frustrated wife of owner operator

[sharbear36]

It seems to be going well for alot of you on here operating under your own authority, so what are we doing wrong? We have until the end of the month to pay our mortgage or we are losing our house. I haven't paid any bills for 2 months because of this new endeavor my husband decided would make us better off. It's alot of strain on our marriage and we have children to think about. I had him selling the truck yesterday but with what he will be getting paid as a company driver, we would never survive that way either. It's a lose/lose at this point. One more major thing happens to the truck, we lose pretty much everything. What are we doing wrong, we have to be doing something wrong?

Thanks for any input
Sharbear

Ok, I'll start it off. First let me say I'm sorry!!

I just checked 2 load boards and there seems to be plenty of freight to move with a lot at $1.60 per mile and up from your area. What are you having trouble with? Finding loads, truck breaking down or just bad rates?

[solo379]

It seems to be going well for alot of you on here operating under your own authority, so what are we doing wrong?

I had him selling the truck yesterday but with what he will be getting paid as a company driver, we would never survive that way either. It's a lose/lose at this point. One more major thing happens to the truck, we lose pretty much everything. What are we doing wrong, we have to be doing something wrong?

First, let me say, i'm sorry, about the whole situation! :sad:

But, i believe, you call it on yourself! Since you didn't give to much info, i'd just guess!
You jumped in that deal, w/o being ready, cause somebody said, that's the way to go!
You didn't have any cash reserves, and knowledge about business.
At best...he knew, how to drive a truck.
Once again, i'm just guessing, so please take no offence.

One other thing! You are saying, that you couldn't survive, on a company driver wages...
Good driver, with the good company, making 50-60 grand a year, with benefits. That probably more "net", than 70%, of o/o ever see.
And should be enough to live reasonably well , in your area.
May be you should look at your spending...

Like i've said, you didn't give enough info, but i'd sell that truck ASAP, if you can...!

[Cam]

Sharbear:

...with what he will be getting paid as a company driver, we would never survive that way either....

Han Solo:

...One other thing! You are saying, that you couldn't survive, on a company driver wages...
Good driver, with the good company, making 50-60 grand a year, with benefits.

Hey, Sharbear. Tough, I understand tough. I agree with Solo, this really isn't about truck ownership. Can't survive off a company driver's wages!? There are other more important issues here than just truck ownership. We can talk about the latter, that's what we do here. We can also talk about ambitions and all. But, something got you to this crisis and it wasn't simply truck ownership. If you have to get back out of it you might try it again at a later date. Lots of us have done other things and this has proven to be a nice, solid way to make a living even if it isn't fllled with all the status and show of some other professions.

[sharbear36]

Hi all,

I know that I wasn't very specific so let me go into a little detail. My husband has been driving truck since he was 18 and is now 41. For the last 6-7 years he has been driving leased onto a company as an owner operator making very good money but he wanted to do it under his own authority. YOUR RIGHT, he did it all wrong, they didn't have a nest egg to start with and that's where the problems started. Especially when they started when the fuel rates were ridiculous. The reason we can't go to a company is because our finances were that of when he was an operator leased on. We became very comfortable with that income, not really beyond our means but then you have to add in back taxes. Yes, we have done things the wrong way and we were finally getting those taxes taken care of until the own authority came about. I believe that he does have some good brokers that he can call but he always seems to have trouble on the backhauls. No matter where he seems to go, there isn't something coming back to where he needs to be to pick up the next load. He is going from west chicago to bedfordheights, OH and getting $775 but then he might take a load from CH Robinson back for $450. Seems ok? However, there have been repairs and then you add in the fuel and I'm not sure those are the loads to be taking. I have searched the internet high and low yesterday and tried to build new relationships with brokers to have more than 5 or 6 options because we have to save the house. I'm just not sure what we are doing wrong, I know there is money to be made this way.

Thank you for reading and giving any advice you may have, I do appreciate it

[duck]

JMO - he may have top stay out and run more - don't look for an out and back but runs into higher freight areas. Sucks I know but a few weeks on teh road running the better paying runs until he finds one with more $$ home or you can afford a little hit on the return trip.

[solo379]

JMO - he may have top stay out and run more - don't look for an out and back but runs into higher freight areas. Sucks I know but a few weeks on teh road running the better paying runs until he finds one with more $$ home or you can afford a little hit on the return trip.

Good thinking! 8)

When you did get those "own #", you've sold your soul, and home life!
At least until you'll get establish, and could find your way around that.
Till than, truck goes where the money is...
But you should consider an outbound freight rates, or possible DH, as well.

The rates you've posted, didn't seems to be that bad, depending on equipment, he's pulling, tho, i'm quiet certain, he should be able to get another hundred, or two, from Cleveland area.

The problem, i see with this runs, it's gives you low gross, and low per day income.

Did he ever consider, going back "leased", since you are saying he was doing great?

[sharbear36]

Well lets just say that he "burned that bridge". Everything got alittle heated when he left.

I guess I have to find better loads for him. Is it better to use the load boards that have all companies or use the companies directly or I suppose both.

Alot of time what happens when we call for the loads they are already gone, it happens quite often, I'm not sure if locking loads in the beginning of the week is best or day by day? There has to be some little link we are missing. I know that this can work, we are just learning as we go along and should have been more educated first but my hubby doesn't always do everything in the right order...lol.

Sharbear

[yoopr]

You're in a Good Freight Lane in Milwaukee with some very good paying Loads.
I don't understand-You're finding the Loads but you're the One angry about the Pay he's Bringing In?

[sharbear36]

no no no, I didn't start finding him loads yet......he's been doing it thus far. I'm not angry about the money he's bringing in I'm concerned about how this all works to make it most productive. That's all. So far, it's hasn't been so great and I'm just wondering if there is anything else I can do to make it better from other truckers that are doing well out there.

Sharbear

[no_worries]

Running the solely off load boards can be frustrating but can certainly be done for a solo from your area. Try to start off with something longer out of WI. I don't have a problem finding 1.80-2.00 a mile out of there generally. If you can find a nice 1200-1500 mile load to start with then chase the best rate once he's there you will be able to pump up your gross and bring in some more cash. When your in the situation your in, hometime has to take a backseat for awhile. Get that cashflow up even if you don't see him until the holidays. Or find a way to trim your lifestyle and go back to a less stressful situation.

[sharbear36]

We have both decided that he will probably spend alot of time on the road and thats not a problem since we are pretty much used to him being home on the weekends. Since nobody has really said any names of any bigger companies in Wisconsin, I'm assuming we can't say? I just think that maybe we are not finding the right ones to drive for. Like I said before, I don't think the load from West Chicago is good per mile but again it's $775 and not in the $1000's where I think we need to be at this point. Those backhauls are I think the problem, I don't understand why they pay more and why we have such a hard time getting out of Oh, I see the loads too but either they don't pay well or their gone when we call. Baffling

Sharbear

[Rev.Vassago]

Those backhauls are I think the problem

That's probably your problem right there. Remove that word from your vocabulary. Every trip should be considered the same, no matter where it is going.

[sharbear36]

Ok, let me go down one other road. Is there a site out there somewhere that will tell you what a truck is worth? We are thinking that this is just not going to work, yes we are flip flopping but if your in the place that we are, it's difficult because one more repair that we can't afford and the truck is done and we have nothing for a back up plan then. I have no idea what to do, sorry to vent to all of you

Sharbear

[trockens]

I am very very sorry to hear about your current situation.

As I see it, the trucking industry, as a whole, is a very difficult racket. The companies' cheat the driver, and put him in an impossible situation, in many cases, when they let him sit around twiddling his thumbs waiting for a load...the shipper makes money, the company makes money, but the driver gets screwed. His time isn't paid for and his idling fuel is never repaid. Then he gets a 45,000 lb load over the mountains...etc. etc.

I could go on and on, but you know what the other gripes are, so I won't waste your time.....My best recommendation is for him to go back on as a leased driver (taking the best deal he can find). Take some time to get both of you back on your feet. Watch your budget. (although I'm sure you are) and then save a nest egg for going under your own authority.

Going under your own authority is a BIG step....you need around 3-4 months of your total "bill outgo" saved BEFORE you jump into that BIG step. Remember...this is a BUSINESS....do the company statements yourself....you'll be able to keep an "eye" on expenses. Use a tax accountant at the end of the year to complete your taxes.

You can make a fairly good living being company leased if you plan ahead, and really cut your spending to the bone. Call hubby often and encourage the "hell" out of him. Be strong, Be his SUPPORT!!! Suck it up and get tough!

God speed....to you both.

[yoopr]

Ok, let me go down one other road. Is there a site out there somewhere that will tell you what a truck is worth? We are thinking that this is just not going to work, yes we are flip flopping but if your in the place that we are, it's difficult because one more repair that we can't afford and the truck is done and we have nothing for a back up plan then. I have no idea what to do, sorry to vent to all of you

Sharbear

Nothing wrong with Venting-Just be Selective on your Loads-YOU determine what you'll haul for and don't Deviate unless it's a Load going to where you have confirmed a Good Paying Load.

Have you talked to other O/O's around Holy Hill or Sturtevant?
Loads going to the East Coast out of your area pay the Best.

[Rev.Vassago]

Ok, let me go down one other road. Is there a site out there somewhere that will tell you what a truck is worth? We are thinking that this is just not going to work, yes we are flip flopping but if your in the place that we are, it's difficult because one more repair that we can't afford and the truck is done and we have nothing for a back up plan then. I have no idea what to do, sorry to vent to all of you

Sharbear

http://www.trucks.com/services_blackbook.asp

$4 per valuation

[brian]

stop with these short runs, illinios to ohio? what kinda crap is that, not to mention the tolls.

i`m sorry for your situation but I believe he can dig himself out.

[Longsnowsm]

I am sorry to hear about your situation. The best way to get an idea what your truck is worth is to go to truckpaper.com and see what other trucks like yours are going for...

Might I suggest that what the other drivers have mentioned is on the mark and forget the backhaul. Look at each load you find on the loadboards and try to keep them in the freight lanes. Just take each load and let the freight be your guide. You should be able to setup for the next load before you have delivered the load your under. You may have to go round about to get back home, but you should be able to pickup some good loads and stay busy and make some good money.

Like the others mentioned you will have to run hard and stay out for a while. Trucking is a business, and like any business one of the biggest pitfalls is under capitalization to support your business in the early stages. I hope you can find a way to get through these initial stages to see some of the fruit of your labor. BOL

Longsnowsm

[DesertRat]

Not sure if this is a possibility, being you have limited broker contacts but... There is a damn lot of LTL freight coming out of the Chicago/Milwaukee areas. Sometimes you can book two or three partials and build a load worth some serious bucks. My last employer used to do that pretty consistantly, and generally came up with some good money overall. LTL can be trying on the driver at times, but it can also pay.