By Somewhere on America’s highways there is a flatbed trucker thinking about leaving steady employment in order to take the plunge into independent contracting. Such a move would mean becoming an owner-operator and entrepreneur at the same time. The move is a scary proposition, to say the least. So what does it take to make it as an owner-operator?
Driving trucks for living is unlike any other job you could have. In addition to the physical operation of the vehicle, truck driving also involves an extensive list of non-driving tasks including scheduling, filling out paperwork, securing cargo, and on and on. Long haul truckers also have the added element of being away from home for weeks at a time. To say that it takes a unique kind of person to make it as a truck driver is to state the obvious.
One of the main characteristics of career truck drivers is an independent streak. Long haul company truck drivers spend most of their time alone, and they have to be able to work independently and with very little outside motivation or supervision. Owner-operators need to be even more independent. Not only are they driving a truck, but they are running a small business too.
A Willingness to Work
Making it on the road as an owner-operator starts with a willingness to work. No small business succeeds without it. Truck driving can be labor-intensive work, especially for drivers who run flatbeds as they are responsible for every aspect of loading, cargo control, and unloading. Flatbedders tie down their loads with winch straps; they climb on top of those loads to cover them with tarps; they deal with keeping cargo control in all sorts of weather conditions. We are not talking a cushy office job in a climate-controlled environment here.
A Mindset of Perseverance
Next, owner-operators must have a mindset of perseverance. Building a small business always takes time and patience. A new owner-operator usually has to start out by getting any loads he or she can take, whether they are desirable or not. The truck driver needs to make connections, build bridges, network, and prove the ability to provide high-quality service. None of this happens overnight.
It can take even the best truck drivers a year or more to firmly establish themselves as owner-operators. And even then, any one load could make or break a driver’s business depending on how things go. Owner-operators cannot let little setbacks deter them without jeopardizing their futures as independent contractors.
A Willingness to Spend
Finally, successful owner-operators have to be willing to spend. The adage that says you need to spend money to make it is certainly true in trucking. At Mytee Products in Ohio, they see this all the time. Flatbed truckers willing to spend a little more on high-quality cargo control supplies, such as tarps and chains, are the same drivers willing to spend a bit more on their trucks and trailers. They are the ones who make it.
On the other hand, owner-operators who insist on doing everything on the cheap tend to create trouble for themselves. That unwillingness to invest in their own businesses prevents them from always being at the top of their game, thus making it harder to compete in a highly competitive industry.
Being a successful career truck driver requires a certain kind of commitment and attitude. Being a successful owner-operator means taking that commitment and attitude to the next level. It means being willing to work, having a mindset of perseverance, and investing in what you do as a small business.
