Comments By Chris L.

I plan on having a professional do my taxes. Someone I've used in the past. I've done my taxes myself as a company driver but will go back to using a professional this year. I'll be happy to share those numbers good or bad when I have them.

I was a box truck owner operator for 9 years before getting my CDL. I got burned out on the all day city driving in a day cab. I left that job for the open road type of driving which I still enjoy today.

There's a lot more expense and regulations to driving Class A over box trucks so I know it's not the same but I'm willing to take the risk to find out on my own.

Only time will tell if I made the right decision.

If I'm doing a short haul I do all the steps to ensure I get detention pay. But on long loads I don't bother. I'm mostly regional but usually am talked into running local for a day here and there. Local loads detention pay can very easily exceed the load pay.

But mostly I run far enough I'm more concerned with not losing a particular run that I like over something like detention.

What I mean by that is I don't want a customer calling another Trucking company for that load next time due to extra charges.

I think running a couple years as an company driver has many benefits. I can't comment on leasing but I've been an Owner Operator now for 6 months and so far happy with my decision.

I plan on talking about my numbers after my taxes are done for this year. My experience this far has been good. I've paid off all credit card debt and have a healthy cash emergency fund. I also pay quarterly estimates and fund a retirement account.

I'm still very new to being an Owner Operator and will see what happens as time goes on. So far I enjoy it.

I have an Android phone and an iPad mini that I have on a mount in the truck. The iPad works great for bird's eye view maps, Trucking apps, and podcasts. I use it constantly and it's connected to my Verizon unlimited account.

I also use it to watch YouTube when I'm waiting at shippers and run the sound through the truck speakers.

It's been an awesome combination for my needs on the road.

My first job out of truck school was a regional position. I was home 2 days a week and did one lay over at home as well.

I worked for Sygma Network a sister company of Sysco. Food service delivery is however physically demanding but pays well for starting out. I made $55k my first year.

Plus they put you up in hotels when your out on route.

Call it cheating if you want I still run around 3000 miles on paper, same as I would on electronic. The only difference is I choose to sleep when I'm tired instead of pushing through.

I'm the only one left at our company still on paper, I've asked to stay on paper as long as possible and my dispatch is working with me. Corporate although has asked why I'm not on electronic logs yet. So I'll be switching over soon I'm sure.

If running paper logs is cheating then I would say anyone driving 5 mph to stay off duty is also cheating and parking on site to deliver off duty as well, but we all do it.

For me the trucking lifestyle has been a big help on my finances. Spending so much time on the road makes it easier to save. I just finished paying off my credit cards this year and have a healthy emergency fund in place, and no car payment.

Live like no one so that later you can live like no one. Dave Ramsey quote.

Some of the tightest backing situations are in truckstops. Even with good trip planning parking late in crowded truckstops happens. Even though I've been out of flatbed for a few years now I still prefer backing a 48' spread axle over a 53' box in tight places.

If you choose flatbed do it for the right reasons, you'll eventually get comfortable backing no matter what your pulling.

Try keeping to your left more, but not so much that someone would try to pass on the right.

When I took my drive test I took my turns extra wide just to be safe.

When you are solo you will be able to stop when you want as long as you can make your delivery on time. You can't judge Trucking on the training part. My trainer was terrible! If I was forced to team drive with him for anything past the training time I would have refused. But solo driving is a whole different experience that I really enjoy.

You have to experience the solo driving part to truly judge if you like Trucking.