
    193,382
    Jun 5, 2013
    CHASIN THE DEVIL'S HERD
    0
    1099? How else would you pay an owner operator. They are not an employee they are a contractor that you require to have their own equipment.

    Tell us you haven’t learned enough without telling us
     
    sirjeff, cke, Midwest Trucker and 4 others Thank this.
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