Trucking: Money in trucking, peer group discussion, personal pipe

Question
Here's the problem. I love trucks and I love driving. I have a licence with all the endorsements, but I'm a frigging insurance agent. I did some cross country driving 10 years ago for a company, but left their abusive dispatchers behind to sell insurance and investments. I want to go trucking as an independent but I can't find anyone out there who can tell me if there's enough money in it. I need to make 75K plus to even consider it, with the potential to reach six figures. Mr. Lee, is this just my own personal pipe dream?

Answer
Can a driver make $40,000 a year?  Can a truck team of two drivers make $90,000-100,000 a year?  Yes, but with both situations, the individual/team must follow a very stringent mode of operations. The following outline touches on the major issues that allow a truck team to make good money in this industry.
 

1.   Think like a business owner not an employee.  
a.   Develop a Business Model that make model.
b.   Manage your expenses.
c.   Have access to Cash on Hand to survive the slow weeks.
d.   Continuously monitor your performance.

2.   Lease from a company that will provide you profitable loads.

a.   Work well with distribution to receive profitable loads the fits well into a long-range series of trips (limiting dead head miles).  
b.   Negotiate favorable lease terms on a good truck.
c.   Obtain feedback and information on your operation.

3.   Develop a good support network and mindset.
a.   Continuing Education that provides you profitable answers to maintain and improve the performance of your operations.
b.   Peer Group Discussion Sessions.  Identifying other owner operators that are making money.
c.   Understanding the other benefits (other than money) that this profession affords you.  Your office with a view is always changing.

If travel and a six figure income is what you desire, insurance sales provides more opportunities than the trucking industry to obtain the high end compensation level you desire ($80,000 annual salary is in the top 5% of the nation).  The over-the-road independent owner operator is not the profession that will produce the income you desire.