Even with declining miles in recent months, owner-operators’ recent net earnings remained strong, based on a third-quarter report of clients using financial services provider ATBS.
Earnings varied considerably from month to month and among freight types, but generally rates peaked for the year from May through September, the most recent month in the report. The high point of net income for the combined segments, $6,003, came in August.
Miles in each segment began dropping after May. For the combined segments, miles fell to 8,109 in September, the lowest point of the year.
“Drivers are making more, so they’re running less,” says ATBS President and CEO Todd Amen. “They’re being more choosey on loads and taking time off.”
Among all segments, average income per mile peaked at 71 cents in August and dropped to 65 cents in September.
“I’m betting 2018 net income will average over $65,000, which is a great increase from 2017,” Amen says. Average income among ATBS clients has hovered around $60,000 in recent years.
INDEPENDENTS. Owner-operators with their own authority saw relatively little change in monthly miles. Income per mile, after a year’s low in January, 60 cents, hit a high of 76 cents in August.
