Table of Contents
The focus of an owner operator career is to turn a profit and have a successful, satisfying career as a truck owner.
Being an owner operator is much more complex than most people realize.
It takes money, planning and constant attention to your business to make it work, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
If you’re a new truck owner or thinking about becoming an owner operator, there many things you’ll need to know.
It can also be frustrating when you’re looking for reliable advice and answers to issues you encounter as a self-employed truck owner in business.
You need honest answers and information to keep you on the road to making money.
There are lots of perks and a great deal of pride that comes with owning your own truck: controlling your schedule, choosing the freight you haul and making a decent profit.
But it can be a long, tough road ahead, if you lose sight of your goals.
Creating a Profitable Owner Operator Business
An owner operator career has its challenges, trials and tribulations.
And that’s where we come in. We’ll pass on what we’ve learned from 40 years experience in the trucking industry.
No matter if you’re a first time owner operator or an experienced trucker,if you have bad credit, are looking for a good company to work for, or wondering what make of truck to buy, we’ve got your back.
We’ll provide as much information as we’re able, in order that you can make good sound business decisions, that will work for you.
We’ll help guide you in the right direction and shed some light on the issues you’re dealing with.
Tips + Advice For Owner Operator Success
Before Taking the BIG PLUNGE Into An Owner Operator Career
- Questions to ask yourself to be sure you’re making the right choice
- Company Driver vs Owner Operator –– Many truck drivers struggle with whether they should remain a company driver or take the big plunge and buy their own truck. We’ll highlight some of the ups and downs of each of these trucking careers, so you can decide which will suit you best.
- What Kind of Trucking?— Get familiar with the various types of trucking jobs available. Know your likes and dislikes.
- Choosing a Carrier — Some tips for picking a decent trucking company to work for. This is a critical decision, not to be taken lightly.
- Owner Operator Pay — The all important critical question: How much money does an owner make?
- Am I Too Old to Become an Owner Operator?
- 7 Important Things All New Owner Operators Should Know — As you transition from being a company driver to a truck owner, there are some important things you should know.
The Most Important Asset in Your Owner Operator Business – Your Truck
- How to Spec a New Truck— The most exciting part of being an owner operator is buying a truck that suits your needs and tastes. Learn how to spec a truck to get what you need.
- Maintaining Your Investment — Tips for keeping your truck clean and in tip top shape.
- Rebuild + Restore or Buy New? — Find out why it may be more cost effective to restore your truck, rather than buying new.
- Financing Your Truck — There’s different options available when it comes time to buy your equipment. One of the main decisions you’ll need to make is whether to do an outright purchase or a lease. We’ll walk you through the differences, so you’ll have a better idea of what’s good for you.
- Tips For Buying a Used Truck — Some solid tips for buying a used truck.
- What’s the Best Make of Truck For a New Owner Operator? — Many new operators wonder what type of truck they should buy. However, there’s a few things to keep in mind when it comes to choosing what make of truck will do the job.
- Choosing the Best Truck Engines — Tips For the O/O — The best and worst engines and how to choose the RIGHT engine.
- Engine Troubleshooting and Maintenance Tips for the O/O) — Tips to help analysis engine problems and maintenance tips.
- 7 Tips For Buying Your First Truck as an Owner Operator — It’s vital to ‘get it right’ when buying your very first truck.
- What You Need to Know About Buying a Big Rig — A quick guide to buying a semi truck.
- Why Kenworth and Peterbilt Trucks Are (Still) Better Than the Rest — Why I have bought Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks exclusively for 34 years.
- Truck Repair Help Center –– If you’re going to be an independent operator, it can save you money if you can do some of the repairs on your truck. .
- 8 Tips to Protect Your Truck Your Truck From Damage at a Truck Stop — Tips for avoiding unnecessary damage at truck stops.
- The Emissions Issue For the Owner Operator
Owner Operator Business Tips
- 10 Tips To Being a Successful Owner Operator: Our 10 best tips to getting the most from your career as an owner operator.
- What You Need to Know About Lease Operator Programs — A lease operator program is an option some trucking companies offer their brokers, where the broker gets a job with the company and signs an agreement to purchase a truck. Beware of these programs we call the NEVER NEVER plans.
- The Legal Help Guide For the Owner Operator — Some advice and question & answers for owner-operator specific legal issues, from Atlanta trucking attorney.
- Legal Help Guide – Part 2
- The Biggest Mistake Owner Operators Make — All operators should have a budget, to make necessary changes in their business, project profit and losses, make good decisions, assess pay packages profitability, how much to spend on a truck and more.
- Determining Your Fixed and Variable Costs — Know the operating expenses and costs you are responsible for, when you own your own truck. It’s vital to do the calculations for projected profit and to find ways to cut your expenses.
- Simple Record Keeping Tips For Truckers — The owner operator must track virtually everything pertaining to their trucking business: driving records, repair records, expenses, trip reports etc. as well as every move you make as a driver. Learn some easy record keeping tips to follow.
- Tips For Factoring Invoices For the Owner Operator — Understand the benefits and downsides of factoring invoices for upfront cash in your business.
- How To Calculate Your Trucking Costs Per Mile — Learn how to calculate your operating costs/mile. Easy to follow steps along with a video presentation.
- A Guide to Types of Business Ownership For the O/O — Know which business structure will best suit your situation for your owner operator business or small trucking company.
Owner Operator Life – Tips + Hacks
- 10 Simple to Follow Health Tips Just For Truckers –-First and foremost, your health should be a top priority to you as a trucker, whether an owner operator or a company driver. If your health is poor, you may find yourself without a job, and struggling to pay for that high dollar truck you’ve financed.
- 7 Tips For Surviving the Relationship Hardships in a Trucking Career— 7 habits of happy couples who work at overcoming the hardships of a truck driving career.
Independent Owner Operators
- Independent Trucker –Becoming an independent broker is an even bigger step to take, as a truck owner. There’s more costs and a lot more risk involved for the independent trucker, such as insurance, licensing etc. but it can be lucrative, if you land a sweet deal.
- Understanding the Basics About Commercial Truck Insurance — It’s important to understand the basics of commercial insurance and how the system works.
Owner Operator Resources and Support
- Handling the Driver Recruiter
- An O. Operator’s Guide to Legal Issues — Some answers to common questions by a top American trucking attorney.
- The Benefits of Being an O.O.I.D.A. Member — This support group for is for all truckers, owner operators, company drivers in U.S. and Canada. This organization supports American and Canadian owner operator truckers. They help, advise and assist their trucker membership with numerous issues which affect them, such as safety, business and legal matters. OOIDA SITE
