Owner Operator Pay Per Mile.
Topic 3218 | Page 1
Welcome aboard Roger!
Unfortunately you're at the wrong website for that question. We have a former owner-operator and a former lease driver but overall we just help new drivers break into the industry and we emphatically discourage people from buying or leasing trucks.
You'll probably have a lot better luck getting information from the OOIDA website.
OOIDA:
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
Who They Are
OOIDA is an international trade association representing the interests of independent owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect truckers. The over 150,000 members of OOIDA are men and women in all 50 states and Canada who collectively own and/or operate more than 240,000 individual heavy-duty trucks and small truck fleets.
Their Mission
The mission of OOIDA is to serve owner-operators, small fleets and professional truckers; to work for a business climate where truckers are treated equally and fairly; to promote highway safety and responsibility among all highway users; and to promote a better business climate and efficiency for all truck operators.
Welcome aboard Roger!
Unfortunately you're at the wrong website for that question. We have a former owner-operator and a former lease driver but overall we just help new drivers break into the industry and we emphatically discourage people from buying or leasing trucks.
You'll probably have a lot better luck getting information from the OOIDA website.
An owner-operator might make a dollar or more per mile, BUT...the owner-operator NEEDS to understand that IT IS A BUSINESS. The owner-operator is responsible for insurance, fuel, MAINTENANCE, and the honor and privilege of filing taxes quarterly.
Dave
OOIDA:
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
Who They Are
OOIDA is an international trade association representing the interests of independent owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect truckers. The over 150,000 members of OOIDA are men and women in all 50 states and Canada who collectively own and/or operate more than 240,000 individual heavy-duty trucks and small truck fleets.
Their Mission
The mission of OOIDA is to serve owner-operators, small fleets and professional truckers; to work for a business climate where truckers are treated equally and fairly; to promote highway safety and responsibility among all highway users; and to promote a better business climate and efficiency for all truck operators.
I'm currently working at a tax office, and have been taking notice of trucker's returns. The O/Os take in some significant gross income, but after expenses, don't come out any better than the company drivers, at least on paper. That's a lot of headache and risk to take on if you're not making up for it with additional income.
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
I'm currently working at a tax office, and have been taking notice of trucker's returns. The O/Os take in some significant gross income, but after expenses, don't come out any better than the company drivers, at least on paper. That's a lot of headache and risk to take on if you're not making up for it with additional income.
Then I need to talk to you about how per diem works. The company I am looking at says their per diem is optional. In other words I can take it throughout the year, or get the deduction at the end of the year.
Dave
Per Diem:
Getting paid per diem means getting a portion of your salary paid to you without taxes taken out. It's technically classified as a meal and expense reimbursement.
Truck drivers and others who travel for a living get large tax deductions for meal expenses. The Government set up per diem pay as a way to reimburse some of the taxes you pay with each paycheck instead of making you wait until tax filing season.
Getting per diem pay means a driver will get a larger paycheck each week but a smaller tax return at tax time.
We have a ton of information on our wiki page on per diem pay
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
Thank you Deb!
You just confirmed for us one of the things we try to tell people all the time. Those seductive advertisements make people think they are about to get rich being an owner operator , when the actual probabilities for success lie in their favor by being a company driver. I was a business owner for thirty years, had six big trucks at one time, and consistently found them to be money pits.
There may be some legitimate reasons for choosing to be an owner/operator, but the number one reason most people try it is to see if they can make more money, and that one just doesn't add up in my opinion.
Owner Operator:
An owner-operator is a driver who either owns or leases the truck they are driving. A self-employed driver.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
I know exactly how it is to have your own truck. I had two of them. I grossed $8,500 to $9,000 a week but like any good businessman I had expenses I had to cover including a down time fund for when I went on home time. I cleared for my personal account right at $900 a week. Basically the same as a company driver.
My first solid year I grossed $275,000. Only made $48,000 for myself for an entire year of worrying about the truck being down for to long. It's not worth the head ache involved. That is $227,000. Now consider I also had my brother as my co driver so that was another $35,000. That leaves $192,000 that went towards....fuel, insurance,truck payment. Also in that 192,000 was all the escrow accounts I had to run the business. There were 5 escrow accounts that pretty much ran the business.
Point being personal take home for a one truck operation is not much more than a company driver.
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Ive been thinking of going owner operator. Anyone know what there getting per mile these days? Are they getting more for refer or hazardous materials hauling?
Owner Operator:
An owner-operator is a driver who either owns or leases the truck they are driving. A self-employed driver.