If you have been a professional driver for any amount of time, you probably know there are two different types of truck drivers—company drivers and owner-operators. Now you may be wondering which is the best choice: Go down the path of a company driver or owner-operator?
What Is The Difference?
You might be pondering, what is the difference between a company driver and owner-operator? A company driver works for a specific trucking company. While employed, they log their hours, drive to their destinations, and once the day is over, so are the responsibilities. You don’t have to worry about the logistics and trying to find a load; the company you work for takes care of that for you.
An owner-operator tends to make more money than a company driver; they own the truck they drive. But, that extra cash comes with a heavier workload. Owner-operators are their own boss and responsible for management tasks, booking jobs, maintenance, and much more! They always have work to do, even after they have dropped off their load for the day.
Which Is The Right Choice For Me?
Now that you understand the difference between the two, you may be wondering what the right choice is for you. Many different factors go into making this decision. As a company driver, you don’t have to worry about taking the job home with you. You have downtime when you are at home, and get to spend time with your family. You don’t have to worry about investing your own money into a truck or the repairs and have almost no start-up costs compared to an owner-operator.
On the flip side, owner-operators will typically earn more money than a company driver; however, this isn’t always the case. Owner-operators choose and pay for all of their own equipment and are their own boss. They also have the freedom to haul what they want and have a lot more say in what loads they have. However, owner-operators have a larger overhead cost due to buying their equipment. This equipment includes their truck as well as the maintenance for their truck.
Closing
Company drivers and owner-operators both have their own benefits and drawbacks. This decision could change your lifestyle in many ways. If you love driving, but can’t imagine the management and business side of it all – sticking to being a company driver is probably for you. But, if you enjoy driving and the business side, maybe it is time to consider becoming an owner-operator.
Here at Fremont Contract Carriers, we work with both company drivers and owner-operators! So if you are considering driving for FCC, give us a call today at 800-228-9842!