Tips For Owner Operators
Owner operator truck drivers not only have to drive trucks for a living, they also have to posses special skills in managing a business.
An O/O truck drive has a great deal of responsibility that other truck drivers who drive as company drivers do not have to worry about.
Truck maintenance, fuel, repairs, record-keeping, locating freight that needs to be hauled and negotiating the freight rate are just a few of things that an owner operator has to manage.
This page will suggest some tips for owner operators that will make running your trucking business a lot easier and more lucrative.
As an independent owner, one of the most troublesome and time consuming tasks is keeping records.
Record keeping is a necessity of any business, proper record keeping is required to be DOT compliant.
You must be prepared for a DOT safety audit on your business at any time.
There are several trucking management software programs that make record keeping an easier task.
Trucking software allows a trucker to easily track income, expenses, maintenance, freight shippers, freight brokers and will even help with taxes.
Trucking software also allows an O/O to quickly access past hauling jobs and their rates to make decision making on current hauling jobs easier.
Another advantage to using trucking software is that all of the important records and contacts are with you at all times and not back home sitting in a file cabinet.
Another tip for owner is concerning truck insurance.
Once a trucker has truck insurance, it is easy to pay the insurance rate each month without thinking much else about it.
Insurance rates change, and while insurance companies are quick at notifying a policy holder of any increases, they often will not notify a policy holder of any reductions that may be available.
An owner operator should check with their insurance company at least once a year and inquire about any insurance rate reductions.
The age of a truck driver as well as their experience and driving record are all considered and could reduce the insurance rate once a set milestone is reached.
While you are on the phone with the insurance company, you can mention that are going to shop around for a lower insurance rate.
Insurance agents that would normally do not budge on the insurance rate will quickly find a way to reduce your insurance rate.
It also does not hurt to periodically shop around for lower insurance rates.
Sometimes taking the time to do this, you will find a much lower insurance rate at another insurance company.
Proper truck maintenance is also very important to any business owner.
Trucks are both an owner operators office and home.
A flat tire a hundred miles from a service station can not only be expensive, but it also takes hours away from being on the road.
A thorough pre trip inspection before each trip can end up saving you money and valuable time.
Ensuring that regular maintenance on your truck is done at all appropriate miles or hours is also very important.
It is easy to overlook truck maintenance.
Trying to get as much freight hauling in and also contending with all the record keeping, leaves little time to do much else.
But taking the time for proper maintenance will save you thousands of dollars down the road and also keep you from failing a DOT inspection.
An O/O truck drive has a great deal of responsibility that other truck drivers who drive as company drivers do not have to worry about.
Truck maintenance, fuel, repairs, record-keeping, locating freight that needs to be hauled and negotiating the freight rate are just a few of things that an owner operator has to manage.
This page will suggest some tips for owner operators that will make running your trucking business a lot easier and more lucrative.
As an independent owner, one of the most troublesome and time consuming tasks is keeping records.
Record keeping is a necessity of any business, proper record keeping is required to be DOT compliant.
You must be prepared for a DOT safety audit on your business at any time.
There are several trucking management software programs that make record keeping an easier task.
Trucking software allows a trucker to easily track income, expenses, maintenance, freight shippers, freight brokers and will even help with taxes.
Trucking software also allows an O/O to quickly access past hauling jobs and their rates to make decision making on current hauling jobs easier.
Another advantage to using trucking software is that all of the important records and contacts are with you at all times and not back home sitting in a file cabinet.
Another tip for owner is concerning truck insurance.
Once a trucker has truck insurance, it is easy to pay the insurance rate each month without thinking much else about it.
Insurance rates change, and while insurance companies are quick at notifying a policy holder of any increases, they often will not notify a policy holder of any reductions that may be available.
An owner operator should check with their insurance company at least once a year and inquire about any insurance rate reductions.
The age of a truck driver as well as their experience and driving record are all considered and could reduce the insurance rate once a set milestone is reached.
While you are on the phone with the insurance company, you can mention that are going to shop around for a lower insurance rate.
Insurance agents that would normally do not budge on the insurance rate will quickly find a way to reduce your insurance rate.
It also does not hurt to periodically shop around for lower insurance rates.
Sometimes taking the time to do this, you will find a much lower insurance rate at another insurance company.
Proper truck maintenance is also very important to any business owner.
Trucks are both an owner operators office and home.
A flat tire a hundred miles from a service station can not only be expensive, but it also takes hours away from being on the road.
A thorough pre trip inspection before each trip can end up saving you money and valuable time.
Ensuring that regular maintenance on your truck is done at all appropriate miles or hours is also very important.
It is easy to overlook truck maintenance.
Trying to get as much freight hauling in and also contending with all the record keeping, leaves little time to do much else.
But taking the time for proper maintenance will save you thousands of dollars down the road and also keep you from failing a DOT inspection.
