Working for a Owner Operator vs. Company

I ran for an owner operatior too, however, my tenure wasn't so nice. First off, the guy didn't pay me. He paid the basics; my cell phone and child support (to keep my butt in the seat).

The final straw was when we ran a FEMA load (Hurricane Katrina) down and sat with it for over a month. We were due, at the lowest, $4500. He didn't pay us a dime.

I never received a pay stub, but I received a 1099 saying I made over $48,000!!! Thank God I kept all of my receipts!

I loved the freedom of having an ingoverned truck and the ability to stop anywhere I wanted. However, it wasn't worth what I had to put up with to get it.

Thankfully, this guy is now out of business (Gee, I wonder how that happened?!?). What comes around goes around I guess.

 

Hauled bulk mail from Harrisburg awhile. FUN! The PO makes about $23000.00/load going to CA by bulk. (around 10000 pkgs at $5 and change) Had a guy worke for us running Aluminum Balt-Sea and Spo-CHI. He would
nt call dispatch one a day, disappeared fr 24-48 hrs at a time, tore up equipment and never washed our Large Car. The inside looked like monkeys lived and crapped in it. Sold his ride right out from under his butt!

If you don't set goals, you can't regret not reaching them. Yogi Berra

 

First let me say I am happy for you.

Secondly be sure that you let others know who you work for in case they are also looking for this type of work.

Thirdly let us know if your boss pays you a wage as in a "company employee" or actually pays you as an independent contractor (1099).

I have found many o/o's that do hire drivers try to issue a 1099 rather than a W2. A 1099 means no taxes were with held and the driver is responsible for paying it all.

A W2 issued means the employer with held taxes, paid half the employment tax (7 1/2% for Social Security and Medicare), and covered the unemployment insurance.

Small Owner ops usually cannot afford to offer benefits such as paid holidays, sick days, personal days, breakdown pay, 401k, etc. or offer any kind of insurances such as medical, dental, vision, or disability.

Just make sure you KNOW what you are getting yourself into before jumping ship.

 

Anybody know any O/O that will hire a student driver near NC, not bad driving history for last 5 years. Had a few (4) speeding tickets in 05, but have straighten out. Do not want to run for a big company. Too many restrictions, and your treated like an idiot. Country boy looking for a break. Will run for .25 cpm to start. As long as I get the miles. Have class A, passport, haz mat, doubles/triples. White, 26, family man. No Felonies or Misdemeanors. Clean 3 year history, no accidents, 1 2 point speeding ticket in 09. That is all.

 

First off we don't know how well the OP is doing since the posting was over 2 years ago. But I will give my 2¢ anyway.

I believe it's foolish to waste your time driving for someone that will not take care of what I feel are the basics. Medical and dental are very important but alot of drivers seem to overloook these basics because they don't need them now. They will wish they had them if the have an injury or the family needs care. If you've got kids there's no getting around the dental needs. Also what will the driver do when it comes to hanging it up and retire? If you think Social Security is going to take care of you I suggest you take a closer look.

There's some O/O's that are great to work for but you need to look ahead and setup a program for your benefits. If you can't find one that will work with you then company driving is your only choice. However, not all company driving jobs are bad. A driving career should be like any other career where you work to get ahead. Don't get stagnated in a job you don't like. You can be looking for improvement all the time you just have to have your feelers out there. I don't mean to jump from one job to another because that would be foolish. But nobody can blame you for leaving a company for a better job that fits your needs.

If you're looking for a job because of what type of truck and how fast it will run just think of the stories you'll have when you can't work anymore. You can gather around the fire barrel under the overpass and tell the best stories to all the other homeless people.

 

Well if anyone knows an O/O that is willing to hire a student driver, and is based within 100 miles of Charlotte NC. Send me an email LiLee420@aol.com. Do not want to have to deal with the big name companies. Too many unknowns. Send info need the help.

 

a friend of mine happens the same thing with a fedex contractor (ground ) i told him he was going to paid more taxes since he was single with no kids . But nobody wants to hired him because you have to have experience . Told him to be patience but he dont wanna listen . Im glad i never went with them . The bad news is that (adding more information ) is when you quit you dont get any unemployment benefits . Lets repeat THAT AGAIN you dont get any unemployment benefits.

 

nevermind... didn't realize how long ago the post I quoted was made...

 

let me know if your company is doing any hiring .