Becoming an owner operator is an exciting decision, but requires a lot of work. Here are some tips to make your transition easier!
Not everyone wants to work for another company their entire lives. Many people dream of becoming entrepreneurs and being their own bus. In the truck driving industry, this is known as becoming an owner operator. The idea of owning your own truck and driving independently for others is a great one, but it requires a lot of work. Here are some tips for becoming an owner operator.
Set Realistic Expectations
Being an owner operator presents the opportunity to make a lot of money, but that doesn’t always happen right away. You must invest money in order to make it back, so expect to spend a good amount of money in the beginning stages. Make sure you do your research on just how much you should expect to be spending to get your business off of the ground and plan realistically for the future. It’s great to have ambitious goals, but you don’t want to get ahead of yourself.
Choose Your Truck Wisely
You want to make sure you do your research on the type of truck you want to purchase as well. As an owner operator, the goal is to make a good profit from your truck driving service, so you should invest in a nice truck. Consider things like the fuel economy, mileage, and warranty for the money that you’re paying for it. It’s a good idea to consult with other owner operators who have trucks similar to what you want.
Set Aside Money For Downtime
Since you are becoming independent, there may not always be work at every given time. You also don’t get the benefits that you would get working for a company (i.e paid sick time, vacation time, etc). Because of this, you want to make sure you have money set aside for potential downtimes when you don’t have work and also for possible medical emergencies. You also never know when your truck may need some sort of repair or maintenance so it’s good to have some savings set aside.
Stay Healthy
Your body and mind have to be in good shape in order to endure long road trips all the time. Health issues can lead to down time that you may not be able to afford. It’s good to keep yourself in the best shape possible when you decide to become an independent truck driver. Also keep in mind that being on the road for such long periods of time can potentially put strain on families and relationships, so you want to keep those healthy as well to minimize stress.
Baltimore Freightliner-Western For All Your Trucking Needs
Whether you are looking to upgrade your fleet to tow trucks or simply interested in the latest trucking technology, you can rely on Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star. We have provided top-notch service for the trucking industry for 30 years and would love to assist you in buying a new top-of-the-line truck, finding the specialty parts you need, or repairing your truck. Give us a call toll-free at 800-832-7278 or locally at 410-685-4474, or contact us online. To find out more about what we are up to, follow us on Facebook, Twitter,Pinterest, and Google+.