Considerations

Owner-operators, unless they are already quite wealthy, will have to take out loans to pay for their trucks. This means a significant financial burden on new operators right from the beginning.

Lease Purchase

Owner-operators may also buy their trucks through a lease purchase program with a trucking company. If you do this, a certain amount from each paycheck will be deducted to go toward paying for your truck.

Benefits

Owner-operators have more choice about which companies they work for and how often they want to be traveling. Many trucking companies have payment plans that pay owner-operaters more money per mile than company drivers, or give them the option of choosing a plan that gives them a cut of the revenue from the load.

Warning

Being an owner-operator may mean long stretches of time spent away from your home and family. You will also be responsible for things like repairs, fuel costs and insurance by yourself, without the help of an employer.

Potential

Thousands of trucking companies hire owner-operators. You will have to do your research and ask questions about the things which are important to you, such as time on the road, pay per mile, how much of a percentage you get on load revenue and whether there is forced dispatch.

Source:

Every Owner Operator Job: Become an Owner-Operator

J.B. Hunt Truck Jobs: Independent Contractors