QuestionQUESTION: We've talked before (though it was a long time ago) about owner operator jobs. What you advised at that time was: "It is all well and good to be an owner operator, but what happens when you buy a truck on day 1 and the engine blows on day 2 and you don't have $10,000 laying around for an engine rebuild."
I don't have much experience, and it's not current. A lot of trucking companies don't want to hire me (I only have 4 months of experience-- 2 years ago) because I am not a recent graduate-- and this has something to do with insurance issues. It's not clear to me whether the insurance companies won't insure me at all or whether the cost is just more than they are willing to pay.
I'm toying with the idea of becoming an owner operator in order to avoid some of this and be able to get driving again.
Are there experience requirements for owner-operators? Or is it something that anyone can do?
ANSWER: Hi again, Lemas.
You could become an owner-operator, but the question becomes "can you afford the insurance?" It's something you might want to look into before you get too far. Insurance companies might jack up the rates on you too. There are no experience requirements, though. If you can get good rates on insurance, great, go for it!
Don't get too discouraged. Someone out there will put you in a truck with a CDL. Keep searching and making calls. I assume you've tried all the big OTR carriers like JB Hunt, Schneider, Werner, CR England, US Xpress, etc. You might look into companies like Prime out of Springfield, Mo. They have a program that makes students owner-operators right away.
I can't stress to you enough on making phone calls. Tell everyone your situation. Go to sites like www.bubbajunk.com and start calling carriers. Worst case is that you go back to the truck driving school and see if they can "recertify" you. They should do that for free and even help you find work. I would contact your school for help.
Good luck!
Bob Stephens
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: What kind of start up costs are you talking about as an owner operator? And how much more might the insurance be for someone like me? It would have to go down at some point as my experience level went up.
Currently, I am in China (about to get married), so it is harder to get in contact with trucking companies.
I am in touch with Prime Trucking, and they are looking over my references even as we speak. They should have a result for me today.
Since you give such good answers, I might ask: What do you know about truck drivers switching into other lines of work, such as driving a bus. I'm contacting Greyhound to see what they want. Do you know anything about the demand for *bus drivers*, and, more importantly, does your DAC follow you around even on that kind of job?
My trucking school will not be recertifying me. It happened that I had a nervous breakdown while in school and had to be escorted out by the police and sent to rest in a mental hospital for a few days. They didn't charge me tuition on the condition that I didn't come back into the building. So, so much for that.
AnswerHi again, Lemas.
I've attached a sheet to show you average costs for an owner-operator. Your start up cost can vary greatly from a couple of thousand dollars to $15,000 or more. That's why the lease/purchase like Prime has is popular. It can get you in a truck for little or no money down.
http://www.ooida.com/trucking_tools/CPM/fig2_lg.jpg
Your DAC tends to follow you around, but some companies don't use them. DAC is not required, but bigger companies tend to use it. As far as bus companies go, some use DAC and some don't. The biggest thing is that you'll need a passenger endorsement.
With what happened to you, I would find another truck driving school and start over again. Even go to a company sponsored school like so many big companies have. US Xpress (www.usxpress) has a school and a lease/purchase program. That may just be what you need.
Good luck and congratulations on getting married!
Bob Stephens
