Is It Really That Bad?

A lot of the folks in here who have given you advice have said you should get your feet wet first, and then try being an Owner/Operator. I actually disagree with all that, and here's why. A little more than four years ago I started out as a company driver, learned the business, and concentrated my efforts at becoming the best I could be at this. Today, I am making about thirty thousand more dollars a year than I could pencil out for my salary when I was formulating my business plan as an Owner/Operator, plus I have all the benefits of health insurance, company matched 401K plan, paid vacations, and if my truck is ever down, they just put me in another one so that neither I nor they are losing money. This business is very tough, and it doesn't care one bit about who it spits out and leaves behind. There are a lot better ways to make money in business if you just want to be in business for yourself. Trucking has such slim margins and such fierce competitors in the field that it takes a really hard headed nut to try and stand out as something special in a field that literally leaves no room for distinction.

Don't end up like the one Owner/Operator that I spoke with who knew exactly what was going on with his business. He even gave his trucking company a name that reflected the reality that he was facing day in and day out as he ran his own trucking business. Here's a look at his truck. I'm hoping you don't end up doing just what he was doing in his business...