Part-time O/o

Hi friends!

I am going into semi-retirement. Would being a part-time o/o be feasible at all? I'd like to stay engaged and working, be able to fund my own health care, but also be my own boss and be able to take off for extended breaks as I'd like. I also don't want to commit to weeks away as an OTR driver.

Currently just doing research whether this career may be right for my needs upcoming, please let me know what you think.

Roger

I think purchasing, maintaining, and insuring a truck, and then having it sit idle most of the time, would be an expensive retirement hobby. In order to have any hope of breaking even or better, you need to keep the wheels rolling.

There are part-time casual driving jobs available - I have one - but AFAIK they all require 6 or 12 months' recent experience. Would you be willing to put in that amount of full-time driving before going part-time?

I'll keep it simple, No it is not something that is realistically feasible for a number of reasons not really worth getting into.

Honestly, now would be a horrible time to try to become a owner operator with the way freight and rates are. It probably only going to get worse.

I would definitely look into something else.

How to become a millionaire in trucking———- start with 3 million.

There are part-time casual driving jobs available - I have one - but AFAIK they all require 6 or 12 months' recent experience. Would you be willing to put in that amount of full-time driving before going part-time?

Yes, I would.

Honestly, I'd almost like a turn-on, shut-off situation like an Uber driver for passengers may have. Whatever I choose, most important is that I do not want to have a boss anymore. I can literally do whatever I want for the next 10 years and certainly don't want it to be a situation that involves asking for PTO, etc. At a point in life, you feel too old to be asking permission for anything.

You might find that even as a company driver, you don't have a conventional boss employee relationship. In fact, its the complete opposite. Many carriers offer very flexible home time and casual positions, it's not like working in an office, you're left to your own decisions to get the job done safely and on time.

Most companies also have their PTO spelled out in black and white. As was said, I'd put in a year and establish a great reputation, then explore opportunities that fit what you're looking for. I know that I had considered taking a casual position where It was one week on, one off a while back and my Terminal Manager readily agreed to it if I wanted to do that. I ended up forgoing it but there were many options available that would let me keep my assigned truck and work a light schedule.

Metal how much experience do you have??

What your looking at can be possible under certain circumstances.

You will need paid off equipment and a customer base that can accomadate your schedule. That is possible, but hard to find. You always have someone you will be responsible to, IE the customer.

I say its possible because I have a gig somewhat close. When I’m serving my customer which is the manufacturer of the product I usually work 3-4 days a week. I work 3-4 weeks and take a week off. They pay me well enough with my fixed costs being low enough I can afford to do it.

However certain times they have slowdowns, like now. The past month they have been realigning some stuff and cut production to the point I have no work. So I’m pulling a reefer for my neighbor. They are working my butt off.

If you are within 3 hours of Mt. Airy, NC there is a company that will work you pretty much when you want. One 7 day run a month required.

If you are within 3 hours of Mt. Airy, NC there is a company that will work you pretty much when you want. One 7 day run a month required.

Thanks all for your comments and advice!!!! Its nice to post a basic question and not just get flamed for it.

I have zero experience - not even a DOT medical card. I am just kicking the tires. So please break it down to the essentials and assume I know NOTHING, because I don't! LOL

Perfect for me would be 3 days on, 4 days off. Or 1-2 weeks on per month.

Essentially, I want to have the freedom to live the lifestyle I want, but still be engaged with the economy by running a small business without a traditional supervisor relationship. My whole life in the back of my head I though trucking would be kinda cool.

I am also tired of managing employees and a thousand projects. I in fact developed a case of OCD and anxiety due to my last job just destroying my nerves. I need something where I can just focus on one task at a time.

Is this feasible?

With zero experience, won’t happen. I’ll list the top reasons in no specific order.

Insurance will not be attainable!!!

No company or broker will talk to you without having your own authority for approx 1 yr.

Unless you have about 50% down you won’t get fiancing for equipment, IE truck/trailer.

Those are the biggies.

I spent 8 years preparing for what I am doing. Even with 9 years driving experience some brokers will not talk to me because I haven’t had my own authority for 1 yr. I have a work around that but that is rare.

My opinion your barking up the wrong tree unless you have a ton of money behind you and a solid customer!!

Just my humble opinion.