Looking At Owner Op?

I did it for 10 years back in the mid 70’s, thru 85. After deregulation, I hung on 3 years, and said I’m done, put on a bag, and became BRG...


I sold my last truck in '92......when fuel went to $1.10 a gallon..... to get on with ABF.......Actually, I stopped at the Yellow terminal,...was told they weren't hiring at the time,...but to go to the far end of the dock, where ABF had a small terminal....they "might be hiring" I was told.....

Walked in.....the same terminal door where I had worked for Motor Freight Express back in 1978,....and found the SAME Dispatcher for MFX sitting at the SAME desk! He said : "Right Man at the Right Place at the Right Time! You're Hired!.......

I had watched JB Hunt walk in on my New York City freight......and watched Schneider walk in on my PPG/Detroit GMC freight,.....and both of those..........taxpayer-subsidized companies cut the rates to 80-90 cents a mile.....My break-even point was 87 cents a mile......

Didn't see the point of owning a truck anymore if company drivers....Union ones......were getting paid just as much as I could pay myself.
 
I have heard drivers who at one time were owner/operators claim they made a lot more before coming to ABF. One made that claim & said he worked days & was home with his family every night. The business agent from the local told him if working under the NMFA was so bad he should go back to where he came from.
 
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Now this outfit will make you want to buy a truck, and lease on.
You get to;
Pay them 10% to Dispatch you
Rent their trailer
Dispatchers speaking 4 languages
Paid with a 1099
Financing available to become an O/O
Sounds great!
 
LzfYw0V.jpg


Now this outfit will make you want to buy a truck, and lease on.
You get to;
Pay them 10% to Dispatch you
Rent their trailer
Dispatchers speaking 4 languages
Paid with a 1099
Financing available to become an O/O
Sounds great!


Don't forget the Free Lobotomy!
And,....Instant Access to discounts for Divorce Lawyers!
And,.....I even hear they'll let you wash the Dispatcher's car once a week,.....to insure you get...."good Loads".....

.....(...Man! I can't believe,...here in the Twenty-First Century,......people are STILL falling for a....'lease-purchase" program, where you....pay for the privilege of putting some fly-by-night's decal on...THEIR...truck
.....and paying for all the fuel, maintenance, and costs.....)

(...I see that one of the languages not listed,...was: "Stupid"......)

If,......you can't afford the cost of owning your OWN Base Plate,...paying your OWN HVU tax,...and your OWN bobtail insurance,......you can't afford "owning" your OWN truck........
 
Don't forget the Free Lobotomy!
And,....Instant Access to discounts for Divorce Lawyers!
And,.....I even hear they'll let you wash the Dispatcher's car once a week,.....to insure you get...."good Loads".....

.....(...Man! I can't believe,...here in the Twenty-First Century,......people are STILL falling for a....'lease-purchase" program, where you....pay for the privilege of putting some fly-by-night's decal on...THEIR...truck
.....and paying for all the fuel, maintenance, and costs.....)

(...I see that one of the languages not listed,...was: "Stupid"......)

If,......you can't afford the cost of owning your OWN Base Plate,...paying your OWN HVU tax,...and your OWN bobtail insurance,......you can't afford "owning" your OWN truck........
You are 100 percent on the lease purchase. That is signing a deal with the devil.
 
Kinda like a "reverse morgage" on your home.

I know from experience that it's a "reverse mortgage"...on your life.......

If you can't find a steady contract paying you MORE than the highest paid company drivers....(..with pension!..)....
.....then there is NO reason to "own" a truck.......or have the truck own you.......

I was lucky I got out of it on my own terms........I watched companies/leasors LOWER rates.....with a straight face.....in a ten year period where fuel, insurance, and maintenance costs.....not to mention regulatory costs,.......were rising.
(...I still have my Certification of Repairman for Heavy Duty Air brakes,....just so I could legally adjust my own brakes.....)
 
Thank you. I've had businesses in the past. Some successful, some...crashed and burned. My desire to be my own boss is to make a Better than average living, and have the flexibility to be home 9 out of 10 weekends to have a life.

I would say that if this is the reason behind you wanting to get into being an O/O, it would probably be best to hold off and find something else. Honestly I'd say that if you don't plan on hauling a minimum of 8,800 miles a month, it's best to steer clear. I understand that type of work load isn't for everyone (and don't blame you for wanting to prioritize having a life) but unfortunately success in the trucking industry isn't for everyone either. Now, could you potentially find success and turn a profit with staying back on the weekends? It's not impossible and I'm not one to discount anyone's ability to find success in this industry (depends a lot on your connections and relationships built) but I will say that seeing success without keeping your utilization high and those wheels turning, will be an uphill battle
 
Continuing Post #29.....
.....unless one has been awarded with a Lobotomy, then one's outlook would (maybe, possibly, probably?) look Brighter??

True: ONE can make a small fortune in Trucking IF one begins with a LARGE ONE!!
- - - -
I worked 4 times for one local Owner Op and his company from 1999-2017.
He told me several times "I made $500,000.00 last year and AFTER all the Deductions: Equipment Repairs, Taxes, Fuel, Tow Bills, Registration costs, Driver Pay (2 Local, 3 OTR) and House Payments, I cleared $5,000.00"!!:fan:
Sound like Fun going Owner Op?
I NEVER considered it and was offered a few times in other situations.
- - - -
I figured one way to being a Owner Driver/Owner Operator:

1) Make sure you're well Financed ($100k a Year) or Single.
2) BUY a Lobotomy because afterwards, Things and Life will not seem so arduous (or so those laid back, speaking in tongues while mumbling folks claim).
3) Build a Tractor from Ground Up (from where "Well Financed" applies or buy a Customized Glider Kit) and BUY a New 48' or 53' Dry Van or Spread Axle Skateboard with L.E.D.'S. --Don't bother with Reefers as they haul LESS Freight--
4) Hire a Friend (or a few) to travel around the Country and randomly assault ya while screaming "WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE A/AN OWNER DRIVER/OWNER OPERATOR?":chairshot:
5) NEVER ACCEPT LOADS from Truck Stop Boards or Cheap Haul Robusome (as well a plethora of other "cheap" BROKErs).

Take TIME OFF wherever and whenever ya want, for as long as ya want (yet the "Friendly" assaults continue regardless).:rulz:

CHEERS!!:heykoolaid:
 
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