Are Owner Operators and Truck Drivers business people??

[LOAD IT]

Are truck drivers really part of this economy and the business they driver for or are they just a piece of the equipment, ie tractor, trailer, driver???

[Orangetxguy]

Now there is a loaded question.

[LightsChromeHorsepower]

Now there is a loaded question.

Unless you're a deadhead

[tracer]

Are truck drivers ... just a piece of the equipment, ie tractor, trailer, driver?

I can deduct 40% a year in CCA (capital cost allowance) on the truck and 30% a year in CCA on the trailer here in Ontario, Canada. Unfortunately, there's no CCA for company drivers. So, if they're a part of the equipment they're the less important part. Drivers just help the trucking assets to depreciate quicker unless they are the owners of their truck and trailer. Then they are business people because now they can hire company drivers to help them with depreciation.

[solo379]

or are they just a piece of the equipment, ie tractor, trailer, driver???

Well, for the most part, i'd say yes.

[Orangetxguy]

Unless you're a deadhead

You coulda went the rest of the day with out saying that curse word!!!

[Sealord]

Owner/operators (lease-purchase operators) are business owners. Company drivers are employees. Both are part of the economy. BOL

[SickRick]

Owner Operators who are also their own DRIVERS - YES. Company drivers - most likely NOT - as they are less concerned with the bottom line of the BUSINESS, unless it directly affects THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

An O/D would idle his motor little to none and use his APU only when necessary to conserve fuel and maintenance costs. A C/D pretty much just cares about his own comfort.

The degree with which the O/O/D tries to be a SMART BUSINESSMAN, will directly affect the degree to which he succeeds PROFITABLY (or AT ALL) in the BUSINESS OF TRUCKING.

You're becoming quite the "testicle thwack-er" round here - you have a point, an ongoing beef - or just WTF is your story?

Rick

[LOAD IT]

Owner Operators who are also their own DRIVERS - YES. Company drivers - most likely NOT - as they are less concerned with the bottom line of the BUSINESS, unless it directly affects THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

My point is the company driver's actions do directly affect THEIR BOTTOM LINE, so they affect the bottom line of the BUSINESS. If every company driver screwed up and cost the company profit each day, the company would go broke quickly and the company driver is out of a job, not a comfortable place to be.

The degree with which the O/O/D tries to be a SMART BUSINESSMAN, will directly affect the degree to which he succeeds PROFITABLY (or AT ALL) in the BUSINESS OF TRUCKING.

The degree with which the COMPANY DRIVER tries to be a SMART BUSINESSMAN, will directly affect the degree to which his COMPANY succeeds PROFITABLY (or AT ALL) in the BUSINESS OF TRUCKING, THEREFORE THE C/D is a BUSINESSMAN.

You're becoming quite the "testicle thwack-er" round here - you have a point, an ongoing beef - or just WTF is your story? Rick

"Slack Adjuster", "Ball-Buster" maybe, "testicle thwack-er" NOT!! My point is everyone holding a CDL whether O/O or C/D is a BUSINESSMAN, my BEEF is actually with those that do not realize this point. I understand the disenfranchised hireling (C/D) not getting it, even though they should and I hope they will. My utmost pisstivity is with the O/O that has no clue, signs on to your authority, wreaks havoc and discontent and has no business principles except "I WANT MY MONEY."

WTF is your story? Are you the guy who is head strong and WANTS to BE an O/O? Because if you are then I just wasted this post!!!!

[LOAD IT]

Owner/operators (lease-purchase operators) are business owners. Company drivers are employees. Both are part of the economy. BOL

On the surface, I agree 100%, but we know we have to DIG for true understanding. For the record, let's put lease-purchase operators into the employee column until they own the lease. Most never will own the lease because the company doesnt want them to own the equipment, so consider fleece-purchase operators employees. Good employees should do their jobs practicing good business principles, therefore thinking like businessmen.

[Part Time Dweller]

Are Owner Operators and Truck Drivers business people??

Most are just steering wheel holders, the difference being some have bills, others get a pay check.

[LOAD IT]

Are Owner Operators and Truck Drivers business people??

Most are just steering wheel holders, the difference being some have bills, others get a pay check.

Every wheel holder that I have known tells me about his bills, trucking and non-trucking bills. I've seen company drivers happy with weekly pay checks ranging from $250 to $1600, so what is a paycheck? Are they business people? Who is and who isnt?

[BigDiesel]

Yawn................

[no_worries]

My point is the company driver's actions do directly affect THEIR BOTTOM LINE, so they affect the bottom line of the BUSINESS. If every company driver screwed up and cost the company profit each day, the company would go broke quickly and the company driver is out of a job, not a comfortable place to be.

The same thing could be said of any employee in any business. Are you claiming that every person working for a wage is a businessman?

[Orangetxguy]

On the surface, I agree 100%, but we know we have to DIG for true understanding. For the record, let's put lease-purchase operators into the employee column until they own the lease. Most never will own the lease because the company doesnt want them to own the equipment, so consider fleece-purchase operators employees. Good employees should do their jobs practicing good business principles, therefore thinking like businessmen.

Just exactly what is YOUR DEFINITION of "Owner Operator"?

I am an "Owner Operator", leased to a Carrier. I own my truck, no payments, but plenty of repair bills. I consider myself a business-man. The IRS considers me a business-man, and the company I am leased to considers me a business-man.

Since you...a "Broker" have asked a question....answer one or more.

Are you an ACTUAL broker....or are you an agent of a broker? Do you possess a DOT number that identifies you as a broker?
DO you consider yourself an employee , a piece of equipment, like your computer, your telephone, or your copier machine?

You can stop being a horse's azz any day you want... Why not start now??

For the record...operators like Big Diesel, Steve Booth, or Solo379, are officially classified by the DOT and the IRS, as "Motor Carriers" since they operate under their own DOT authority, not under a lease, such as Mike3 or I do.

[GMAN]

Are truck drivers really part of this economy and the business they driver for or are they just a piece of the equipment, ie tractor, trailer, driver???

I remember talking to an ad executive some years ago. He stated that he was in the only business where their assets go up and down the elevator each day. I suppose a driver could be considered an asset if you want to stretch things a bit. I am not sure how you would depreciate him. Drivers are not businessmen. Any owner operator should consider himself a businessman. I think many still consider themselves a driver. It seems to me that their attitude can make the difference between success and failure. The owner operator who considers himself a businessman and runs his business accordingly has a much better chance of success than someone who doesn't. Unless you have responsibility for paying the bills I would not consider a driver a businessman.

[LOAD IT]

Just exactly what is YOUR DEFINITION of "Owner Operator"?

I am an "Owner Operator", leased to a Carrier. I own my truck, no payments, but plenty of repair bills. I consider myself a business-man. The IRS considers me a business-man, and the company I am leased to considers me a business-man.

Since you...a "Broker" have asked a question....answer one or more.

Are you an ACTUAL broker....or are you an agent of a broker? Do you possess a DOT number that identifies you as a broker?
DO you consider yourself an employee , a piece of equipment, like your computer, your telephone, or your copier machine?

You can stop being a horse's azz any day you want... Why not start now??

For the record...operators like Big Diesel, Steve Booth, or Solo379, are officially classified by the DOT and the IRS, as "Motor Carriers" since they operate under their own DOT authority, not under a lease, such as Mike3 or I do.

OrangeTX, your icons show me your true intellect.
I'm not bashing lease operators. I just wanted to see who considers themselves businessmen and who's just waiting and waiting for the next good paying load to hopefully pay the bills on Friday.
The IRS considers you a source of revenue and your company considers you a source of profit.
My MC numbers start with 3XXXXX and 4XXXXX, so that will let you know how long I have been doing this under my own authorities. I am a businessman who happens to know how to run a trucking company and broker transportation.
If you think I'm being a horse's azz, look at your icons (you juvenile delinquent posing as an adult).
And for the record....Dont mention Steve Booth to me in this context. Where is he now?? One year wonder, I liked his blog, but a businessman-trucker he wasnt. He was a hobbyist.
By the way, werent you running your own authority a few years ago?
Good luck with the bills on Friday, get your transflo done on time.

[LOAD IT]

You coulda went the rest of the day with out saying that curse word!!!

Thats right....you cant afford to deadhead when you dont really know how much revenue you made on the last load or where the next load is coming from. Go get a company truck. This comment is straight from the horse's azz.

[LOAD IT]

Yawn................

Yawn............snore..........

[LOAD IT]

The same thing could be said of any employee in any business. Are you claiming that every person working for a wage is a businessman?

I'm only concerned with truck drivers and company drivers need to think like businessmen. We move the economy and we do it through customer service and motor carrier safety. We have too many drivers that have no idea what they are doing. Before Jimmy Hoffa, drivers had to do whatever to make a buck and get the load delivered. Since that time, we have had Teamsters, and then deregulation and now it looks like we have come full circle to drivers doing whatever to make a buck. This aint rocket science and we dont need to be rocket scientists to make it work profitably.