Category: Owner Operators

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Carriers Owner Operators

Truck Driving

Significance
Without the trucking industry, the U.S. economy would nearly come to a grinding halt. Trucks transport everything that we consume and use on a daily basis, from manufactured goods to food. Trucks transport our mail all over the country. Trucks bring the fuel we put into our cars. Trucks support the way of life that we have become accustomed to in the United States.

Types
There are many types of trucks used in the transportation industry, including box trucks, straight trucks, flat-bed trucks, reefers (refrigerated units), tankers and carriers. However, there are basically only two types of truck drivers: owner/operators and company drivers. Owner/operators own or lease their own truck, and sometimes one or more trailers. Company drivers are employees of a trucking company, and do not own or maintain the equipment.

Benefits
Although truck driving is a dangerous and difficult profession, it offers some benefits that you’ll be hard-pressed to find in any other industry. These include:
-Freedom from a 9 a.m.-to-5 p.m. job
-Front-row views of some of the nation’s most beautiful territories
-For owner/operators, independence and the ability to control your own success
-Job security.

Misconceptions
Recruiters often use misleading sales pitches to lure new, inexperienced drivers. Since they are salespeople, recruiters often inflate the benefits of working for their companies. Benefits such as lots of sightseeing, lots of family time and above-average compensation will be high on their list of selling points. While you do get to see lots of places, the one place you probably won’t see much is your home, unless you drive local routes.

Also, companies may promise to ensure that their drivers are always driving legally, within the federal regulations for driving-time limits and allowable load weights. The reality, however, is that unscrupulous companies often set up loads and time limits that cannot be humanly accomplished unless a driver does drive illegally. Furthermore, if you are that unfortunate driver and you get caught, these companies will take no responsibility for making you break the law. In most instances, you can be stuck with huge fines to pay out of your own pocket.

Warning
The truck-driving industry holds the highest rate of roadway fatalities of any profession. Several driver-related factors contribute to the level of danger, including inexperience, road rage, distractions (radios, cell phones, computers), fatigue and poor health (obesity, age, complications from abuse of stimulants ranging from caffeine to cocaine).

While a number of accidents involving trucks and automobiles are caused by the truck driver, the operators of passenger vehicles can also contribute to the dangers on the roadway. However, as a truck driver responsible for carrying thousands of pounds of weight in a load, you must be proactive. You must constantly anticipate automobile drivers’ errors in order to keep your load safe, your equipment free from damage and most importantly to save lives, including your own!

In addition to the dangers of truck driving, this career can also have detrimental effects on your emotional well-being. The lonely lifestyle of a truck driver can cause emotional fatigue and depression. The divorce rate among truck drivers is substantially higher than in any other industry, due to long periods of separation and pressure on the spouse who remains behind to manage the family in the driver’s absence. It’s crucial to consider the long-term effects that truck driving can have on you and your family.

Potential
A career in the truck-driving industry holds a high degree of potential for many who enter this challenging and difficult line of work. With a lot of personal sacrifice, it can be a lucrative career, especially for those who have the determination and business sense to enter into the realm of owner operator driving. Even without owning your own truck, there are many transportation companies that offer above-average pay, incentives and benefits for drivers with several years of driving experience, stellar safety and driving records and the dedication to meet and exceed customer and company expectations.

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Carriers CDL Owner Operators

Driving Tips for Beginner

A driving school will help you improve your driving skills but it takes time to get lots of experience under your belt. So what can you do in the interim to make sure you’re on the right track? If you continue to implement these tips into your driving routine, you will become a skilled individual behind the wheel of a car.

New drivers acquiring their license are eager to grab the keys and hit the road for their first legal cruise. Often these drivers are teenagers with minimal first-hand experience with the rules of the road. While driver’s safety courses are a great help to beginning motorists, remembering a few tips for driving a car will help keep these novices safe as well as protect their passengers and those who share the road with them.

Prepare Before Starting
Some drivers are in such a hurry that putting on a seat belt and adjusting the various settings on the car doesn’t happen until they are driving down the street.
Once seated in the car, the next step should be to put on the seatbelt, adjust mirrors, seats, steering wheel tilt and other personalized settings within the car, according to the Unofficial DMV Guide website. Preferably, these actions should be completed prior to starting the engine.

Learn the Signs
Most likely a beginning driver has learned many of the basic traffic signs and the meanings associated with them. However, there are many of these signs that are regularly encountered on the roads and highways that may not be clear for beginners. Take the time to memorize what these symbols mean and how they can affect everyday driving.

Signals
Turn signals should be used on all occasions in which the driver’s intentions may not be clear. Just because the driver knows where he is going doesn’t necessarily mean anyone else does. Turn signals should also be used to indicate lane changes. In addition, beginning drivers should become accustomed to checking over their shoulders to make sure people are out of the way for turns and lane changes. Remember that other drivers may not be paying attention and it is up to you to keep yourself safe from a collision.

Passengers and Seatbelts
Beginning drivers often like to take friends on a ride to show off their newly found freedom. Count the available seat belts in the car, and do not allow more people in the car than there are belts, according to Teen Driving. It is illegal to drive or ride in a car without seat belts fastened. It is also unsafe.

Volume Level
Teenagers tend to love listening to music. Often they listen to music at louder volumes than other people do, especially when driving. This is a bad idea that can lead to dangerous situations. Cars have horns and emergency vehicles have sirens to warn other drivers of imminent danger or to alert them to move out of the way. If a radio is set at a high volume, it may drown out the horns or sirens and the driver may be caught unaware

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Carriers Owner Operators

Driver Careers

Route driver careers involve transporting people or items according to an assigned route. If you enjoy driving and being able to travel during working hours, you may want a career as a route driver. All you need are a valid driver’s license, a chauffeur’s license or a commercial driver’s license, and a clear driving record. You will receive training on how to operate the vehicle, safety rules and the route you will be responsible for driving.

Shuttle Bus Drivers

If you want to transport a small amount of people at a time, consider a route driver career as a shuttle bus driver. These vehicles usually carry up to 16 passengers at a time and are used by hotels, airports and car dealerships. If you work for a hotel, your route consists of driving passengers back and forth between the hotel and the airport and assisting them with loading and unloading their luggage. Airports use shuttle bus drivers to pick up passengers to transport them to and from parking lots and the airport.

More route driver careers that involve driving a shuttle bus include tour guides, who take passengers on scheduled routes and answer questions, and working for hospitals that provide transportation for patients. Hospitals employ shuttle drivers to transport patients who are disabled or unable to drive, and you may be required to assist them as they board. Although the salary for this route driver career varies, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median salary was $21,550 in May 2008.

Package Delivery Drivers

Driving a truck is another route driver career. You can work as a delivery driver who picks up and delivers packages in a specific region along a specified route. You load your truck with packages to be delivered to businesses and households along a certain route and pick up packages and take them back to a distribution center to be shipped. Your duties include handling receipts and payments, and depending on the load, you may have assistance from another employee. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average salary for package delivery drivers was $27,000 in May 2008.

Transit Bus Drivers

Another route driver career involves operating transit or intercity buses. This position requires picking up and dropping off passengers at stops on a designated route and sticking to a schedule. You interact with customers regularly because you are responsible for collecting fares and answering questions about routes and directions. You record your daily trips and submit trip reports, as well as reporting mechanical problems or significant delays in your schedule. As a bus driver, you need a passenger vehicle endorsement on your driver’s license that involves passing a written examination and skills test. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for bus drivers was $34,000 in May 2008.

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Business Owner Operators

Dispute Innacurate Information on your DAC Report Repair

There may be Inaccurate, negative, and possibly damaging information on your DAC Report and you
might not even know it. In some instances this information could cost you money, a raise, or even a job.
The only true way to know what carriers are saying about you, Is to order your FREE report.

Our DAC Disputing Services

We work diligently in reviewing, verifying, and correcting negative and inaccurate information from your
DAC Report, The only ones who can remove the information is the company that put it on there. We
work closely with HireRight and thousands of trucking companies on your behalf in order to correct and
update your DAC Employment History File. We make them prove that their entry and claim is valid. If the
company you worked for fails to verify your disputed claim within 30 days, then this item will be removed
from your DAC Report. Not all trucking companies use DAC services, but the majority of all US carriers
do use this service and reports such information as the dates you worked for that carrier, driver

status (this is the type of driver you were, Owner Op, Company Driver, etc..), lanes you ran
(regional, 48 states, local), and types of equipment and freight you hauled. This information is
basic and just lets your potential employers know what kind of experience you have. The part of
your DAC that has the biggest impact on whether or not a carrier moves further into the hiring
process are the more personalized questions such as Eligibility for Rehire, Reson For Leaving,
Your Work Record, Accident/Incident History, and Drug and Alcohol.

Why Use Us?

When disputing inaccuracies with HireRight you only have one chance to get the information corrected or
removed. Once the information has been deemed verified, it will be almost impossible to get it changed.
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Owner Operators

Become an Owner Operator Trucker

An owner operator is a truck driver who owns his own truck and operates as an independent contractor for a variety of companies. An owner operator chooses his own loads, manages his own schedule and works for whomever he likes. The job can be rewarding financially, if the operator manages himself correctly. It is not for the inexperienced, however. Most owner operator truck drivers have several years of experience working for an established company on a set route before they strike out on their own.

First obtain your CDL endorsement if you do not already have one. A CDL is a commercial driver’s license, an endorsement issued by the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). To get a CDL you must take and pass a commercial truck driving exam, which is offered by your state. It includes a written knowledge test and an on-the-road skills test.

Buy a truck. This is an obvious step, but there are many things to consider. First, used trucks cost much less than new trucks. However, they can break down. Research used trucks and search for good deals. Find out which ones (make, model and year) have the best history and least number of problems. Mechanical problems will cut into your earnings, as you must now pay for truck repairs. In addition, consider mileage and load restrictions, as each affects how much you can earn.

Secure a loan through a commercial bank to pay for your truck. You will have to pay a deposit, and have money left in reserve to pay for repairs should the truck need them. In addition, you will have to pay for any modifications that the truck needs in order to take certain routes (for example, special snow tires and cold weather gear).

Locate trucking companies that hire owner operators to haul their loads. These companies take on contractors for set routes, or as fill-ins when they lack available employees to fill the routes. There are hundreds of trucking companies so take your time to research them. Compare their rates and what they pay while you are on the job. Some offer toll payments and allowances for meals and gas. Rates also vary as do the routes the companies offer. Some will be more profitable than others.

Accept loads through reputable companies and begin your owner operator business. Continue to network and find loads to carry in your business.

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Owner Operators

The Average Pay of an Owner Operator

Owner operators, or long haul drivers, drive vehicles that have a minimum of 26,001 pounds gross vehicle weight. They are responsible for hauling various products and goods across long distances by a certain deadline. These truck drivers lease or own their own vehicles. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics groups them in with truck drivers, heavy and tractor trailer. The pay for this field varies with the type of industry and area worked.

Earnings at the National Level

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics states that these drivers earned a mean annual income of $39,450 and an hourly rate of $18.97 in 2010. Those in the 90th percentile earned at or above $57,480 annually and $27.64 per hour, while those in the 50th percentile earned at or below $37,770 a year and $18.16 per hour. Those in the 10th percentile earned at or below $24,730 a year and $11.89 per hour in 2010.

Earnings by Industry

The postal service offered the highest mean annual salary of $54,040 and $25.98 per hour in 2010. Couriers and express delivery services were paid the second highest mean annual rate of $53,900 and $25.92 per hour in the same year. Spectator sports offered the third highest mean yearly salary at $51,530 and $24.77 per hour. Household appliance manufacturing offered the fourth highest mean yearly pay at $50,920 and $24.48 per hour in 2010.

Earnings by State

The state of Alaska offered the highest mean annual salary of $48,250 and $23.20 in 2010. Nevada had the second highest mean annual rate of $46,470 and $22.34 per hour, while New Jersey offered the third highest at $43,860 per year and $21.09 per hour. Massachusetts had the fourth highest mean yearly compensation at $43,670 and $21 per hour. New York paid the fifth highest with a mean annual rate of $43,380 and $20.86 per hour in 2010.

Earnings by Larger Urban Areas

Fairbanks, Alaska paid the mean highest annual salary of $53,170 and an hourly rate of $25.56 in 2010. Danville, Illinois offered these professionals the second highest mean annual salary of $52,320 and $25.15 per hour in the same year. Racine, Wisconsin paid the third highest mean annual salary at $50,470 and $24.26 per hour. Grand Rapids and Wyoming, Michigan paid the fourth highest mean annual salary at $48,500 a year and $23.32 per hour in 2010.

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Owner Operators

What Is the Average Income of an Owner-Operator Truck Driver?

One of the dreams of many job seekers is to have a job that allows them to tour America and see its many beautiful sites. Some choose to be owners-operators of trucks for this reason, while others choose to drive trucks for the promise of substantial wages. There is more to trucking than simply looking at your potential gross wage when determining if this field is right for you. There are several factors in determining the real wage for an owner-operator trucking professional.

Salary and Benefits Overview
According to the industry’s association, the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association, the average gross income for an owner-operator was $158,005 in 2008, a time of high fuel prices. Being self-employed, most owner-operators must purchase their own benefits programs such as insurance and retirement, and will only have a traditional vacation by merely choosing not to accept jobs during a planned absence. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that the average net wages for a truck driver in 2010 was $18.97 per hour, or $39,450 annually, before overtime.

Computing Net Wages
The same Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association survey explained the difference in owner-operator’s pay discrepancy by discussing the many expenses associated with this occupation. An employed truck driver who drives the truck of his company doesn’t have many of the associated repair and fuel costs that one who owns his own truck has. The gross expenses for a owner-operator trucker during this survey was $117,458. Considering all factors, including tax deductions and other business factors, the average yearly net profit for an owner-operator was $49,711.

Work Environment
Work environment can certainly play into computing the net wages for an owner-operator. If you are willing to drive to any destination with any cargo that meets your commercial driver’s license endorsement criteria, you will likely find more job opportunities than a driver limiting these factors. If you are willing to sleep in your truck’s sleeping compartment, prepare your own meals and research fuel prices, you can significantly reduce gross expenses over a year’s time.

Other Considerations
While no formal education beyond truck driving school is required to be an owner-operator truck driver, if you develop better business skills, either in a college setting or in self-study, you will likely make and keep more money. Learning basic truck maintenance and repairs can also save you a considerable amount per year. Team driving, which allows overnight driving, will also directly affect efficiency income, making this a popular occupation for couples. High fuel prices also play a significant role in the profitability of an owner-operator driver and may lead to tighter competition, driving down income.

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Owner Operators

2012 Owner-Operator of Year finalists

Truckload Carriers Association and Randall-Reilly Business Media & Information Company have announced the owner-operator finalists in the 2012 Driver of the Year competition.

The following 11 drivers will compete for the Owner-Operator of the Year contest:

Bradley Chapdelaine, Dart Transit
James Leatherwood, Louisiana Transportation
Larry McCann , Tennant Truck Lines
Michael McCoy, Great American Lines
Gary McGinnis, Universal Am-Can
Jimmy McSwain, Sunco Carriers
Thomas & Karen Moore, Thomas Moore Transportation (team drivers)
Donnie Parsons, The Mason & Dixon Line
Jeanette Simpson, Landstar Ranger
Robert Stewart, Interstate Distributor Co.

In December 2012, TCA will select the top three finalists. The grand prize winner will be announced at TCA’s Annual Convention, March 3-6, 2013, at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Each owner-operator finalist will be profiled in a 2012 issue of Overdrive.

Jeff Mason, vice president of group publishing at Randall-Reilly, publisher of Truckers News and Overdrive, said, “It is our privilege to be able to interview and showcase each contest finalist to share what makes them successful with the rest of the industry. We’ll make sure that everyone knows their stories and what it took for each finalist to be named one of trucking’s best.”

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Lifestyle Owner Operators

Driving Etiquette

What is the saying? “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you?” If drivers remembered this,there would be fewer accidents on our highways today.

Everyone appreciates the good manners of the driver who: signals his turns, makes his stops smoothly, and gradually pulls into the proper lane well before making a turn. This not only shows “good manners,” but can save the lives of others-as well as the driver’s own.

The Courteous And Alert Driver
A good driver is alert, and knows about the local speed limits and the meanings of the signs. The courteous driver does not sneak through at the beginning or end of red lights. DARN! He always uses his signals. He looks before he backs into or out of a parking space and he parks carefully. The well mannered driver dims his headlights the minute another car approaches. If the other car fails to do likewise, he resists the temptation to flash his lights. He uses his horn in emergencies only.

Accidents
When a courteous driver scrapes the fender or inflicts minor damage to a parked car without its owner present, he leaves a note giving his name, his telephone number, and the name of the insurance company. If the owner is present, the courteous driver exchanges insurance information politely and contacts the proper authorities right away without incident.

Be Considerate of Others
Courtesy is most important to safe driving. The courteous driver considers how his actions will affect those behind, in front of, and beside him, and is alert to what other cars are doing as well. Because of this attitude, he is a safe driver..

Drinking & Driving
In our world today teens face the pressures of drinking. Drinking alone is bad enough, but when you drink and drive you are putting someone else’s life in danger. The most important part of well-mannered driving is to know NOT to drive when you have had too much to drink. If you’ve been drinking give your keys to someone who has not. Your reactions and reflexes are slowed down a lot when you have been drinking. Remember, the courteous driver is an alive one.

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Lifestyle Owner Operators

Problems in the Trucking Industry

Shipping goods by truck has always been a vital method of distribution in America. However, the trucking industry has been facing new threats and problems making its distribution method harder to maintain. The cost of fuel, highway congestion, competition, lack of new drivers and problems with long-hauling are factors contributing to the industry’s demise.

Fuel Costs

As economic crises loom and the tension of world affairs increases, the cost of fuel suffers. In February of 1999, the price per gallon was $1.18, compared to February of 2009 at $2.13 a gallon.

Highway Congestion

As more and more cars make it onto the highways, the ability for a trucker to make his trip in a timely manner decreases. Accidents, traffic congestion and highway construction can all lead to a loss of profit.

Competition

Some truckers have found work harder to come by in recessions. Oftentimes another trucker will offer to move the goods at a lower price.

Decline in Drivers

A decline in the number of drivers is another threat to the trucking industry. Because trucking has a high turnover, the industry is losing more drivers than it’s employing.

Long-Haul Shipping

One of the methods of shipping is the long-haul, moving a shipment of goods across the country in very little time. It’s stressing work because of the lack of sleep. Fewer drivers are willing to perform this task.