Should I Become an Owner Operator Right After CDL Training?  

I bought my truck before I had my cdl. 1 year in I’ve been running teams, no accidents & grew from 1 truck to 3. Good advice but if you’re ready to dedicate your life to this industry it’s possible. 💪🏾

Learn the business before buying the business absolutely agree 100%

Worst thing I ever did was spend 12 years driving other people’s trucks. For twelve years I put money in their pockets and change into my pockets. Learn the trade get a good accountant. Be money smart and buy a truck. Live your dream not fulfill someone else’s dream.

i worked as a company driver for roughly 6years before quitting and i was lucky enough not to have a single accident

Just retired 22 yrs AMEN to this advise!!

My dad told me the best thing you can do it the trucking industry is being an owner/operator and the worst thing you can do in the trucking industry is being an owner/operator.

He's been around the block, good man to take advice from, don't let your ego cover your wet ears

This is the one thing I didn’t like about Prime. They were giving lease options right out of CDL school

I leased a truck 8yrs ago with 2yrs experience. Nothing but more stress, but I was cautious driving my truck. The expense comes out of the drivers pocket.

How true ain’t nothing cheaper about these big trucks❗️

As an owner operator and been driving for 8 years. I can second what you're saying. Luckily, I haven't been in an accident, but when you do your taxes (being that time of the year) and you see your P&L, you'll realize real quick that, yes you do make a lot of money, but a lot of it goes back to the truck. When you spend 35k just in fuel. Just had my ECM replaced, which ended up costing me about 8k. If you're going into buying a truck, in these days, 2023, I would not recommend it without having 100k. You'll be looking at 40k for startup between down payment, sales tax, business license, EIN, 2290, IRP, and a few others that can add or subtract depending on what state you are located. Also, you should have 30k set for your personal safety net, along with 30k for your maintenance fund. Winter is going to be slow. Don't think once summer is over that all that running is going to continue, especially if your OTR. Be good, be blessed, and be safe out there.

It depends on the person. It's different for everybody. Have a nice day

True made a lot of mistakes my first 2 months. Learned alot

I wish you can be my teacher for being the best as you are.

Awesome advice brother spot on

A old driver told me “if you ain’t tear something up you ain’t driving”. That was when I just started. 😂😂😂

Great Advice. Best advice of the day! Thanks.

Great advice. Dad had 2 Transstars and 1 van 1 flatbed and he hauled liquid. There were tough years.

Yea this would be a bad idea if you were going to jump right into the mainstream OTR type of hauling. However, there are many other aspects of trucking where it would work. For instance, around here we have alotta seasonal ag work where you never go into any big metro areas. Not much stress! I have also known more than one person that had a line on a good used truck then hired an experienced driver to run team for a few months.

OLD SCHOOL IS WHAT YOU NEED TO HEAR.

Would like to see some longer videos the longer the better 🤠

In canada theres no jobs for rookies. I dont want to be o/o, especially not in these times but work is looking grim and the options are get a truck or find a new career.

Truth! When fresh out of school, You KNOW NOTHING! I'm 1.5 years out of CDL school and still know nothing. Even after studying Dispatch and hubby having many year's of driving. Best way to drive. Never get comfortable but be confident in what little you know.

I’m only interested in doing trucking for a few years in retirement. Not interested in lining up an employer’s pocket during my 5 year commitment. If you can afford to buy your truck in full without a payment there’s no better way to go other than o/o. The net numbers don’t lie and it’s always best to cut the middle man out of the equation. Buying brand new is the way to go as well due to warranty. Trade in every few years

Yes you right I did owner operator after I drive 11 years for same company

100% accurate

i have been driving 31yrs owned trucks for the last 20 yrs still don't know anything and recommend you rethink your life decisions😅... but seriously you are very right

Solid advice! TY!

5 months in and I still am terrible at backing into tight spots.

Learn the business first and save your money cause a smart owner operator has a million dollars sitting in the bank for rainy day expenses and for those days when you haven’t done any work but your truck payment is due and your monthly fuel bill comes in and has to be paid having a million dollars on standby insures that your business won’t fail at all cause you got backup to support the company

I agree with you but my Dad and Uncle dove right into buying a truck back in the 80s and started their own business in 88 and still alive 30 plus years later. Sometimes you gata take the leap.

You'll pay for damages as a company driver. It's deducted from your weekly pay. Please correct that statement, because what u said is incorrect.

I never bump into noting and I've been driving local since I got out of cdl school in the city of Chicago. Soo umm not true. Had friends I went to school with. That already have couple trucks in their fleet as a owner. But to be fair they already had a business degree

You may find it sucks so bad that you never want to drive a truck again after a month or two 93% fail rate in the frist year for new cdl drives

Question? I have a CDL A but I have zero experience. I don’t smoke, drink, or do drugs. I am educated but I always wanted to drive tractor trailers my entire life. I was a teacher for a while but I hate the way the system is run. Creativity has given in to standardized tests and corrupt administrators. With that said, do you think it’s wise considering how the market is going finding a trucking job with the thought that some AI company will take my job away from me?

hello,,, mostly drivers are working on 1099 as a driver....Companies also do lot of bullshit because they know that if anything happens we classify him as independent contractor.......which is on more safe side working on w2 or 1099

I'm 3 years in. I have a guy at my company who's a real good guy. Old school driver. Just yesterday he was telling me "why don't you buy a truck" I told him I don't want to go in debt 300k (car hauler) I'm happy where I'm at. Im averaging 90k or more a year. I don't want the stress of owning a truck although I have thought long and hard about it. I just don't think it's for me

"Takes an awful lot to learn about truck driving, they teach it in a special class"

As an employee, you don't have to pay for damage, you just have to learn fast enough to avoid having to buy your own equipment.

This is true for the first five years of any trade.

Mimum is 5 to 10 yrs before you even think about it

With respect in this I think trucking is disappointing and not the same. Im trying a new career but it's hard cause I been trucking for couple of blue moons.

Thanks for your advice

Great points Sir 👍

no plain and simple I took 20 years to learn trucking and that is when everything was analog in the trucks; along with the business aspect of it, now everything is so computerized there is little working on your truck at home for low cost and the business overall has changed in 32 years of my OTR career.

So true

Very true on all counts 👍

Never been a company driver. Idk if i can now ugh

Facts

Tell them Dave they have no idea

My dad got a brand new Pete when I was a young kid, by the time I turned 10 I could drive an 18 speed Pete

100% you are right

Yeah I banged into a couple things in the beginning, nothing major

Go drivefor swift their used to paying damages

Damm good advice

Get 3 years in a company go owner operator then because of insurance reasons

I just signed,this year,to marry my truck after 15 years. It takes big money to play this game,even more now with this damn DEF crap. Can cost $6k-$10k to fix

I never banged into anything. Ran over a few orange cones in LA. What if you grew up around truckers and you all ready know the business? Say everyone around ya does heavy haul flatbed work

What school would u recommend to get my CDL...keep the good info coming

The most important is realizing everyone I mean EVERYONE! is trying to screw you when you get a C.D.L.

Smart.

Intresting

Well said

Banging into things is not a requirement ;-)

Sooo true

What if the new driver in question is going for a single dump truck no trailers? Or a large tow truck?

Listen to this

This is true

If you win a lottery or have tones of money set aside

HELL NO !! First learn the ropes, & all the bullschitt to avoid !! 40 YEARS driving CDLA...AVOID THE HEADACHES OF OWNER OPERATOR FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS...

Yep, they teach just the basics of driving.

No lease options.. mo matter what

I never banged into anything lol

True True 😊😊😊

Nope.

If you turn the sound off, you can here a snowman singing about the challenges faced by a deformed reindeer and a gay dentist elf. FYI: you'll need to be at least 40 to understand that.

Dont. B...o/o .or. Driver .!! Ain't. Worth .it .

You not going to learn how to run a business as an employee either if you know how to manage money you will be good

3 to 5 years to build up knowledge. Out here... 8k for minor engine work.

Disagree, might as well get it overwith, the sooner the better!

They know nothing

Not while living in California

Yep, third generation