Comments By ChrisEMT

I would suggest, as others have, pull your DAC through hire right and see what is on your record. It will be a hard copy, and you can get 1 free copy per year.... This way you will know what is and is not in your file....

I agree. Can't make money if your wheels aren't turning... I rarely turned down a load, and when I did, it was usually because I wouldn't have enough time on my clock to do it and get back in time to deliver my next load. Because I didn't turn down the short and lower paying runs, I usually got the longer and higher paying loads right after. I was happy with my larger check, my boss was happy because his loads were delivered, and the customers were happy because they got their products for their customers and would ask for me (or any other driver who got the load there on time or early)...

I talked with another driver that was on the same account I was on, who would turn down the less liked loads, and he let me know how much he made the last year he was on that account, and it was about 18k less than what I made, all because he turned down the shorter loads or less liked loads. and in the next sentence he told me that he switched companies because he felt like he was being held back because our boss wasn't giving him enough loads to make money (even though I would grab the loads he turned down)...

For me, it is hard to answer. There are variables like cpm pay, company your working for, if your on a dedicated account or OTR, if you get stop pay, unload pay, etc... For example, I was averaging 2200 miles a week, and with everything factored in (cpm, stop pay, safety pay, load/assist unload pay) factored in, I was averaging 62-64cpm or 1400/week on average.

Oh, and one more thing, the drivers at other companies making 80-100k/year or more are solo, not teams...

Like others have said, this sounds like a scam. While yes, an O/O or L/O can have a revenue of 200K+ TO THE TRUCK, that does not show expenses to be an operator like maintenance, fuel, truck/trailer payments, insurance, taxes, health insurance, workers comp, etc. Ao in the end, you would only make a little bit more than a company driver.

There are several companies that have company drivers with none of the overhead of being an O/O or L/O, that make 80-100k/year or more and they are home every week.

I had a similar, but different, situation. I was given a load pulling out of the DC I pulled out of picking up for a next morning multi-stop delivery. I got to the DC to pick it up, got my bills, and went to get the preloaded trailer. I went and looked high, low, and all around for the trailer, and found one with the last 2 numbers the same, but reversed. so I line up to the trailer to hook up to it, got out, and checked the 1st stop, and it was completely different, and in the opposite direction. So I didn't hook up, and notified the overnight dispatcher via qualcomm, and called my FM on his cell since it was a Sunday, and I really didn't need to leave until the morning anyway, even to get to the new loads 1st stop. Well, my FM called the driver who was supposed to take that load to see what was going on and where he was. Well, he was already almost to his 1st stop (the one that was the 1st stop loaded on the trailer at the DC). He hooked and booked without verifying the trailer number or that the trailer had what should be his 1st stop. So he lost almost 4 hours of driving and had to deliver what was my load, and my FM printed out this loads bills so I can deliver it. I gained about 200 miles because of his mistake, and he not only lost 4 hours of drive time, but lost 200 miles of pay, and he had to go deliver my load, and lost even more miles that week because of the way he was pre-planned for the week. He made sure to always double check that everything on the bills and trailer after that....

I geocached while driving for Werner. I was lucky enough to be on dedicated accounts and went to several customers all the time, so I was able to scope out caches around my regular stops and on my routes. I was also able to scope ones out in truck friendly rest stops/truck stops, and then go after them when I would stop at those places for the night... You would be surprised how many there are out there.... And if you ever make it to the Southington, CT TA in the spring/summer, maybe we (anyone) can go if I have a couple days notice, since I live near there.... Just send me a PM or email.... Not sure if that is an option via my profile, but maybe Brett can let me know.... Thanks...

Brett, that is why I suggest what was suggested to me, keeping at least $25k in the bank for the major expenses (engine, transmission, major problems that arise)... What is easier to pay off quicker, maintenance through your maintenance account (charging it, then paying it off with your maintenance account reimbursement) or having to go to a bank and ask for the money to pay for something huge in the 10's of thousands of dollars? and I don't know of any every day maintenance that would tie up 90% of your credit line.... Unless routine maintenance, 60 day and required annual DOT inspections have increased 10 fold and made out of gold. And if it takes more than a couple of days to get the money from your maintenance account and send in a check to pay the bill before the statement comes out, there is a problem. even if you pay 90% of the bill every month, you shouldn't be anywhere near 90% of your credit limit, and you will build credit, show regular payments, and get credit line increases....

And your last sentence is what I have been saying, hang onto your cash... Make sure you have at least $25k in the bank for major expenses.... And by buying your truck outright, you don't have a truck payment (and you can make a truck "payment" to yourself so you can put a large down payment on a new truck) to lower your expenses.

While I can agree with Brett that borrowing money has never been cheaper than it is today, and that debt used properly is the #1 driver of economic growth... My point is, what happens when freight drops for 4-6 weeks in a short period of time and you still have a truck payment and other expenses to pay, and there are too many bills at the end of the money? That is why I suggested to buy your at least your first truck in full (or at least almost in full) so you are not stuck with a large weekly payment if you take a week off, have a short freight week, or goodness forbid, you get into an accident or have mechanical issues like a blown engine or transmission, which could easily be $15 - 25K plus the time your truck is down to be repaired.

I would say buy your truck outright and get a business line of credit for everyday things like maintenance, with a maintenance account to replace the engine and transmission. Then, once you get the experience and contacts with brokers, etc, and network with people and prove yourself to shippers and receivers to the point they request you and a select few drivers (I had that happen to me on my dedicated account as a company driver), and then you get lower insurance premiums and a better handle with what your potential is, then go out and finance a new(er) truck that is optioned the way you want....

I had spoke with people I got my CDL with, and some were very successful L/O's after they got their time in as a company driver, and finished several leases, and I also know drivers who became L/O and O/O who failed miserably for several reasons, mainly because of lack of experience, money, contacts, and "business savvy" for lack of a better term, and had to turn their truck in and went back to being a company driver...

And Brett, and everyone else here gives good advice on the industry, and how to be successful. Just remember, becoming a L/O or O/O is a big commitment.... Just be sure you have your ducks in a row, your I's crossed and T's dotted before jumping into it....

Hello, I figure I'll offer my humble opinion. After only a year or so as a company driver, I do not think your ready. I would say wait until you have 5-10 years under your belt. I would also recommend that you wait until you have AT LEAST $25-$30k in the bank, and can leave it untouched. The reason I say that is you should plan on having enough to cover replacing your engine/tranny in case it blows. Also, you have to think about all the costs related to starting your business, like insurance, registration, hiring an accountant (unless your good at keeping your own books and doing business taxes), and making contacts with and building relationships with brokers.

I would sit down and talk to a few different O/O (not lease ops) who have been doing it at least 5 to 10 years and get their opinion. And IMHO, stay away from leasing. If you do decide to go become and O/O, purchase your 1st couple of trucks in full, so you don't have to worry about a monthly truck payment and save money to buy a brand new truck eventually....

I may be wrong in my opinions, and if I am, please feel free to let me know... Chris