Why do most owner operators fail?

I think this post is good..
My one of my family members was a company driver, they complain about the loads they were getting. I did the factors for the company but I couldn't help them about the loads, so then an opportunity popped up now they leased. Well, I tried to help, helping them crunch numbers, checking lanes, and cost of parts and building relationships with mechanics but at the end of the day, its a business and if you can't figure how much a load will cost, can you deadhead, the lease payment, repair, money to wash, eat otr. Truckstops will kill you but you have to know how to work with it, if you can't work around it.

 

i couldnt agree more. i ve had 6 guys all fail because they didnt want to be a numbers guy. driving really IS only 2% of the job..

 

Bottom line, to control costs you need to be part mechanic, but accountant , great salesman, and if you have time,,, drive the truck..

 

I think a lot of people fail because they spend too much time in online forums & believe too much of the crap that gets posted on them.

 

including this post

 

Like the guys who can have 3,000 posts in less than a year.

 

First off make sure you get all the maintenance records you can get. If they don't have them it wasn't done. Get someone to go with you, or if you know a lot about trucks go your self, but don't buy a lemon. Make sure you have plenty of money sitting back. I would suggest working and having a good chunk of change in the bank. If you're driving a truck and pay lets say 500+ a month which the payment will probably be more, but just say that and your truck breaks down and you have to go get it worked on. So now you are not making any money, your truck is in the shop for a week at 80+ a hour. This is why owner operators fail. Been there done that. 1rst truck wasn't to bad 2nd truck I bought It sounded great until I got it home and it was knocking like crazy needless to say it needed a engine. It wasn't knocking when I bought it though and even when I test drove it. Be careful! Good luck I do wish you the best!

 

I have all of that, but the mechanic part that is what kills me!!!!

 

Im not o/o. Im reserching & reading and learning that there is a long road to driver down untill you wake up and realized you made it.

I been told a story by a company driver of how he lost everythang being o/o.

He fell while getting out of truck. Snapped his ankle,knee & broke his ribs.

Laid up for 6 monthes with ankle & ribs.

Knee surgery on his knee. Took little over a year . To get by with out pain killers.

Them renew his dot exam card.

To even thank about getting in truck. Which was repo.

Credit ruin,no workers comp.,hospital bills the insurance didnt pay.(found out later).

No l/p will touch him because of the repo.

Do you thank aflac would have paid for the truck?

 

Do you thank aflac would have paid for the truck?

Seriously doubt they would.