| There are a lot of good trucking companies out | | | | The goal is to work smarter, not harder when it |
| there. I have known company drivers for US | | | | comes to being a successful owner operator. |
| Express, USA Truck, Schneider Trucking, Werner | | | | Cheap freight may get you 5,000 miles a week |
| Trucking, and LTL trucking companies like Yellow | | | | solo, but it also gets you a million mile truck long |
| Freight and Roadway Express that were really | | | | before it's time. Choose your loads and the |
| knocking back the cash. I personally have worked | | | | company you lease too carefully. You're not a |
| for Continental Express and Digby Truck Lines | | | | company driver anymore, so just because they |
| and did quite well. But for some drivers, working | | | | promise you the miles doesn't mean they'll deliver |
| for someone else just isn't enough... | | | | the money. Remember, the more miles you run- |
| The problem for some is that the lure of the | | | | the more fuel you will burn, the more |
| open road tricks them into becoming owner | | | | maintenance you'll require, the more wear and |
| operators before they are ready. | | | | tear you'll have on your truck and yourself. |
| I have been an owner operator for nearly 8 | | | | Pitfall #3 Been There, Done That |
| years and I would estimate I am pretty high on | | | | Some truckers seem to know everything. |
| the food chain. "Making it" as an owner operator in | | | | Unfortunately for them, ignorance is bliss. If you |
| trucking isn't easy. I didn't get here by luck, I | | | | want to truly get ahead in trucking, always keep |
| asked a lot of questions and listened to what | | | | your eyes open for new opportunities. Don't quit |
| other drivers said their mistakes were. Learning | | | | your contract on a whim, but always know what |
| from others' mistakes has helped me avoid some | | | | your options are. Network with other drivers and |
| of the pitfalls they fell into. | | | | try to sift through the bologna to gain as much |
| Pitfall #1 Lease Purchase | | | | information as you can. You never know when |
| If you don't have the cash or credit to go buy a | | | | things are going to go sour and you need to have |
| truck on your own, you aren't ready. Spend a | | | | a back up plan or two waiting in the wings. You |
| few years as a company driver- I suggest at | | | | may find that you aren't doing nearly as well as |
| least two years- and get informed. Check with | | | | you thought you were compared to other owner |
| trucking legal resources like OOIDA about the | | | | operators out there. |
| problems with lease purchase deals. Many drivers | | | | Certainly there are other pitfalls out there. Just |
| have lost a lot of years and gained a lot of ugly | | | | being aware that there are things to watch out |
| spots on their credit report because they didn't | | | | for is a major step toward success in owner |
| investigate the drawbacks and consequences. | | | | operator trucking. |
| Pitfall #2 Work harder, not smarter | | | | |