Quote:
Originally Posted by cadriver
I have been driving class A for 2 years but only have 7 months OTR experience, I was wondering which companies would be best for me as an owner operator.
It is difficult to recommend the best carrier for someone without knowing more about your personality. If you are accustomed to forced dispatch then I would look for a company who has dispatchers and make the load decisions for you. Dispatchers are primarily associated with those carriers who pay mileage. If you prefer more freedom and like to call your own shots, then you may want to consider a carrier who is agent based. Some, such as Landstar, don't have a dispatcher. You pretty much run your truck as you wish. It is your responsibility to find your own loads and decide what you need to be profitable. Landstar and a few other carriers pay a percentage of the load to their owner operators. Personally, I prefer this type of system over those who pay mileage. However, there are those who prefer working for a fixed mileage rate.
Other considerations when you look at carriers is the type of freight they haul. Reefers, vans, flats are some of the areas where most work. Some carriers will do one of these but most don't do all of them, although there are exceptions.
Some carriers require you to either own or rent your own trailer. It takes a while to learn how to run a truck. There is more to being a successful owner operator than driving. There are many who have gone under this year due in part to the high cost of fuel and mismanagement. There are larger carriers who are also struggling. Some of us are doing OK, but it is a constant challenge to get the higher rates we need to compensate for the higher operating costs thrust upon us because of escalating fuel costs. Rates are not keeping up with the rapid fuel cost increases. We will manage, but it will be much more challenging for someone with little or no experience to make it work. Not to discourage you, but you need to approach this with your eyes open and look at it as a business.