Got my license after 2 months I bought a Schneider pumpkin truck cash and ever since 12 years later still an owner operator with a w900 18 speed. Buy your truck cash and lease on with a reliable company. Learn to fix your own Truck KZfaq will help and you will be fine.

I skipped step 3, and step 1. I guess I was lucky . But everything you said , it is the truth! My used truck and brand new reefer are paid off . As 100% independent O/O , I drive about 4 k or less miles per month , which is enough for me to stay alive . I run if I get pay my rate . That is the reason that I don’t drive more than 3k or 4k miles per month . Try to drive the less I can , for the most amount of money I can make . I’m not in this industry for the money . I’m here because I love my freedom . Thank you! Good information!!

Being a local driver ill never make enough money to even think about buying a truck 😂😂😂.

Im 40 years OTR 95% Flatbed seen it all. You hit it all right on the head in fact you took the words right out of my mouth EXCEPT I can cook LOL

Thank you for your insights. Preciate ya.

New cdl driver in my last week of training...Thank You for your knowledge 😊

I’m looking into getting my first truck next year. Im still learning business side so I want to be successful at what I’m doing .

I’m in Maryland, home every day right now hauling mail with a small company (3 trucks) taking home about $88k. Been thinking about buying a truck and putting it under their authority bcuz they have a shit Ton of work available. Had my CDL since I was 20. I’m 23 now…. This video has me about to make this move!!

Been thinking about becoming an o/o in about 5 years. Got 8 years experience so far. Your channel is gold for me. Thanks a lot

I’ve been owner since 2017 and I’ve gotten my truck paid off learned and ran tanker for a year. Now learning and running flatbed. I have an accounting company. So that minimizes my paperwork pain. I did learn to register my truck and get my own plates tags and stickers. I’ll go for my own authority once the market changes and I get a trailer. My goal is to run 60% over sized loads a year. But that takes times. Flatbed is great

New subscriber here. Concerning number 1, it made me laugh just for where im at. Im going to cdl school may 13th. I put it off that far( almost 2 months from the time im posting this comment) just so i have money in the bank while im in the school for 3 weeks. Im paying for the school(TDI in Sanford, FL) myself which comes oit to 6k. Im paying myself so im not time locked going through a carriers school program. By the time may 13th comes, ill have 5-6k in my bank, all my current credit cards have a 0 balance which comes out to almost 3k in reserves if i absolutely need it. So that part made me laugh about preparing to be O/O because i already have that mindset, granted on a much lower scale, but my goal is O/O at around the 5-6 year mark. Ill be putting money back that entire 5-6 years so im ready for the financial part when i get there!

This is gold! Your number one is what has me starting over, no money. I was in the wrong industry secondly, your second reason. I should have been in the industry I spent 17 years in, your third reason. 20 years driving I had to take a long look in the mirror to figure out I was the problem. My engine head went out at 940k miles, I just paid my truck off too. $23,000 for a in frame rebuild and I was going home with my tail between my legs.

Best hack listen to audible and podcast and videos like these while being a compay driver . You’ll be doing 3 things in one. #1 Getting educated in business #2 getting paid as a company and save the money #3 you’ll be getting driving experience. Also learn about trucks like maintenance etc. and you’ll be on your way to be a O/O

Great 👍 video thanks !!!

Good video well put most people don’t understand how a business works they see big checks and like I’m rich in reality know your not your cash flow is your life line revenue doesn’t mean anything it’s just what goes threw the door Number one rule don’t loose money rule two remember rule one I live in my car been doing it 2 years now and want to get into trucking I work retail right now but the public just spend money like know tomorrow and are like I’m broke and don’t know why it’s like well your not operating below your means I run my lifestyle like a business right now money in the bank for repairs money for living and money for an emergency I document every penny coming in and everything going out I live on the cheapest side possible so I’m profitable every month let me tell you it makes a difference when you document everything So it’s safe to say 6 months living expenses maybe even 12 months 25,000 for break downs 10,000 for emergency Maybe buy your truck cash or pay really big down payment debt is a downfall for a lot of everyday people probably best to stay away from it great video some really good knowledge especially on the part about just being a driver for several yrs with the drive to be an owner operator eventually there is so much to learn about trucking it’s not just driving like some people think💯💯

Great content brother

Driving as an owner operator with your own authority is not worth it anymore.There’s bid wars going on dropping an already cheap rate to even cheaper not to mention brokers don’t even want to work with you if you only have one power unit .The spot market is not steady.It better to be an owner operator with a company that takes a percentage leave the paperwork headaches and finding a load to the office

Thank you 🙏🏾

good sound advice.

I’ve been learning for 23 years going on 24 years and I still haven’t went into business I don’t think there’s anything wrong working for a good company I’m still learning every day and studying the business probably won’t ever buy a truck I guess I just like learning lol

Around 2017 I decided to learn a trade and fell into a job locksmithing. I did that for a few years but waa only making cents over minimum wage. A friend of a friend recommended I get my cdl, so I took a sponsorship to go through truck school. Have been driving since Summer of 2020, vans, flatbed, tanker x, and roll-off trailers. Most recently the company I was hauling flatbed for closed shop and the company that bought their equipment offered to take me on as a lease operator. I turned it down, as I just don't feel I have the financial resources and experience to take on the risk. I maybe could have made a go of it, if I had good luck and could float 3-6 months without a major repair. God is good to me and lets that fly sometimes. But I am just not a business man at heart.

My whole family drove,some still do but my dad got out after 30 years moved to Florida told me there’s no money in it anymore.I know there is,my grandpa owned the company they all started at,but I know it will never be like it used to be again but there’s still money out there.

Good tips.

Great advice thanks for sharing gotta have a nest egg (Budget)

Live cheap. If your goal is to get somewhere, invest as little as possible into where you’re at. OTR company drivers shouldn’t have more than 1000 bucks a month in overhead if they’re trying to move to O/O. Rent a motel room when you go ‘home.’ Save every dollar you can.

I saw a video the other day and they were talking about the high numbers of authorities that were ending - probably a lot of those guys who jumped in when the rates were real good. My grandfather and all my uncles were truck drivers so I know that trucking is cyclical. It will come and go like it always has. Just hope the mega carriers and those who they have in their pockets don't kill off owner operators!

I'm still building my business. Been building for 4 years. Slow and steady. Slow and steady.

Yep !! it takes money to make money !! You gotta have a back up fund, no two words about that !

I came right out of trucking school in to being a oo 20 years ago but I guess I was one of the fortunate with my family having a big shop built two trucks before I even had my CDL now have 13 trucks

Man I just found your channel we both going through it I’ve spent over 30k just on the def system and guess what I’m still crying

THE BEST VIDEO

45 year old plumber here. I'm in a situation where I can buy a truck. I need a profession I can do for the next 25 years without breaking my back plumbing aint that. I'm taking first steps into this. Gonna work for a company for a few years to learn the ropes. I'm need of good advice. Appreciate you

Hey I am a lease purchase driver for CRST and I agree with your video. I started out with the company back in September and started making a couple hundreds of dollars but ended up in three months without making any money. I have seen a lot of drivers started out and quit the company because of many things; we are on the load board 24/7 vs of contacting the broker directly. Most of the loads which are high dollar amount doesn’t hit the load board at all. I was able to build a relationship with some brokers and I will finally break up top next week. Second thing is , not having a business model. I can do it two ways, keep my rate con around 2.30 cent per mile by running 4 loads or average 900 after expenses but make sure my last load for the weekend is cover by making my truck payments and was other expenses. That way you will be making profits vs of going in the negative. Third thing I noticed not understanding the back office of trucking. Thankfully I had the experience as a fleet manager and supervisor along with being a truck driver to understand what it takes to become a true owner operator. If I would have started back over again, I would need at least 4 months of bill money to cover my expenses at my house to be on the safe side. Be blessed driver.

I did it since the mid 80's Local work, driving the truck, doing all the maintence, all my own customers, doing all the billing, keeping compliant. It can be done, but you spend all your time working and if you are a one man band it can really push your limits. You do a couple of local runs early in the morning, put brakes on one of your trailers when you get back to the yard, then go home and have to do paperwork.

Awesome content! My son is a Marine who will soon be coming home and mentioned getting his CDL and that started my journey looking into the trucking industry. We are doing research to start our own company in 3-5 years. I manage a multimillion dollar Insurance Restoration company and I'm very comfortable on the business side. I have 20k to start up with access to another 40 if needed. Ideally I would love to start the company and one day turn it completely over to him. One thing that intrest me is hauling high value cargo. Do you have any experience in that or know anyone that does? I can't seem to find much online about it. One thing I have learned in my research is how little truck drives are paid and that's making me hesitant. In what out profit margins are 40%. I won't put a truck and crew on the road for a day for anything less than 5k so it absolutely blows my mind to see truckers hauling loads hundreds of miles for 1800 dollars. Maybe I'm wrong but the only way I seen this being anywhere near worth it is if the RPM is a $4.25 and I'm positive it's not anywhere near that. I'm about a week into the research and I'm sure I'm missing something but as of now I can't figure out how it's worth for anyone to do it. If you have any thoughts or advice please share.

Hey I am thinking about making the move to Crst. I’ve been watching your videos for some time. From your videos, you give a lot of details. About such things to whatever you are doing. I’ve been intrigued about the flatbed world for a while. I would like to talk to you more on a personal note. To grasped a few things better. If you are willing to do that? Let me know the best way to get in contact with you, when you have some free time. Thank you and have a great day! Keep on doing what you’re doing, excellent work!

I have 35K in savings, . 20K in credit card not used. I might be ready to do the jump into the O/O pool.

Facts

Not a trucker but enjoyed the vid and persepctive

I get my license after five months I buy truck and trailer cash keep pushing for two years now Right knowledge and never give up to become successful

Man I want to lease on with a good company doing flatbed stepdeck and I find your information very helpful how can I get contact with you

I have my own truck paid off already. But I’m still scare to go into business. I bought my truck cash. No trailer thought been having the truck for two yrs still driving for a small company

Most money do Insurance companies and brokers in this freight transaction business

As I’m watching this right now just got my mc# and Dot# and drove for company 5 and half yrs but I bought my truck on March leased it to company now I’ll be on my own after 6 mth but little nervous, thanks for your advice

The crappy exhaust systems to deal with keeps me out of o.o. sector. Engines were meant to have intake and exhaust. It's like putting a hose from your mouth to your ars. It don't work.

Looking into going o/o got a few questions brother if you dont mind. 1. Ive been trucking for a total of about 6 years but ALL of my experience is oilfield, flatbed and pneumatics. I have however ran all of 11western and some eastern states. But its not really otr, will this affect my ability to get on as an o/o with ie crst's flatbed division or even lease purchase program? 2. Shorter one here, do lease purchase guys have to ride with a trainer for x amount of days like a company driver does? And im spacing the other question i had lol, ill ask ya some other time if i remember! Lots of good info keep it up, thanks!

I have a forty eight foot r g n trailer will it work over there

Buy someone’s failed dreams at a discount🎉

Is 71k grand in savings and 20k in emergency funds good enough to start? Im 2 years in as a company driver. Appreciate the content thanks.

Why not get someone to delete that def ?

Nice clap

thank new here

Biggest thing I can say, is set up a corporation, and pay your taxes. Otherwise you will be running from the IRS man till he catches you. And he WILL catch you.Then you'll pay big time.

Ntp warranty any good or all bs?

6 years in and still not an owner operator. 😢

You need to be trained in business, you cat wing it🚛

Nr1 thing NOT to do: Do not become an Owner Operator

Biggest mistake right now is being an owner - operator in this market.

Most drivers (including myself) would be way better of to be a company driver and invest in the stock market or rental properties, unless they truly love being on the road living in a truck. OTR is an incredibly unhealthy lifestyle. I've come in and out of OTR more than a few times in my career and while never getting terribly overweight, I've always gotten out of shape compared to when I has access to a gym and a kitchen. I think there are too many drivers for there to be upward pressure on driver wages and rates anytime soon. I've already heard of programs to get the 8 million recent illegals into CDL school because of the "driver shortage". I wish everyone the best of luck, but I'd recommend anyone (especially someone under 40) to learn another skill. There are fields that are keeping up with inflation, but it ain't trucking. A dollar or two raise is meaningless when cost of living had doubled from 4 years ago. There has to actually be a labor shortage for wages to adjust, It can't just be ATA lobbying for taxpayer funded CDL mills and work visas for foreigners.

The 3 big mistakes are 1.getting a cdl 2. Buying a truck 3. Driving for a living 💯