Being an owner-operator can be a rewarding experience personally, professionally, and financially. You set your own schedule. You get to be your own boss. And, after putting in the work for a few years, it's not uncommon for owner-operators to bring home a six-figure salary.
However, becoming an owner-operator isn't a decision that should be made lightly. Successfully operating a trucking business takes a whole lot more than superior driving skills.
With this post, we're encouraging you to answer these 25 questions to find out if you're ready to be an owner-operator. It may help to write down your thoughts or discuss with a friend while reading.
(If you're an owner-operator—experienced or prospective—and have some questions to add to this list, feel free to comment below!)
Do you have at least two years of experience as a commercial truck driver?
Do you have a solid understanding of how to find and move freight?
Do you know what sort of trailers/equipment (dry vans, flatbeds, etc.) you want to start out with?
Do you plan to secure a business loan?
Do you have a good credit score/financial track record?
Do you communicate well with brokers and dispatchers?
Are you willing to negotiate your own rates?
Are you willing to prospect, meaning search for new clients and make cold calls to offer your services?
Are you willing to dedicate time to promoting your trucking business, through social media and professional networking?
Are you willing to go without steady pay for at least a year while getting your business off the ground?
Are you willing to sacrifice your free time for your trucking business?
Are you willing to put your familial and romantic relationships through the stress owning and operating your own business can create?
What will you do if a customer is dissatisfied with the service you provide?
What will set your trucking business apart from the competition?
What will motivate you to keep going when the stress of being an owner-operator starts getting to you?
What do you enjoy about driving trucks?
What do you enjoy about being a part of the transportation sector?
Will you learn to maintain a budget as an owner-operator?
Will you learn to prioritize your professional needs and set SMART objectives?
Will you learn to manage your downtime like a pro?
Are you ready to take full responsibility for your own professional growth?
Are you ready to pick the loads and routes you want, when you want?
Are you ready to make customer satisfaction a priority?
Could you see yourself operating as a carrier with multiple drivers in your employ?
Could you see yourself working as an owner-operator a decade from now?
Are you interested in an alternative to the conventional trucking business model? If so, take a look at how Relaymile is reimagining trucking to provide drivers with a healthier, more consistent standard of work.
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