Quit your company driving job, make double being an Owner op.
Posted by Professional-Lake431@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 56 comments
This market is only starting. You will make a month’s pay during DOT week in May alone. Foreign drives cannot be brought in to relieve the pressure like in the past. Spot rates are going to continue to go up for the rest of the year. If you can get a loan and run as an OO, there has never been a better time to quit your job at a big company. A clown can find good freight. Fire your boss and go double your pay.
threeglude@reddit
Biggest joke of the day. I've ran the numbers countless times over the years, and I make more then I would as an OO. The ONLY way to make decent money as an owner, is to scale up, as is true in ANY business. Long gone are the days where you can be a one man show and eek out a decent living. Maybe one day that'll return, but I don't foresee that happening anytime soon, especially not with fuel prices where they are.
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
Buddy look at a load board at 3pm and run them again Monday…. You will make up that fuel!
threeglude@reddit
You're encouraging people to take on a 100k+ liability just because rates a currently up a little?? That's insane. I'm percentage based, so if rates go up, my pay goes up, so the math stays the same! Besides, I'm not going to take on a huge financial burden all because the market is up. Historically, it's been trending down and unless you have a crystal ball, you have no way of knowing if the market will sustain the increased rates. It could be temporary for all we based, and historically, it likely is temporary.
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
They are up a little now- they are headed much, much higher.
threeglude@reddit
And?? Are you an economist? Can you reliably predict the rates WILL go up and more importantly, STAY up?? Also, will we see the rates nearly quadruple and remain there, where they should be? Highly doubtful.
Wages across EVERY market sector have remained stagnant. You can thank the billionaire class and all their lobbying for that.
To put it simply, because wages have remained stagnant for several decades and not kept up with inflation, any increase in mileage rates will be short lived. Why? Because the market won't be able to sustain the increased rates, you know, because increased rates on our end, increases the cost of goods for the end user. If the end users wages aren't increasing, then they won't be able to afford the goods. If they can't afford the goods we have nothing to haul. Bro, this is economics 101.
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
Actually I am an economist and never bet against the American consumer. Yes they will go up and stay up. This is supply driven. Any bump in demand would be great, but the story is in supply, and unlike in the past we can’t get a bunch of Indians and Mexicans in trucks to fix it. It will run up until we are all replaced my driverless trucks.
threeglude@reddit
Look man, I'm the glass half full kind of guy, but I'm also a realist. Rates have been mostly stagnant since what, the 90s, possibly even the 80s?? When everything from the cost of trucks, to parts and even the hourly shop rates have nearly quadrupled, yet mileage rates have remained nearly the same in a 30+ year period, it's not a gamble most people should be taking.
With prices where they are nowadays on repairs, the difference between you and me, is that I'm making my money free and clear of oo stresses. You have to set aside 10s of thousands to plan for the worst case scenario, I don't have that worry. When I need maintenance done, it goes to the shop. When you need maintenance done, you have to weigh out whether or not you can afford to take it to the shop, or if you'll do the repair over your 10 or 34.
At the end of the day, I'm making more money then my boss is on just my truck. However, he has multiple trucks, so he's working with volume and as a result of that volume, making more then I am overall.
A true oo these days can't survive on just one truck, you need at least 3, but thats where the pain starts. It's only when you get up to 8-10 or more trucks where you can start making some serious money.
Lastly, you're talking about the load board, so that means you're relying on a load board and don't have any of your own customers. Can't take you very seriously if you're relying solely on load boards...
NoRelation1491@reddit
Naw fam, fuck that, you see.....I actually LIKE my wife and kid. I'll stick too my $100k+ local job and see them everyday. I leave work at the yard with my truck LOL.
HAHAHAHAHA
Bro, I'm lazy thats why I haul fuel LOL.
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
Can’t fix lazy!
A_World_Divided@reddit
Why would you? My company drivers 30%-35% don’t pay for fuel and tolls and they come out 2k-3k every week
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
So less than 100k a year. Makes you poor in this inflated economy!
ComprehendReading@reddit
100K rubles?
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
Lot of dispatchers on here hoping their drivers don’t get smart!
A_World_Divided@reddit
The time for OO was covid, rn hormuz is closed everything runs at 1+ dollar per mile fuel only why would you throw yourself into all that
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
What the hell is running at 1+ a mile?? Your dispatcher is lying to you!!!! Fuel went up .80 cents a mile and rates went up double!
tractorferret@reddit
Idk do you have a custom metallic paint custom pinstriped brand new W900L with all the bells and whistles and custom chicken lights, health insurance paid for, 401k, pension, HSA, 24/7 on premise shop and on premise 24/7 fueling…no? Then I guess I’ll stay right here as a company guy 😎
A w900L kitted like mine with a maxi western trailer curtain costs near half a million lol. I’m not driving a white freightliner or t680 or clapped w900 etc for 1000000x the stress and headache for a little more money.
If you are running spot and not on freight contracts you’re gonna get screwed over time lmao
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
If you want to collect trucks in your free time, you do that. It’s not a little more money, it’s a lot
potatocross@reddit
Making double sounds great until you suddenly have to pay for fuel, and a truck, and insurance, and maintenance.
NoRelation1491@reddit
God forbid you blow your motor, transmission, or your DPF or DEF system takes a shit. I just had my DPF filter replaced (and new loads heads and internal valves replaced, because fuck it it was in the shop) I dont even want to know what that would have costed if it was not our companies shop.
RaphealWannabe@reddit
Not to mention all the regulations you have to know and meet, the papers you have to fill out and keep on top of, plus you have to have a pretty solid (and spotless) record to get the really good jobs. Its a young persons game, you gotta start off young so you have the time to pay off the truck, build a good reputation and learn the industry before you can hope to make good money.
That takes years, sometimes decades and not everyone can do that, kudos to those who can and do, I am happy for them, just the rest of us shlubs have to stay within our limits.
potatocross@reddit
My limits also include only as far as I can go and make it back on the same clock. Couldn't pay me enough to be OTR. My bed is too comfy.
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
Again, the fundamental base cost is being paid by desperate shippers now. For the last 3 years you could not cover it, you will this year!
ComprehendReading@reddit
Why would the shipper suddenly cover it? Transportation costs are dynamic, but you speak like a broker while encouraging owners to take your load of bull.
FireryDawn@reddit
looks at fuel cost going through roof
downs fireball
"Fuck it, im gonna be owner op"
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
Or just make your boss more money!
FireryDawn@reddit
Im hourly, i get paid regardless of crashes breakdowns etc. Wtf would i want to be an owner and paid per km
NoRelation1491@reddit
While I hate breaking down, lowkey, I'm gonna call the Mrs and the kiddo let them know whats going on, and then I'm gonna sit there, vape and scroll instagram reels and tiktok and then take a nap because you already know it's gonna be 2+hrs for a wrecker to show up......
all while getting paid :).
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
A lot of dispatchers on here knowing any new drivers they recruit will be more expensive than the ones they have. Don’t be complacent. Get paid what you are worth! This is a once in a generation price reset.
RaphealWannabe@reddit
No thanks, I'm too old [43] and won't be in the industry for long enough to justify the expense.
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
Too old at 43? Bud that’s your prime money making age till 55!
RaphealWannabe@reddit
That's very kind of you, but once my house is payed off in 7 more years I plan on leaving for good. If I could be 22 again and do things all over, I would seriously consider it, but now? It takes too long to pay off the truck and I fully expect the economy to get worse, never better.
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
Make it 3 years than!!
ComprehendReading@reddit
It's funny how these spam accounts generally choose at least one word that is relevant to the pitch they are selling.
In this case, it's Ukraine-Success-2026.
Oh wait. It's "Professional"
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
Spam? That’s the sandwich your mom makes me in the morning!
BobcatBob26@reddit
How many Fireballs deep are you?
ComprehendReading@reddit
OP only drinks vodka from a certain failed state.
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
Bud heavy on Saturday boss!
homucifer666@reddit
While it's true that you want to invest in a market when it's at its lowest, your mistake is thinking this is as bad as it gets.
ComprehendReading@reddit
Investing in a down market is a lot different than entering the field.
OP is at best a ponzi scheme lower-entrant trying to hire English speaking drivers.
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
Buddy I want to see English speaking drivers cash in on this. That’s my only motivation on the post. The down market is over, it’s starting to rip- and it’s only getting started.
Capn_T_Driver@reddit
Solo owner-op here. This post only makes sense if you can find a decent used truck and trailer, can afford to service both, and live in or near a healthy freight market. Can it be done? Yes. Is it a huge risk? Yes. Will you get decent interest rates on equipment loans as a first-timer? Probably not.
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
Every market is healthy now!
Ok_Measurement_107@reddit
I had this brilliant idea in 2007. $20,000 in savings gone in 6 months. I like my company job and my savings account.
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
Again that’s terrible timing. This is the opposite of that market!
ComprehendReading@reddit
In that we're going full economic depression?
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
This industry is about to boom with or without the rest of the economy. Just not enough drivers.
BedAdministrative619@reddit
Not counting the other costs, fuel alone would eat much of that doubled wage. My company just put me in a brand new truck (32 on the odometer) and I ain't giving that up so I can pay my own repairs on a used truck.
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
Do the actual math with rates paid in the last couple weeks. It works out different than it did 6 months ago!
BedAdministrative619@reddit
I spend almost as much in fuel as I make per day. Then you add the truck payment, insurance, and saving for the next repair. Your 2x pay doesn't sound like a bonus when you factor in everything. I say everything, but as a non o/o I am sure to have missed something. After all that, not all loads will pay out instantly. Now you need money to cover a month's fuel just in case.
OsBaculum@reddit
You're three days late with this post
ComprehendReading@reddit
Just early enough to try to disrupt shipping for Monday. Don't forget, most Russians are a day ahead of the free world.
Goldleader-23@reddit
Lol no. Ill keep my benefits and zero operating costs thanks
Professional-Lake431@reddit (OP)
Hey your boss needs another boat anyway!
Goldleader-23@reddit
I think the Waltons would be just fine with or without me.
Also im sure I net more than 90% of owner operators do and my life is 100 times easier.
potatocross@reddit
My boss is constantly pissed off because I make more money than him.
chiquis69@reddit
Lol