Profile For Tony O.

Thanks Rob. I didn’t know that. Absolutely something to consider.

Just throwing this out there in case you didn't know, but most companies have a rider policy that would allow your wife to ride with you, even if your a company driver.

Absolutely appreciate it all. No advice better than the advice coming from the folks that do it day in and day out. We will continue to expand our knowledge so that we make an educated decision.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to respond and letting your opinions be heard. We really appreciate it!!

Thanks for everyone’s input. Robert B. You got it. That’s the intent. To buy a truck out right (no loan payment) and signing on with a company. Because Home Time won’t really matter much since all the kids will be grown and gone and with the wife as my ride along partner we would be in a situation that we could run as much or as little as we choose. We’re in our mid 40’s with still having time on our side (hopefully) We want to be able to still spend time together and make enough to make ends meet. The plan isn’t to get Rich, it’s to be happy in life and make a little while we’re doing it.

Hey there Tony. As you've noticed, the vast majority here are opposed to it and for some very valid reasons but let's clear a few things up because I think some of the responses didn't completely understand your plan. Fortunately, the profit margin has increased in the last few years from around 3% to between 6 and 7% which is a nice increase but doesn't make it any less difficult in a competitive market. Leasing a truck from a carrier to pull their freight is a very dicey decision to make but that's not what you mentioned in your opening paragraph. Your intent was to purchase a truck and then lease it on (huge difference) with a carrier which is what the vast majority of owner operators do. The advantage is that you run under their authority, under their insurance (saves money) and gives you access to their fuel and maintenance discounts. That being said, it's still a difficult road to travel with plenty of stumbling blocks along the way.

My suggestion would be to start out on the company side so that you could be making money and learning freight lanes, rates etc and then after a while, if you still have that itch, at least you're more prepared and have gained more education into the markets you're potentially wanting to run in. Dry van is by far, the lowest paying freight. There's a ton of it and lots of competing companies fighting over every penny. The most successful folks tend to steer toward more specialized freight that pays quite a bit more and they don't have to run as hard. However, those folks didn't just jump right into it either. They built their reputation and in a sense, earned their way into that side of hauling. OOIDA has a ton of information regarding everything owner operator, including seminars, webinars and business classes tailored for the trucking industry. It would be your most valuable resource.

Hey there Tony. As you've noticed, the vast majority here are opposed to it and for some very valid reasons but let's clear a few things up because I think some of the responses didn't completely understand your plan. Fortunately, the profit margin has increased in the last few years from around 3% to between 6 and 7% which is a nice increase but doesn't make it any less difficult in a competitive market. Leasing a truck from a carrier to pull their freight is a very dicey decision to make but that's not what you mentioned in your opening paragraph. Your intent was to purchase a truck and then lease it on (huge difference) with a carrier which is what the vast majority of owner operators do. The advantage is that you run under their authority, under their insurance (saves money) and gives you access to their fuel and maintenance discounts. That being said, it's still a difficult road to travel with plenty of stumbling blocks along the way.

My suggestion would be to start out on the company side so that you could be making money and learning freight lanes, rates etc and then after a while, if you still have that itch, at least you're more prepared and have gained more education into the markets you're potentially wanting to run in. Dry van is by far, the lowest paying freight. There's a ton of it and lots of competing companies fighting over every penny. The most successful folks tend to steer toward more specialized freight that pays quite a bit more and they don't have to run as hard. However, those folks didn't just jump right into it either. They built their reputation and in a sense, earned their way into that side of hauling. OOIDA has a ton of information regarding everything owner operator, including seminars, webinars and business classes tailored for the trucking industry. It would be your most valuable resource.

Hey there Tony. As you've noticed, the vast majority here are opposed to it and for some very valid reasons but let's clear a few things up because I think some of the responses didn't completely understand your plan. Fortunately, the profit margin has increased in the last few years from around 3% to between 6 and 7% which is a nice increase but doesn't make it any less difficult in a competitive market. Leasing a truck from a carrier to pull their freight is a very dicey decision to make but that's not what you mentioned in your opening paragraph. Your intent was to purchase a truck and then lease it on (huge difference) with a carrier which is what the vast majority of owner operators do. The advantage is that you run under their

Good Morning Thanks for your time and the information. Yes I have my A with tanker and hazmat endorsements. I owned 2 trucks on Maui and moved out to Tucson about 2 years ago. But I’m sure that OTR isn’t like driving on an island just going in circles every day. It’s something that the wife and I are thinking of doing since the last of the kids will be heading to college this summer. The thought process is that she could ride with me since no ones left at home. Our financial situation is stable enough that we’re thinking we can do ok with the income from the truck. But I think that’s the fear. I don’t want to be delusional about that and end up digging a hole. The reality is we would need to bring home about 4K to maintain the house. I don’t know if that’s doable hauling say 3 weeks on one week off.

Tony...do you have your CDL A? If yes, how much experience do you have driving a tractor trailer.

What is motivating you to consider this path Tony?

Just to be clear, if you have less than 1 year of tractor trailer experience please do NOT even consider L/O or O/O.

I'm thinking of picking up a truck and doing dry van hauling on the east coast. I live in Tucson and am wondering if anyone here is also Tucson based. I owned 2 trucks in the past when I lived on Maui but its a totally different type of situation driving in circles on an island vs driving state to state. I've never had to deal with pay per mile or percentage or even log books on an island. I'm doing as much reading as I can to try and make smart decisions but I know there's no better information than the info from someone who does this day in and day out. Our last son is leaving for collage this summer and we're going to be empty nesters. The plan would be that I haul 2-3 weeks a month with the wife as my ride along partner. If anyone has any advise, pro's & cons, do's and don'ts that you're willing to share I would truly appreciate it. I'm wanting to buy a truck and lease on with a company (any recommendations). I have no intent at this time of getting my own authority. Thanks for your time.