Whether you’re a career company driver looking to start your own business or you just got your Commercial Drivers License and are looking to begin your career in the trucking industry, being an owner-operator is an excellent option. That being said, being an owner-operator comes with a lot of additional responsibilities, but it can be a great way to enter the industry.
Truck Options
If you are currently a company driver, you know all about what goes into getting your company tractor-trailer. What truck you receive depends on the company you drive for. At FCC, our company-owned fleet consists of late-model Freightliner and Kenworth trucks. While our fleet consists of quality tractors, that cannot be said of every company. Being an owner-operator allows you ultimate flexibility when it comes to your truck. Are you someone who wants a top-of-the-line semi-truck with all of the bells and whistles, or are you looking for something more basic because you only plan on driving shorter distances? As an owner-operator, you can get the truck you want. Many companies also offer owner-operators the ability to lease their trucks directly from the company. Another advantage of owning your truck is you never have to deal with slip seating. While owning your truck may seem like the obvious choice, going the owner-operator route comes with much higher start-up costs than the company driver route.
Owning your own Business
The most significant difference between being a company driver and an owner-operator is that owner-operators are independent contractors. This means that as an owner-operator, you own your own business! Company drivers must deliver the freight that they are assigned. Owner-Operators get the flexibility to choose the freight they want. If you want to avoid inconvenient routes like high traffic areas or parts of the country with bad weather, being an owner-operator gives you that option. Being an independent contractor also allows you to choose when you want to take time off. All of that being said, being an owner-operator is just like owning any business. You have to make sure you put in the necessary work to ensure that your company is as successful as possible.
Opportunity for More Pay
While company drivers have an excellent opportunity to make a great living, the opportunity for growth as an owner-operator is endless. Like most entrepreneurial opportunities, being an owner-operator starts as a small business, but with hard work and dedication, your company can grow indefinitely as long as you are willing to put in the work. Both company and owner-operator drivers are paid based on mileage at most companies. On average, owner-operators are paid more per mile, but that is for a good reason. Owner-operators do not receive the same benefits as company drivers. Company drivers get benefits like insurance, paid time off, etc. As an owner-operator, you are responsible for supplying your own benefits and paying for maintenance and fuel. Owner-operators must consider all of this when selecting a freight and deciding when to take time off. You have to make sure that you are making enough money to pay for all the additional expenses in order to make going the owner-operator route worthwhile.
Closing
There are many perks to being an owner-operator. If you are considering the life of an owner-operator – consider driving for FCC today!