Get your own Operating Authority and CAN'T make money.

When I ran my own truck and reefer I couldn't tell you how many times I passed a truck stop and heard other owner op's complaining that "You can't make any money out here." To keep it simple that can be true if you do things wrong from the beginning. A persons success is determined by these factors: Income to debt, type of freight and competition, mentality, equipment, and if your a "truck driver" or a business owner. Running a truck takes some savy and skill but some get into this part of the busines blindly or with the wrong approach.

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Comment by Michele O'Donnell on June 17, 2012 at 12:33pm: Gentlemen I agree & disagree with you.

#1. You are running a business, not just a trucker!

     You need to find your freight, load it, haul it But the 1 thing ppl tend to forget you have to be a team player with your shipper & receiver, (& broker if you are using one) THAT means keeping in contact as needed, and being a professional when dealing with all parties!

#2. Running a business means keeping your eyes on the books, to safe guard your investment!

      I also farm out a lot of my paperwork, ie: keeping me updated on my permits, having my logs reviewed weekly, my billing, the collection of those freight bills, ect. BUT the one thing I do is a overview of it weekly to make sure all mistakes are found & to keep everyone honest, both myself & my ppl that do it for me. I have found honest mistakes that benefited me & some that have benefited them.

#3. Today there is no over Maintenance! With DOT/FMCSA you have no choice.

         Keep it clean, keep it fixed, & when you show pride in your equipment it is noticed.

#4. Keep your self aware & active politically!

        This is your trade and if you are not aware of the upcoming changes and do not let your govt. know what you think you have NO right to complain!

Thats my 4 cents to add, Keep it safe, keep it clean & God Bless everyone of you!

Comment by Alvin Lee Catron on April 18, 2012 at 6:30pm: ONE THING TO REMEMBER that YOU always get out of trucking exactly what you put in so if ya were broke when you bought in then you end broke when you reitre...

Comment by Alvin Lee Catron on April 18, 2012 at 6:28pm: I should add that I farmed my lisence and permits and any lisencing details out to a lady who did that for a living so I would be kept legal and found it to be cheapest...

Comment by Alvin Lee Catron on April 18, 2012 at 6:26pm: Well to add to your blog here and I was an independant owner operator of 17 down to 1 tractor 1 trailer where I made more money but had less insurance claims to answer to and less bills to pay as well as less bus tickets to purchase to go locate and pick up my equipment SO I can talk the language here and maybe make sense.. The only way to make money as an independant owner operator is to NEVER see the books as to how much income and expense ya ran up and you live with less stress but keep someone in charge ie wife or secretary who you trust and just haul your freight... Supporting the rig with maintance and finding loads that pay or take you to an area that is productive is all you need to keep your mind busy... I have been picked pocketed alot of times in truckstops ie Jubitz in Portland and a few as in I-80 in Iowa but never lost more than a few hundred but the losses are minor if you keep the wheels turning and not picky about the freight ya haul and I was 100%temp contol aka reefer freight.. I over maintanced my equipment maybe but rarely ever broke down and I drove a rig I bought in 1992 til 2005 and it was a 1991 FLD120 Detroit powered Freightliner and I miss it now but it is scrapped ...

Comment by Paul Rochon on April 11, 2012 at 11:07am: Exactly Double D. I admit I relied to heavily on brokers and didn't make the effort to find direct shippers to get better paying loads. Also, when I came into the money I got "Big Eyed" and then the debt followed.

Comment by double D on April 10, 2012 at 4:44pm: You seem to know what you are talking about. But there is also some things that you need to do to be successful. First know your capabilities and dont rely on a dispatcher to make your loads happen try and drum up your own buisness and loose the middle man so you can have a better payday.