Here’s my first four loads at Landstar INCLUDING revenue! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ipibhLOl3ZjYhIU.html

Like one trucker told me, I don’t make a lot of money, I just handle a lot of money. Makes sense

I retired after 36 years as an o/o. The last 10.25 years with landstar. My advice would be to run a business like a business , watch how you spend money, keep your deadhead as low as possible , if you see something needing repairs do it immediately and don't do it piece meal. I sold my 379 Pete with 1.5 million miles on it and it's still on the road. I did an mainframe at 1.150 million miles but I never skimped on any repairs Good luck to all of you and be safe.

A old school trucker told me that I want to have 26k in my business account per tractor that I own. Just so I DON'T end up like this. As far as being an O/O there is a cost to be the boss.

As an o/o the truck does not break every week. I've run 2500 miles every week for a month straight without doing anything on the truck. The most important thing is repairing at your home town which is cheaper then on the road.

Most truthful in trucking I ever heard in 30 years. Remember the time you don’t sleep while loading/unloading, looking for new loads, driving, and paperwork!!! Wife and I are on salary, company team driving! 5 weeks paid vacation per year! We stay out 3 months at a time! We don’t rent Or own a residence. No electric bill ect.... we visit family and stay in nice hotels when on vacation. Bring home 3,000 per week combined. Average 25,000 miles per month! We love our job! We don’t have any headache if break downs occur, no slip seating and still collect our salary every week! Owner operator makes more but my stress level is way less!! Thx for a great video 👍👍👍🤠. You haven’t worked a day when you love what you do 🤣😂✊🤠

I have had a ton of setbacks since ‘03. Expensive ones too! I never count what I could have made, however, when I know it’s gonna be a few days or more to get going, I jump in someone else’s truck and work. Then what you make you keep. Network with the masses, there’s a seat somewhere to fill for a few days. Head up and roll on!!

The 1099 speaks an entirely different language that I am learning.

That’s life with any business! I love being an owner op don’t see going back. Life is never easy

That’s is so true! That happened to me and my wife while she was riding with me around this time last year and we didn’t get a paycheck for over a month and we survived it, plus we were dealing with that we just came from a two week vacation (well deserved) on a cruise MSC Seaside which almost got stuck on the boat because the same day that we got back to the Miami port they closed all the ports. But it is the reality of being an Owner Operator it comes with a huge sacrifice behind it. So that put us in the hole for over $13,000 dollars but we ran hard two months on the road and recuperate from it thanks to our God. Great subject to talk about because everyone thinks that us O/O we make tons of money when in reality after expenses it’s not that much, but I’m happy because I love what I do. Keep on trucking and Stay safe!! 🚛💨🇵🇷🙏

You have to have very good credit, tons of patience, and nerves of steel. In that order

Wow, finally a O/O that can actually do basic math and tell it how it is.

Owner operator myself. The only reason? I like my freedom. Great video. 👍 I could make more money with a good company. PAC-MAN here. I have my own authority. Flatbed!

It’s definitely a roller coaster ride. Sometimes a ton of fun. Other times can reduce a grown man to tears.

Many people don't realize how just an hour's delay can cost you a day's work when driving over the road. you get delayed and can't make a delivery on time quite often if they tell you come back tonight, come back in the morning.

Man I really appreciate this video and the comments. Lately I’ve been so frustrated because anything I make goes towards some issue that has come up with the truck. The time we spend in our trucks and when payday finally comes I’m paying for some repair or maintenance cost can get frustrating. Thanks for all your stories. It helps to see that I’m not the only one who goes through this shit.

2:19 whenever a truck driver says "i'll give you the short version" get comfy, you're going to be here a while.

The secret to survival: Progresso Soup and water diet.

This is such valuable information! And no one talks about it. My husband and I have been learning this since he quit driving for large companies and went out on his own a year ago. We love the wide variety of information on your channel! Your flatbed securement videos are great, too.

You're telling my story. I feel bad hearing it, but on the other hand, it's kind of comforting knowing I'm not the only one.

To survive as an O/O, you drive 52 weeks a year and take a “vacation” when your truck is in the shop. Take a “day off” when your load isn’t ready till tomorrow. You work your ass off.

Facts the learning curve is real, but I'm still here.

Your channel is the first that tells it like it is. It's dedication, determination.and, drive. You can't be a QUITTER!!!! You either want it or you don't. It can be painful and, worthwhile. Keep the wheels moving, and take loads you might not want to. Money pays bills, and fuel. Sitting doesn't.

This is why I Carrie so many tool in my truck. Bro I have done so much repairs on side of the road.

Youve got great videos brother. Im currently going through the CDL school (paid for by the Army). Great insight into all of the aspects of the life. Makes me really need to balance all the options I will have as a Driver.

It's good seeing videos like this and I appreciate the honesty because too many people are ashamed of showing to downsides of what they do. Keep it up and best of luck to you and your business

Good on mate, for sharing your story so openly! Prayers for your chiropractors success & get rid of that debt, it brings life back into you!👍🙏

Good information as usual man thanks! I'm starting trucking school this month and I've dreamed of being an owner/operator since I was a kid so any info is helpful! On my way brother hope to see you out there one day! Stay driven and stay safe driver! 😉

It's the first time I've caught one of your videos as soon as you dropped it. Looking forward to some good information. Keep safe out there brother

You officially became a financial advisor around the 20:50 mark.

Good information. For me i drive local for a company. About a grand a week for 40 hrs. Home every day, 8 to 4. Company truck. They take care of everything no headaches. Appreciate the dedication owner operators have. My 39th year driving.Have a great day

Thank you for always keeping it funky! Sometimes we don't like it but we have to remember the truth is always right around the corner.

Hey man just found your channel and subscribed , I’m in the process of becoming an owner-operator and hope to be up and running by mid summer . Love your content and the many pointers , stay safe on the road and hope to see you out there soon 🤙🏻

As a company driver you are just one slice of a pie to a business’ expenses. Once you buy a truck and go O/O you inherit the whole pie of a carrier basically. And those other expenses in that pie get a lot larger because you don’t have hourly employees at $30 a hour to maintain your equipment, you’re paying $80-100+ shop rates. You aren’t getting 25% discounts on tires because you don’t order 100 a month. You aren’t getting group insurance discount rates because you’re just one truck. You aren’t getting whole sale prices on trucks with little to no interest in financing because you order 100 units at a time. So if you think becoming an O/O is a huge pay raise while not taking on the responsibility of maintaining your own equipment, doing your own accounting and taxes, etc. you are starving your income and setting yourself up for failure when those other duties still need to be paid for. Those other slices of the pie get larger not smaller. It’s not rocket science. It’s just common sense in business operations. This is why ALL businesses have such a high failure rate, and this is why the ones that dude succeed the owners worked hard and didn’t care about that new house or new RV when they seen all that extra money coming in. I started out as a lease purchase with the mega carrier I got my CDL with. I paid $650 a WEEK for my truck. I still paid myself the same rate I got as a company driver. I took the same amount of hometime I did as a company driver. I did my own accounting, my own PMs, and I was keeping more money from my settlements in my business checking than I was paying myself. I got me a used truck for $800 a month and that saved me an additional $1,800 a month from my company lease. I still paid myself the same rate until that truck was paid for. I’ve never once struggled out here. Never once worried about breakdowns and not being able to afford them. And I’m a lease on with a mega carrier making $1.27 a mile plus fuel surcharge. So for the guys out here making $2+ a mile and talking about how much of a struggle it is, for me personally it’s a reflection of their own choices and it’s not the industry’s fault. You got guys out here seeing all of this money they can make and they go out and buy fancy trucks and materialistic things instead of paying off their fines for being a drug trafficker, it’s only going to be karma waiting on the other end of that stick when things slow up.

This was Gold information my guy. Needed this

Really appreciate your videos. Been driving for over 10 years and I’ve just now decided to wanna take a crack at it alone. You don’t sugar coat anything and I find your information to be really helpful. Be safe out there and keep the videos coming.

This dude always got a horror story about being an owner op, you like the guy at work that’s always complaining but has been there 25 years!😏

I thank you for posting this to let those who are thinking about being an owner-operator know the risks. Being an owner-operator is being a business owner. There are risks to owning a company. And, the money a company brings in is not the money the owner is making. Too many owner operators brag about how much the company brings in but fails to say how much they (the owner) is putting into their pockets and keeping (profit).

This is so true for any type of trucking. Thank you for the honest video.

Hey man appreciate this video I'm definitely going to take this information into consideration keep on trucking my man I pray for your success

Hang in there brother you will get rid of those bills cause I can tell on your face that's killing you and you are working towards that. Better days ahead . Great video.

Facts big bro... we need more truths tellers out here! Keep doing your thing!

Any honest o/o or prior o/o will tell you this video in spot on. Thanks for keeping it honest Brian. I been there, done it. I don’t miss nothing about it except the freedom of choices. I now team drive for an LTL carrier making well over 100k and work 4.5 days a week. Life is good and stress free!

Man I love the reality check for all of us. Thanks for the open heart info. Pumped to be prepared

Finally a transparent, truthful, and honest person talk about the trucking Industry. Thank you sir!

Thank you for your honesty Brian I am glad my husband is just a company driver tough times that you went through would have bankrupted us

Life has a plan you just have to figure out is how to keep up, because it is gone in such a short time..Love this video..Have a good day..😀👍☕️🍫🇺🇸😎

I'm binging all your vlogs. The way you explain the process is good. Learning alot from you and Justin. The process is the important part here. If you have a janky process you'll fail.

Thanks for the info! Super helpful! I was going to ask for more detail but I see that you have more videos on the subject 🙂

Thanks, I totally get it. I've been trying to get a used vehicle dealership going for the last 2 years. People think we make so much money. No. I could write a book called "A million ways to lose money as a business owner". Last year my Sales were about $600k, but my costs were also about $600k. It was a terrible year, I basically worked for free, and had a part time job to make ends meet. So I'm shutting it down, but I learned a ton

Everything your saying in this video is true because I used to think the same about making $6,000 a week. My truck was giving me lots of issues to the point that I became a slave to my truck and had to get rid of it. The truck comes first no matter what and that interfered with my relationship at home financially🤦🏻‍♂️!

Definitely I like your channel. I like when you tell the true, even if it's not so pleasant. I mistrust those trucker youtubers who brag about their income and their custom rigs while driving around in socks. They just show the man in the top of the mountain, but the important part, is how to get there, and it always takes tons of effort and tears. You're honest, thanks for your videos and keep on the fight!

@Driven Trucking - This Video couldn’t come a more appropriate time...My Engine Locked down Friday, a week ago. I’m praying I can be back to work in a month....Running the whole numbers, it’s gonna cost around $38k with an after market warranty paying $26k. You are spot on. God Bless and I wish you a more profitable journey!

Your Lifestyle and Spending Habits will Predict if you can Survive as a Owner Operator. Cannot pay yourself until you have 20k to 50k. The more Money you have backing you the More you will Survive as an Owner Operator 💯

I really do like your channel Thank you for your honesty!

I have to say i really like your videos, very educational and true, I hope you have some smooth sailing or the next 6 months so you can rebuild your maintenance account...and really glad your fuel pump didn't grenade your engine. Be safe out there brother!

I drove i40 through Albuquerque Amarillo Little Rock Memphis ill never forget that week. That winter storm stayed with me from Flagstaff all the way to Birmingham. Traffic stopped twice on i40 2 different times for 3 hours. I wish you guys could've seen the landing gear on my trailer that night when I got into Oklahoma.

😂😂 I remember one month I took home about $12k & check my bank account a day later & that whole 12g was damn near gone, was a wake up call

I can definitely relate to what you’re talking about because I have been struggling so far as an owner operator. I bought my truck in June 2020 and made only a few trips on it and then in August 2020 it broke down and went into the shop and I’ve only made one trip on it’s between August and now and it’s been in the shop ever since. I probably spent $40,000 on it to replace a motor and put lotta brand new stuff on it and now it’s having emission problems because the motor that the rebuilding company has sold me was a deleted motor I never knew so I’m just running into whole bunch of headaches and I’ve been running as a company driver because I can’t even lease a truck. I am just running as a company driver for the company that my truck is leased on to just to pay for the repair bills they just ridiculous so I know what is it life is not peachy as an owner operator

Real talk, thank you for your transparency! Dropping them balls and working through it all! Already!

Love the Truth!! Must have a large reserve account. Ups and downs happen in every business. Owner/Operators take the hit for all costs and time lost. Many company drivers get paid while they wait for repairs they don't have to pay for because they earn less per mile, but it can be worth it when one takes the 'whole' story into account. Good vid, thanks!

I understand what you’re saying I use to think like this too now I just have good weeks and bad weeks set your self up for a month then two and so on that’s what I did I’ve been an owner operator for over 15 years

I’ve watched a few dozen videos and researched O/O over the road trucking business. I’m glad I watched yours last and you said it like it is. I’m retired and thinking of buying a new rig and trailer outright after getting some experience working for a company. Any advice if getting into a new unit makes it easier avoiding downtime and your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank for the content I was going to become a trucker till life threw me a grenade I Don't watch you to see bad I watch cause you stay driven and determined through thick and thin.

Thank you brother for the much needed detailed info on this topic.

You can go months or years without major issues then blow an engine,transmission,or diffs within a few weeks and be in the hole just like that,ask me how I know.......

I feel your pain my guy I blew an air bag, my Conestoga got ripped, blew a tire and cracked radiator all in the same week😔 it's stressful sometimes forsure.... all we can do it keep rolling and make up

Very inspiring content! Stay driven brother!

21:20 "That's trucking!" Shout-out to Riding with Dave. Thanks for the informative video and reality check!

This was extremely informative. As a person looking to get into O/O in the near future, this is preparing me for what to look forward to. Thanks

I know the feeling bro. I had 3 break downs in 2 trips. All together about 5k in repairs Annnnd someone hit my truck and ran away I was down a week for body work

Thank you for speaking the truth! It doesn’t discourage me from moving forward though

@Driven Trucking wow! That was very informative and very well explained. I think videos like this are incredibly rare. You are humble and kind. I really appreciate you. A lot of truckers are all over KZfaq boasting about how much money they make. . $300,000 per year or $10,000 a week. I think the reality is many people don't have what it takes to make it as a O/O. Many people aren't ment to be a boss. Everyone wants to be one though!!. There is absolutely nothing wrong with working for someone else and having smaller headaches. It seems a O/O is worth it if you want to maximize your profit potential but it's not predictable. Your loads and gigs can fluctuate, repairs, insurance, other expenses from not operating. You can loose as much money as you gain since trucking can be unpredictable. It's a tough business. Many of these scenarios sound very difficult with these high bills. I know a lot of people who would go out of business not to mention the stress and anxiety you can feel. And if you drive with that type of emotional stress I can't imagine how some people could focus and drive safely. I know when I'm having a bad day I can't think straight.

I don't understand why guys fluff up their numbers so much. My mind instantly goes to 25% of their number is their actual net pay check. Make 6k your take home net is 1.5k deposited into your personal account take out a few bonuses if things go well... How do you not go bat shit crazy working 6 days a week? I stay local, to avoid the cabin fever. You guys out on the road for long periods of time are amazing or a little crazy.

I completely understand. I had a wreck and was out of work for 9 weeks with a $2,685 truck pmt. It hurt BAD

Good 👍🏾 talk Driver…I definitely needed this. I’m subscribed

This is very important for anyone considering starting a business, especially a business in which the input is not controllable. Business owners must have sufficient capital to weather the inevitable shortages of incoming business.

I want to go to Owner Op, but I feel I still have much to learn first, the things that scare me are things like finding the loads or enough to be profitable, keeping up with insurance, fuel, and the maintenance, what if I have a breakdown, etc. As a company driver, you do not worry about any of that. They work on the trucks, if something wrong with it, that is their problem, give me another truck. Fuel, they pay for it, Insurance, not my problem, Loads, they always have one for me, If I break down I just call it in and they have a mechanic there in an hour or two to fix the issue or send a wrecker to tow it in and I just jump in another truck. As an owner-operator all those logistics are on you, all the cost is on you, all the responsibility is on you, you are on your own. That can be scary for someone that thinks about that stuff. But I still want to do it, just want to make sure I do it right.

My friend if you are grossing 6k and netting only 2k you are messing up somewhere

Great video! Thanks! Keep trucking!

Probably the best owner op video on KZfaq, I myself am an owner op own authority who just run strictly Texas San Antonio is my home, running 53ft stepdeck with ramps, no tarps lol. I co-sign this message. Good luck fella owner ops. Peace!!

Wow!! that just happen to me and I only been in this business for 6 month. I lost 10,000 in one week. I’m staying in the trucking business now! Thanks SLOWJOY TRUCKING

One thing I've learned after watching several channels for a couple years now is, don't start out in debt, keep your overhead low, STACK STACK STACK your $$$$, and don't haul cheap freight! I would only need to pay myself $1000 a week net.....no more than I bank currently as a local company driver. And with that, I can pay off my new 30 year mortgage in less than 10 years....my ONLY goal. Any excess would stay in the business account for those weeks off or huge unexpected events.

Finally! A brother that’s telling it straight. You actually caught my sympathy with this. I know you’re not trying for that but I can relate. Tell them, they better get dam good at wrenching too!

Appreciate the experience and insight!😎 Keep on Truckin!

I feel yeah I gross out $8,000 to $12,000 a month and my payout every month is between $5,000 to. $8,000 lol

Chicken one day feathers the next. Stay Safe and keep rolling.

The 2-6 swing is such a perfect explanation. Will be using this man thanks

THANK YOU FOR THE NUGGETS OF TRUTHS!

The more I hear about other trucking experiences, the more glad I am to drive for a huge Teamster Union company. My pay is good, I have never had an unpleasant interaction with either local or regional dispatch, my company paid Blue Cross family medical is great with strong dental and optical, pension, home every weekday and weekend, dedicated route, job security, all options based on seniority, regular pay increases keyed to inflation, I never touch freight, and I stop and rest whenever I want. Every driver at our terminal does his job safely and diligently because we know when we have a good thing and we want to keep it. Something that is never addressed in any of these owner-operator videos is the issue of medical insurance. When an individual goes to find their own medical insurance they're at the mercy of having a very small risk pool. A large company means large company risk spread over a wide employee pool and for me, much better medical insurance. Since in America medical coverage is absolutely connected to our jobs, this for me is a huge huge issue. Almost no one can cover the expense of a single family member experiencing a catastrophic medical occurrence.

Being an owner op from Canada, I can relate. I had a T660 before I got my 579 and I had 3 breakdowns with the T660 that cost me over $20,000. Being from Canada, shops in the US love to rack up the bill because they know I have no other option. It’s tough going out here, mix in how covid has effected the Canada/US markets, it makes it even more challenging.

That storm screwed me hard lol. I was making a switch from one company to a new one in Dallas and I was going to have to bobtail to Texas from Ohio to get plates and my trailer. Well as soon as I left my old company and it was final, the storm hit and shut Texas down. I was off an unexpected 2 weeks. That’s, in your words, over 12k lost PLUS I put the truck in the shop to get things sorted out before starting the new company and THAT bill was over 2k. Things worked out but it was a little stressful lol.

This is why in the first 6-8 months of the business you build up your escrow before you start buying cars, houses etc.

Owning and operating a Trucking bussiness of even one truck, takes a completly different mindset than being an employee who drives a truck. The majority of O/O's don't and or don't ever aquire the mindset required. There's a significant difference between being an employee than a bussiness person. Owning a Brick and Morter bussines has expenses and so does Trucking. The basic difference is, owning a Brick and Morter bussiness vs Trucking is, one gets to stay home and the other doesn't. Truck requires the wheels to be turning to make money and wanting to go home or stay home for any length of time means the wheels are not turning. Owning and operating a trucking bussiness and or just being an employee who drives one. Is a life style one has opted for vs the stay at home brick and morter owner or one who is employed at one.

I agree with alot of what you were saying. However your mathematical calculations are a bit skewed. You were merging potential and actual figures. If you miss a load that doesn't actually constitute an actual loss. You never had it to lose it. That would be considered a loss to potential income not a loss to actual income. A general rule of thumb and a good starting point for O/O is 30/40/30. You may need to tweak these percentages a bit considering different variables. But 30% of revenue to driver/ 40% of revenue to the truck and operating costs/ and 30% of revenue back into the business for taxes and other business expenses.

Love the vids, great info.

Damn dude, hats of to you man for being so honest. I really appreciate that. God bless man and stay safe out there.

That’s what I call keeping it 💯

Even if I spend 20 years in this industry I will never buy my own rig. As a mega carrier company driver, I’m netting very well with full medical, dental, and I’m financially responsible for zero repairs and fuel ⛽️. I don’t have to own my truck to feel like a “real” truck driver. As a bonus I don’t have to worry about anything but pickups and deliveries.

A random chain of events hits me so hard I cant keep up with a cargo van but I will not surrender I’m on my way to the semi…thanks for the encouraging video