Exploring the 5 Reasons Owner Operators Can Hit a Roadblock 🛑

5 Reasons Why Owner Operators FAIL!
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[Jose-gqwc]

You mist one. Having freight rates as low as it was 30 years ago, IN Today's cost operation prices.

[dougboyd]

#1 low rates that keep dropping
#2 high price diesel
#3 inflated insurance
#4 illegal legislation
#5 over priced equipment
#6 inflated maintenance
#7 inflated tolls

[paulmcclain]

Had a company try to hire me and have me do a lease/purchase. Wanted me to lease a 2019 Frieghtliner for 850 per week. This works out to over $3200 per month for a 3-4 year old truck. The same truck if you buy it outright is about $1000 per month.

[KaimarRedcloud]

I've been a driver for 38 years and an O/O for the last 26. Not having an APU wouldn't even crack my top 10 reasons. I've never had one. Right now, my top reasons would be 1-Over priced equip. 2-freight rates are ridiculously low. 3-emissions systems that are hideously expensive to maintain and repair. 4-Buying a truck before you're actually ready to be an O/O. If you don't have a down payment and at least a 700 credit score, you shouldn't be buying a truck. 5-Predatory lease/purchase programs offered by companies that basically want company drivers that happen to be making the company's equipment payments for them.

[adventuresiwork]

Nah, truck drivers are going out of business because shippers only wanna pay 1.80 a mile and diesel is 4 bucks or more. And of course the government regulated def emissions system that has a price tag of a new car to replace.

[airbrushken]

I got back from Vietnam (101st Airborne) and a friend bought this new rig. I was a Bump and Paint man when drafted, and did a lot of work on Simi's ... Back then he drove his butt off just to make payments! Rarely saw his family while driving to California, Chicago, Detroit and the East coast.... We met up and I said at that price I could have bought a franchise business and been home every night... I took a job that specialized in Trucks.. re-spraying trailers, gates and panel beating... In the end after almost three years he sold his rig and got a job with a trucking company and joined the teamsters....

[garypierce]

I think it's because Johnny keeps giving them lousy loads

[younglove]

Why are owner operators going out of business? Because it's part of the agenda.
1) freight prices are low
2)fuel prices are extremely high
3) brokers trying to nickel and dime you off petty things like short windows for delivery
4) DOT trying to nickle and dime you off petty inconvenient maintenance and making you late for the short window.
5) Repairs costing an arm and a leg.
6) Food on the road eating your paycheck because even groceries are expensive.


And these are just minor things. The majority of it is that even owner operators that have paid off trucks are making minimum wage. And oblivious optimistic people that want to feel good relying on hope instead of investigating 🔎 and observing what's really going on are allowing the oppressors to follow suit with removing Truckers and changing the lifestyle, making it the worst.

[..........Detroit]

Agreed! Repeatedly I see new O/O get their truck, come first $5000 check they go buy a new pickup. Of course, the wife also needs a new car, and to further show off they buy an RV, a side-by-side and a motorcycle. Then, reality hits a month later and they go out of business. Oh yes, and their trucks are decked out just like you said, top to bottom, shine everywhere. It's all looks no plans. They've forgot to be frugal.

[bigdaddystep.]

APUs don’t break even until after 1200 idle hours/year.
That’s also bad bad bad. If $5, 000 in fuel idling/year can put you out of business for a $400k/year gross.

[davethompson]

#6 companies lost their contracts and only have broker loads

[eugeneponcelet]

You forgot a few. Number 1 ELOGS. Number 2 Hauling cheap freight.

[freedomworks]

Because they are truck drivers not business people

[LJHibt]

Sad situation but its a sign of the times. Being an o/o is running a small business. You have to be business minded just like running a store or service. You basically will be living 24/7 in that truck and have to keep it moving and loaded as much as possible. If your new to the industry hire on with a company first and not one that will require you to lease from them. Be company driver first and learn from them how the industry works, then if you like it then start the o/o life.

[noodlecompany]

Even with things as bad as they are, if not having an APU will cause you to go under, you have much bigger problems

[WorkingProgress]

It trips me out to know that the majority of O/O have no APU. A simple 4k machine will save them thousands over the course of four years

[graves]

There is also the fact trucking is the most cut throat industry, I've had to sue more than one business to get my money out of them.

[TheBookofNumbersBookkeeping]

In order to survive in this industry during these difficult times, an owner operator must have someone who is financially savvy on their team. You need somebody who can track and document all of your expenses, somebody to help them figure out their cost per mile, or profit per mile, somebody who can help them make a budget that is in line with the specific goals of their business. We can help with all of these things and more.

Feel free to reach out to me any time.

[KaylieRayne]

I have a apu on this freightliner, will never own another truck without one. Compared to the fuel used in my Volvo it's night and day when using the apu.

[ROLLIN-DUB]

APU’s are expensive to maintain month to month (especially if the money isn’t there)- turning your truck on and off waste more fuel then letting it idle.