it doesnt matter how many extra expenses you list, anyone doing a lease program has zero chance to make 100K NET a year, but running your own authority you have more then a good chance to make 100K+ NET after expenses, with a lease you have to thank god if you NET 50K a year, run your authority part time and make more


NEVER COMPARE LEASE TO AUTHORITY

 

And what do you know about it, mister?
Is that from what you heard on CB?
Or you didn't have one yet? :P

I could compare anything, to anything, just don't want to waste my time, cause you seems to made up your mind already! :roll:

 

you wanna lay any money on those statements?

so now the one with all the questions is giving all the answers? in such definte terms..... :?

 

Good post...very lucid, detailed, and candid ( atleast it appears that way to me ). So, what do you do Bone...are you leased to a carrier ? Do you like it that way ?

 

100k a year with just one truck ???? Did I hear you right ? Or were you referring to a fleet of 2 or more trucks ?

 

Where to start?? I don't know where you got your figures or anything about your experience, but your figures are WAAAAYYYY off.

I have been a company driver, owner operator leased to a carrier and run my authority. The cost of base plates will vary from one state to another. I pay just over $1,400 per truck in my home state. Some may pay as little as $1,100. If you pay $2,500 for base plates, I would move. Some owner operators pay for their base plates, others do not. It depends on the carrier to whom they are leased.

Insurance rates can vary widely when it comes to running your own authority. A number of factors come into play when determining rates. They will look at your experience, MVR, credit history, etc., I pay less than $4,000 per truck. Most will pay between $6-8,000 with experience. I don't recall ever spending $3,500/yr. for insurance when I leased to a carrier. A carrier will usually require their owner operators to carry bobtail or unladen liability insurance. Rates seem to vary from about $30-60/month. That comes to $360-720/yr. Collision or comprehensive insurance is only required if there is a lien on the truck. Rates vary from 2 1/2-4% of the stated value, with most companies. This is something that is required whether you are independent or an owner operator.

I rarely take toll roads, but tolls, lumpers, etc., are reimbursed with some carriers and not with others. Each company has their own policies. I have my own fuel card and do get some fuel discounts with some stops. When I leased to a carrier, I found that I can usually do about as well on my own by buying at different fuel stops. One thing most owner operators may not realize is that the carrier usually keeps part of the fuel discounts when you use their fuel card. They make money off of each gallon of fuel you purchase if you use their card.

I can buy on national tire account and I won't pay a carrier a processing fee for the privilege. I have access to 2 national tire discount programs of which Bridgestone is one. I also have my own sources for tire discounts and can usually do better with them rather than relying on a national tire discount.

I don't chase after brokers. I check them out before doing business with them. If they have questionable credit, I don't do business with them. I don't always have to wait a week to receive money. My funds come in all the time. Just because you lease to a carrier doesn't mean that you won't need to find your own loads. Landstar and some of the other agent based carriers are set up where the owner operator can find his own loads. Not all carriers do drop and hook.

If you can't make more money as an owner operator as you could driving a company truck, you need to go back to being a company driver. Unless you can make more money running your own authority than leasing to a carrier or a company driver, then by all means go back to being a company driver or owner operator where you lease to a carrier.

Being independent isn't for everyone. Many will fail, just as many will not make it as an owner operator. People jump into these aspects of the industry without any business sense or experience and have no idea of what they are getting themselves into. Some will defy the odds and make it. Others will not. Some who fail will become bitter and blame an industry for their failure to plan and do the leg work to become successful.

You are giving a very skewed view of this industry. And your numbers are off. While your statements may be true for some, it is not necessarily the norm.

 

Yes! But i wouldn't live home w/o it! :shock:

 

That is a personal decision each of us must make, Solo. I don't have collision on one of my trucks. I save about $1,200/year by not having it. Based upon my past driving record and experience, it is unlikely that I will have an at fault accident and total my truck. I am comfortable saving the money and taking a chance that I will continue being a safe driver. Some feel the need to insure their truck whether it is paid for or not. That is a decision we each must make. I have known owners who are on both sides of the issue. If I went out and paid $50,000 cash for a truck I might think differently.

 

My truck was stolen and recovered, over 20 grand in damages.
Another guy i know, had a fire, only had enough time to grab a laptop... :shock: :wink:

 

[quote="GMAN"]
Where to start?? I don't know where you got your figures or anything about your experience, but your figures are WAAAAYYYY off.

I have been a company driver, owner operator leased to a carrier and run my authority. The cost of base plates will vary from one state to another. I pay just over $1,400 per truck in my home state. Some may pay as little as $1,100. If you pay $2,500 for base plates, I would move. Some owner operators pay for their base plates, others do not. It depends on the carrier to whom they are leased.

Insurance rates can vary widely when it comes to running your own authority. A number of factors come into play when determining rates. They will look at your experience, MVR, credit history, etc., I pay less than $4,000 per truck. Most will pay between $6-8,000 with experience. I don't recall ever spending $3,500/yr. for insurance when I leased to a carrier. A carrier will usually require their owner operators to carry bobtail or unladen liability insurance. Rates seem to vary from about $30-60/month. That comes to $360-720/yr. Collision or comprehensive insurance is only required if there is a lien on the truck. Rates vary from 2 1/2-4% of the stated value, with most companies. This is something that is required whether you are independent or an owner operator.

I rarely take toll roads, but tolls, lumpers, etc., are reimbursed with some carriers and not with others. Each company has their own policies. I have my own fuel card and do get some fuel discounts with some stops. When I leased to a carrier, I found that I can usually do about as well on my own by buying at different fuel stops. One thing most owner operators may not realize is that the carrier usually keeps part of the fuel discounts when you use their fuel card. They make money off of each gallon of fuel you purchase if you use their card.

I can buy on national tire account and I won't pay a carrier a processing fee for the privilege. I have access to 2 national tire discount programs of which Bridgestone is one. I also have my own sources for tire discounts and can usually do better with them rather than relying on a national tire discount.

I don't chase after brokers. I check them out before doing business with them. If they have questionable credit, I don't do business with them. I don't always have to wait a week to receive money. My funds come in all the time. Just because you lease to a carrier doesn't mean that you won't need to find your own loads. Landstar and some of the other agent based carriers are set up where the owner operator can find his own loads. Not all carriers do drop and hook.

If you can't make more money as an owner operator as you could driving a company truck, you need to go back to being a company driver. Unless you can make more money running your own authority than leasing to a carrier or a company driver, then by all means go back to being a company driver or owner operator where you lease to a carrier.

Being independent isn't for everyone. Many will fail, just as many will not make it as an owner operator. People jump into these aspects of the industry without any business sense or experience and have no idea of what they are getting themselves into. Some will defy the odds and make it. Others will not. Some who fail will become bitter and blame an industry for their failure to plan and do the leg work to become successful.

You are giving a very skewed view of this industry. And your numbers are off. While your statements may be true for some, it is not necessarily the norm.[/quote

What part of these are not the Gold Standards for all O/OP's did you not read?

I said everyone's situation might be different, I didn't quote that these were the rules. There are exceptions to every rule and rules to every exception.

When I use to live in California, apportioned base plates were $2300-$2500 a year which was what I paid 6 years ago. Insurance was $8000 the first year and jumped up to $9000 the second year, and that is with a perfect driving record, which I still have today. So my figures are not off. I am not going to turn this into a debate.

As a matter of fact I do only pay about $60 a month for insurance being leased to a carrier, $3500 might have been a little high but I wasn't comparing any ones particular record. I was just making a comparison, that insurance is cheaper being leased to a carrier. So even if we change the leased to $720 a year vs. Independent which pays $4500 to $9000. It is still cheaper being leased to a carrier.

Like I said, and I will say it one more time , Everyone situation is different and you can pick my post apart all you want, as long as you are happy doing what you are doing, whatever you do, and where ever your at, and whoever you are working for, isn't that's all that matters?

As for being wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

off, I think not. The facts are the facts, and I tell it like it is.

Drive safe.