Part Time Solo CDLB OTR - Is It Possible?

Hello everyone, I've been following TT on and off for years I've just never created an account.

Due to me having my CDLB license, I was wondering if it's possible to make decent profit doing the following: Purchase my own straight truck, get all my extra credentials (HAZMAT/etc.), get my own authority, and run solo OTR or even local runs part time (1-2 weeks out). I also had the thought of, with expedited teams out there, loads may not want to take me as I'd be solo and may be sitting for days..? My goal would be $1,000+/week take home.

I've been wondering this for a while but there's so much skewed, bias, and/or negative information out there I wasn't sure where to ask or start fact checking. I do online marketing full time which means I can work anywhere at any time and make good money with it but I'm wanting something real to have on the side. I have a business mindset and would work hard to find good loads or continually call to possibly find a dedicated route of some kind (difficult to do but I've seen it done from others)

I did team OTR expediated driving with my wife a few years ago; let's just say team expedited wasn't for us. We enjoyed trucking but not being able to sleep due to the truck moving at all time, it being exhausting, literally.

I'd like to get some replies of people who've done this personally. As I've seen some guys who do CDLA part time with OTR runs. I've also had the thought: is hotshot (f350/trailer) runs possible with a straight truck or even a 3-5 car hauler?

I'm trying to compile all the information I can before going further as if it's not worth it, I'll forget about it.. Thanks, Jonathan

Hey Jonathan. Welcome aboard!

I think it's important to understand your motivations before I can make any recommendations. You already have a full-time gig in marketing. Why are you looking for a part-time gig in trucking?

Are you trying to make more money?

Are you looking for some adventure in your life?

Would you like to travel?

Do you want to start your own business?

What are you hoping to accomplish with a part-time gig in trucking?

Hey Jonathan. Welcome aboard!

I think it's important to understand your motivations before I can make any recommendations. You already have a full-time gig in marketing. Why are you looking for a part-time gig in trucking?

Are you trying to make more money?

Are you looking for some adventure in your life?

Would you like to travel?

Do you want to start your own business?

What are you hoping to accomplish with a part-time gig in trucking?

I appreciate the reply. My marketing business is my own but it's all online. I enjoy it but I want something "real". I like the security of being able to go out on the road, go from point A to point B and KNOW I'm going to be paid. With my marketing, it's unstable in the fact it's random with the income as with trucking it's more guaranteed. Also, it would be nice to be able to get out of the house every now and then. But mainly, the stability.

Hi Jonathan,

I think you are confusing being a company driver and being an o/o. Being an o/o is a full time gig. Much like opening your own brick and mortar store, you can not open whenever you want a couple times a week on the side because the expenses are too high to do so. The pay is very erratic and your at the mercy of the freight market forces.

I would look around your area and see if there are companies you could drive part time for and start from there. Good luck.

Jonathan,

I don't believe you will find what you're looking for in Class A trucking. You're looking for a part-time job or something to get you out of the house. Class A trucking is very committing. Almost no one ever expects trucking to be life-changing the way it is. For those who travel, it's not just a job, it's a lifestyle. For those who get home every night, it often requires 55+ hours per week.

Even Class B jobs normally entail full-time hours or more.

It sounds like you're freelancing, but struggling to make enough money right now. I get that.

It might be possible to drive a truck full time and do some freelancing on the side, but trucking would take priority so your freelancing schedule would be highly erratic and unpredictable. Setting up phone calls with clients ahead of time would be nearly impossible, except on very short notice.

Success normally comes from doing one thing really well. It requires focus. You won't find any worthwhile success by dabbling in different things. I would recommend you focus on one thing.

If you decide you want to make a career as a freelancer, go crazy and make it happen. Devote every waking second, every resource you have to grow your business. Be relentless. Be obsessive.

If you're looking for a more adventurous lifestyle and want to travel the country driving a big rig, then go for it just as hard. Relentless focus. Obsess over it.

The failure rate for people in trucking is rather high and I attribute much of that to people having the wrong expectations. They think it's just trucking. How hard can it be? Any idiot can drive around in a truck. You just have to learn to drive a bigger vehicle.

I can almost guarantee you that it's far more complex, challenging, and committing than you expect. It's certainly not to be taken lightly, and it's not something you can do casually on the side.

Focus on one thing and be amazing at it.

Thanks for the responses, guys. It's exactly what I was looking for.