You want to be an owner operator?! THE TRUTH!

skateboardman · Dec 31, 2015

DaveLV said: ↑

So I did some thinking about how best to answer. Most of my posts probably make me come off sounding like an #######, which in some instances I am. Especially when someone says or does something stupid.
Owning a truck or a fleet of trucks can best be summed up as risk and reward, or just plain stupid. I inherited 8 trucks 8 reefers and 1 cattle wagon. By 1996 I was debt free and added trucks as cash flow allowed. I bought my first new truck in 1992. In 94 I dumped the reefers and went open deck. 3 Stretch flats for windmill blades back when the paid good money $8-9 per mile. Graduated to step decks and RGNs double goosenecks etc. Got a couple 53' step decks and did some LTL. Money was phenomenal. By 2010 I had a venture into a truck dealership pan out and became partner in a franchise. I gave day to day control of the trucking to my son. I still work in the shop to this day. I enjoy it.
Here is the truth: owning a truck is not a hobby, owning a truck is not a job. Owning a truck is a business 100%, also it is a dedication. Dedicated to getting your ### out of bed week in and week out to support whatever it is you have to pay for. There is always someone that will haul it cheaper than you. You sell a service and to justify higher rates you have to perform. If you don't have the smarts to maintain an account for your business and like to buy new Harleys and Dodge Challengers. And Cadillac escalades or whatever you need in your driveway to impress your neighbors, owning a truck is not for you. As I said its not a hobby, it's done for profit. That being said I spoke with my son before writing this to check on rates. They suck, but we still have customers paying $6-9 per mile linehaul rate on OD loads, heavy loads run higher. Permit and escorts are billed to customer at cost. I sold exceptional service to these customers years ago. I got their stuff where it needed to be when it needed to be there. Claim free. They have shown their loyalty back. Rates like these I know are few and far between I know Dailey or ATS or Warren or TMC would haul this for 1/2 or less, they tried, they won't even get the overflow. So with what rates are and fuel costs a person needs to know how to budget money, learning how to do it after you bought a truck is setting up for failure. If you are up to your ### in debt and think buying is the way to untold riches, you are ignorant. You have to be proficient in a lot of areas. Record keeping, customer service, scheduling, problem solving, negotiations, taxes, insurance, maintenance, repair. Owning a truck is not holding the steering wheel grabbing some gears and mashing the pedal. Its a business and needs all the respect any business deserves. Be it one truck and a trailer or a fortune 500 company. With labor rates reaching 150 an hour in some parts of the country and over 110 in most, that's more than quite a few make driving. I see people everyday that have a sob story about whatever it is that they can't afford to pay for repairs. I get it but I can't just give away the farm. I understand, and if I can get them a break I will. I'm not in the business to pit people out of business but its not my problem they have pisspoor money management. I made a very successful company that went from 8 trucks and 9 trailers to 27 trucks and 41 trailers. I see people everyday that have a broken down truck and don't have the time to fix it correctly. Remember, it's your money maker. You should be the one to take care of it. If your broker or company you are leased to doesn't give a #### about you truck jit only cards that their load is delivered, whether your truck makes it or not is not a partner you need. If you schedule so tight that you don't take into consideration a breakdown you are going to fail. This is an industry set up to fail. Success stories are rare but they are out there. New truck sales are up( even though Volvo and Mack are laying off people, mostly due to model year changeover and retooling for 2017 emissions.)
The rewards are small and usually personal. You are the boss. Being loaded and running when people are sitting dodging cheap freight. Landing a good paying account. The business success includes adding assets, a second truck extra trailers.
I see a lot of asset financed companies operating now. People are buying junk adding it to their asset list at the bank and borrowing cash to cover operating expenses. That is a stupid way to operate. The big bank account is nice to have but how long will it take you to secure that money. I'm not a naysayer about being an owner operator, just know that all the cards are stacked against you. Brute force and ignorance is not the path to prosperity. Thinking like a shrewd businessman will at least get you into a second year. And I didn't even touch on leasing on to a company. And lease purchase is another stupid idea. I don't care if you did it and wound up finally getting the truck. You are the exception not the rule. And, I would even lay money that you probably whined and ####### a lot. If you can't afford traditional financing or pay cash, you can't afford a truck. ( that includes lone mountain truck leasing, some of the biggest crooks in the industry, there is a reason they moves from Iowa to Omaha). I could go on as this kind of snowballed. But hey go get a truck, make all the money, buy fancy ####, hope ya don't go bankrupt in your first year. If you make 5 years, you are in the top 5%
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Lord Jesus, paragraphs. Or at least some spaces

farmboy73 · Dec 31, 2015

rollin coal said: ↑

@FinkPloyd - I've been on this forum giving out helpful advice to newbies for years. As have most of the other drivers you are arguing with. Maybe take some time when you have it to wade through some of that stuff from the past - might give you a whole nother perspective

And I could really give a #### less about the "thanks" and think the forum would be best without it. Typically though if someone posts something I agree with that's my way of saying, yep, you got it right, I agree with you.

Not that it matters but I come here when i have time to kill to read, learn, comment or whatever. I was talking with a friend just the other day ago what a complete waste of time it seems to be here or anywhere else offering up anything with all the trolls and whatnot. It's turning into Facebook. Useless and annoying.
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For what it is worth, I've personally benefited from much of the information veteran drivers have offered in many places throughout the forum. I can only speak for myself, but I have to believe others feel the same. While I may not agree with every perspective that is shared, a wealth of wisdom can be gleaned by listening to various perspectives. I have absolutely no place to comment on many things being discussed, as I am only beginning my experience in trucking. However, I read many, many threads about various things being discussed in an effort to gain helpful insight.

From my perspective, it would be a shame for veteran contributors to abandon this venue just because some outspoken antagonists choose to instigate. I don't intend for that statement to be a patronization of those veteran posters, nor is it an attempt to be invited into anyone's so-called "posse". Rather, it is simply an acknowledgement that the information shared here provides a very helpful source to those of us who've yet to develop our personal experiences.

As I have expressed elsewhere, "thank you" to all who are willing to take the time to share here. I personally appreciate your efforts.

skateboardman · Dec 31, 2015

farmboy73 said: ↑

For what it is worth, I've personally benefited from much of the information veteran drivers have offered in many places throughout the forum. I can only speak for myself, but I have to believe others feel the same. While I may not agree with every perspective that is shared, a wealth of wisdom can be gleaned by listening to various perspectives. I have absolutely no place to comment on many things being discussed, as I am only beginning my experience in trucking. However, I read many, many threads about various things being discussed in an effort to gain helpful insight.

From my perspective, it would be a shame for veteran contributors to abandon this venue just because some outspoken antagonists choose to instigate. I don't intend for that statement to be a patronization of those veteran posters, nor is it an attempt to be invited into anyone's so-called "posse". Rather, it is simply an acknowledgement that the information shared here provides a very helpful source to those of us who've yet to develop our personal experiences.

As I have expressed elsewhere, "thank you" to all who are willing to take the time to share here. I personally appreciate your efforts.
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we are not going anywhere, we ain't scared of unicorns

rank · Dec 31, 2015

Lmao

haycarter · Jan 1, 2016

I'm an Admin on a popular Australian Forum,& the best advice I got about posting on a Forum IS..
Discuss the content of the comment, not the character of the commenter

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