Where Do I Go From Here?

Hello my friends. So I was hoping for some input from people who have been there. You were .. where I am now. My name is Jimmie. I just passed my 2 years of OTR in May. I started team driving at Covenant transport. I pulled dry & refer and I pulled doubles for them. Then in October of 2023 I switched to solo with crete carriers. I’m still learning but I’m doing ok for now. So.. where do I go from here. I don’t have a wife or girlfriend anymore and my kids are in their 20’s so don’t need dad like they used to.. so I do like hometime but I can stay out for weeks at a time. Right now I do like 7 weeks out 6.. 7 days home.. I would.. like most people.. like to make more money. But I don’t know how to find that niche.. should I buy a truck and go owner operator? And once I do, how do I find that lane that will pay well? Should I try and specialize in something? Home is in Florida and everyone tells me that is bad lol. I don’t own a home I own a mobile home and my rent is only 750 a month. So anyway, I was hoping you guys could give me some advice maybe point me in the right direction give me some ideas. Maybe I can find a mentor to help guide me. i’m not necessarily afraid of failing, but I’m too old to fail i’m 52 right now and I don’t wanna start over again if I can avoid it lol Anyway, thanks for reading and any advice you can give me. Jimmie

Do not buy a truck, it is a horrible time to do so.

You may have to try different types of trucking to find what you enjoy doing most. Flat bed or tankers might be something to consider

Just don't buy a truck to do it.

I can relate in many ways. Im 52 as well, I cant afford to jeopardize my career at this stage in life. I chose deliberately and very carefully before changing companies recently.

That being said, the questions that come to mind are

1. What is your biggest priority short term and long term? It sounds like money is high on the list. If thats the case, it definitely shapes the direction you want to proceed in. You can begin scouting what kinds of companies and types of trucking will be best suited to you. Maybe you just want to do something different and/or have gotten bored with OTR , if thats the case, there may be other priorities like different types of freight, car hauling or something else.

2. What, if any areas, do you want to specialize in? Do you want to do flatbed, specialized freight, ports, etc? If you want to stay in your present type of trucking, what is going to give you the most money and miles In the quickest most efficient manner? This is a big question, if you really like doing the type of freight that you do, but it doesnt pay that much, then you have to find where and how you can make the most possible in that line of work.

3. Have you maximized your earnings potential where you are currently at? This is perhaps the biggest question of all. Are you running as much as you can, safely, reliably and efficiently as possible? Have you established relationships with your dispatch and terminal that nets you consistent work? If you can answer yes to these honestly and making sure that in the equation, your parts are at peak performance, yet youre not making enough, then perhaps its time to change either companies or types of freight you haul.

There are tons of different avenues, but in general, it seems like both dry and reefer , general freight, as a company driver are going to be in the 80 to 100k at the top end for high performing drivers, lower for average. Private fleets, local, and specialized freight are going to be higher, the labor burden is higher and the skillset is higher, also the risk is higher. There may be variances on how the companies get to it, but its generally the same concept. One of the things to keep in mind too, is that even the lowest paying jobs can bring in tons of money, but when you examine the amount of time it takes to bring it in, you realize that youre not making money efficiently. The goal is to bring in the maximum amount of money per unit of pay, and the maximum amount of units in the shortest amount of time in a piecework system. That hustle can get real old, real fast to many people.

Unless you have a business background, have the credit and cash resources to absorb the hit, and the will to constantly hustle, Id shy away from purchasing a truck. The freight market has essentially collapsed and is undergoing a transformation, its unlikely to return to the way it was, even pre covid. Its been down for two years. Rates are in the toilet and shippers are fundamentally changing the way they ship as a result, yet were still way over capacity on trucks and drivers. Rates for leasing your truck on to a carrier are lower as well. Not to say that it cant be done, but its high risk, low reward.

Hello, Jimmie. Like the others, my first piece of advice is NOT to buy a truck and go O/O.

What are you being paid now? I just want to see if my company's pay package would be an upgrade for you. You would probably qualify where I’m at. I started at .55 CPM and am now at .61 plus ancillary pay. You can probably find other companies that would pay about the same.

Hey guys, thanks for the quick replies.

I’m not totally unhappy working for Crete carrier. I’ve been here about eight months. They started me at $.60 but it cost me a penny a mile to get the per diem. So technically I’m at $.59 a mile. But they have bonuses and currently I’m running out of North Platte, Nebraska a Walmart distribution center where I get $15 per stop. So far this year I’m averaging $.66 a mile. The equipment is always in good order. Me personally I am having a good experience with this company. I would just like to figure out how to make more money.

So Crete Carriers here they have some kind of owner operator program and so far I’ve talked to two guys who are in it and they both say they’re making money. Do you guys have any opinions about that kind of situation?

https://cretecarrier.com/owner-operator/know-your-pay-crete/

What are you guys think of this estimator calculator? do you think those numbers look right? Or are they blowing smoke up my bum to get me to go O/O. I’m getting about 3000 miles a week. Sometimes more sometimes less, but on average 3000 is a good number.

At the end of the day, I’d like to learn how to make trading all my time worth it if you know what I mean.

Anyway, thanks again. You guys are great.

Jimmie

Easy way to "verify" what they're "telling" you they're earning, ask to see a Tax Return , lol, bet that won't happen.....

Your Crete gig, sounds kinda like my last company, before I retired. .59 cpm , 3,000 to 3500 miles a week. I was NET earning/pocketing, anywhere from $1,500-$2,000 per week(more was due to driver bonus money, and ancillary stuff they paid me for. I'd never made so much money a week in my lifetime prior as a mechanic. I also stayed out like 3 weeks, then take couple days off @ "home" (So. Calif)

My ONLY debt, was giving my best buddy of 55+ years $600 a month to park my 5th wheel in the back corner, of his 2.5 acre yard to help him out. I'm guessing your at home expenses are more than mine were too, maybe eating into your wallet more than you realize?