I have a general question. One of the guys on this board posted his 2007 results/salary after working with Crete for .41 cents a mile. His total wound up being around $61K if I remember correctly. So, if someone can work for a company like that instead of a bottom feeder, why in the world would he/she choose to be an owner operator and put up with the extra stress? Keep in mind I don't drive, just an admirer. Am I missing something? Thanks.

 

The only thing I can tell you is....

You are the running of YOUR OWN ship

No one tells you what to do, or where to go, and when you can go home.

Yes, most company drivers make more than O/O and most have better bennies too.

BUT then again most O/O like running their OWN business.

tootie

 

Good point. You dont work as hard MOST of the time. You tend to drive less miles for better pay.

tootie

 

Thanks for the info guys and gals. I was just curious. I came within an inch of getting into trucking back during the summer. I had a business (commercial cleaning) that was going under and needed to put some food on the table. Plus, I have always wanted to give it a try. heck, I even follow these boards pretty closely.

Anyway, I went back to work for my old company sitting behind a desk. Now, with the pay that I make, I'd be crazy to get into trucking. They pay me $90K a year to basically keep production running in our plant and issue parts to the shop floor. Anway, I'm hoping to retire in my 50's and give trucking a try then unless it's all ragheads and Mexicans by then.

For all you guys and gals on the road, be safe and continue to keep this country going. If any of you are ever passing through Huntsville, Alabama....let me know and I'll buy you a cup of coffee. There's a Pilot off exit 334 on I-65.

 

Yeah, he made 61K, but I doubt that was before taxes. And with the various writeoffs available a driver running his own business with a truck, the company driver may or may not be in a better position.

A company driver can't influence his earnings. If an O/O gets better fuel mileage than what the fuel surcharge is based on, then he takes home more. That isn't an option for the company driver. The rate per mile is set. Also, most company drivers don't get higher rate per mile for shorter hauls like most O/O's can get (at least if they are with the right carrier). A lot of times, it is better to take those overnight 4-500 mile runs and get a lot higher rate per mile than taking the coast to coast runs.

Either way, the O/O can lose his shirt, house, and truck if he doesn't go at like a bean counting business person. You get what you put into it. You gotta run those spreadsheets. But, the rewards can be better. Plus, as was said earlier, you got more freedom. Don't be fooled.... not a lot more freedom. That is unless you don't want to make any money. This is a service industry and if you don't cater to the customer or get real nit picky about what you will and won't do, you might as well sell the truck or watch it get reposessed because you couldn't make the payments. But if the financials are good, you can decide when you want to take some time off or back off of running hard.

heck... if you want to be a total freedom truck driver... just buy a truck, park it in the driveway and load it up with chrome and lights and drive it on saturday night. A lot less headache and you will indeed have your freedom.

 

Bottom line after all is said and done...

I drive for Superior Carriers. The first 9.25 months of this year I was a company driver running in our OTR system. Then in October, I purchased an older fleet truck from the company and began running dedicated loads for one of our major customers. This is how I did for calendar year 2007...

Company Driver, Jan. 1st to Oct. 7th
Gross: $39,608.90
Miles: 67,989 (Paid miles... Sorry can't locate what actual odometer miles were)
Avg.: .582/mile
Hours: 887.00 (All non-driving and local hourly pay)
Days Working: 194
Days Off: 86

VERSUS

Independent Contractor, Oct. 8th to Dec. 31st
Gross: $31,803.78
Total fixed and variable expenses: $20,462.93
Taxable Net: $11,340.85
Hub Miles: 27,678 (ALL ODOMETER miles off-duty and on-duty.)
Avg.: $.409/mile
Days Working: 52
Days Off: 33

Works for me! :wink:

 

Cyanide, I clicked on your link in your last post. Just a note. If you see me in a truck stop make sure it's the middle of the day if you knock on my door. I may have a stroke if it's the middle of the night. Just an FYI.

 

Steve's comment nearly made me spew my coffee from laughing so hard..ha!