If you’ve been a company driver for a while, you have probably given thought to becoming an owner-operator. If you have previous experience as on owner-operator and maybe it didn’t turn out so well, you’ve also probably considered trying it again.
Over the years I’ve had several individuals seek my assistance in helping them start their owner-operator business, and one of the first questions I always ask is, “Why do you want to become an owner-operator?”
With few exceptions, the main responses are very predictable and usually in this order:
- Make More Money
- Have More Freedom (do my own thing, control my own destiny, make my own decisions)
- Own my own truck and eventually add trucks to have my own trucking company.
You’ve probably asked others about their experiences and likely heard all sorts of answers that run the range from rags to riches. Truth be told, being an owner-operator can make your life altering dreams come true. Or….Being an owner-operator can create a life altering nightmare.
To add more challenge, carriers today are advertising all sorts of “great opportunities” for joining them as an owner-operator. Here are some actual quotes from published advertisements….”Top Earners Average $300K+ per year” “Up to $5000 Sign-On Bonus” “$220K Minimum For Owner Operators” “Be Your Own Boss” “No Money Down, No Credit Check, Low Payment Lease Purchase” “Earning Potential Up to $435K Gross” “$0 Down Lease Purchase, No Credit Check” “Earn $175 – $200K+ Per Year” and the list goes on, and on and on.
Do some of those sound too good to be true? How do you evaluate all of those “great opportunities” to get to the real facts? It’s really not that complicated, IF you know the questions to ask, and IF you’re able to put the answers in a format that captures those facts to help in your decision making process.
Considering all of those advertised claims…..
Can you make more money? Maybe, but it’s far from a given. In fact, you might lose a lot of money.
Can you have more freedom? Probably not, and in fact you’ll likely have to put in a lot more hours.
Can you own your own truck? Again, maybe. It depends on a lot of factors.
Want to learn more before taking the plunge? Ready to explore some facts instead of depending on the generalities and questionable advice you get from others?
Over the next several weeks we’ll be covering topics that are essential to consider before making the transition to an owner-operator. You owe it to yourself and your family to gather as much factual information as possible to include in your decision making process.
Next up, we’ll explore the differences between company driver and owner-operator.
If you just can’t wait, please visit www.owneroperatorbusinesstools.com for more details on what you need to know before making a life changing commitment, or call OOBT at 720.360.1843.
