So You Want to Be a Trucking Owner Operator? The Truck Owner Operator Checklist: Personal Evaluation

The decision to become a trucking owner operator in a highly competitive industry is not easy. There are many factors to consider before jumping into a big investment. I’ve chosen five personal areas to give you an idea of what you should be thinking about before starting your new career. By taking an honest look at your habits and lifestyle, your long-term success as a truck owner operator will be much more likely.

• How much time are you willing to spend away from home? Sometimes being your own boss means spending the week AND weekend on the road. If you aren’t willing to sacrifice some significant time at the house, your take-home pay will suffer.

• What’s your driving style? Driving your own truck will take even more endurance than company driving. The more you drive, the more money you put in your pocket. Sometimes this means using every available hour in your schedule to cover hundreds of miles.

• Is your family able to work with your busy schedule? If your spouse has an unusual work schedule or you share child custody, the truck owner operator life may not be for you. Keeping up with a successful trucking business requires an understanding family at home willing to be flexible.

• How’s your health? One of the benefits of driving for a company is that you are covered by their health insurance. Do you have any conditions that may get worse over time? If so, are you financially prepared to take care of any future medical problems? Having to deal with a serious health issue will take tons of time off the road, expensive medical bills, and a possible dent in your business.

• What are your goals for the future? Your career as a trucking owner operator will not be a short one. If you have plans to go in a different direction in the next 3 to 5 years, the owner operator road may not be for you. On the other hand, if you see yourself eating up the miles for years to come you may be an ideal candidate for the truck owner operator industry.

These are just a fraction of the personal areas you need to consider before deciding to own and operate your own truck. Making sure you are prepared for the trucking lifestyle and responsibilities will put you on you way to a high-paying business.