Most of Overdrive’s readers had some experience as a company driver, whether for a for-hire fleet or a private fleet, before they became an owner-operator. If you’ve been driving professionally and are considering buying your first truck, you might be looking forward to enjoying more freedom from supervision than a company driver. You’ll have more leeway to set your own hours and take time off when you want.
Those freedoms come with a big tradeoff: the need to be financially responsible and self-disciplined. The challenge is great, but success can bring great rewards.
The Partners in Business program is sponsored by Ryder and Truckstop.com.For almost two decades, Overdrive has produced its Partners in Business program to help existing and prospective owner-operators meet those financial and organizational challenges and maximize their profits. This podcast — available at the head of the Trucking Business playlist above, and at the bottom of this post — covers the first four chapters from the 2017 Partners in Business manual. It addresses making the transition to self-employment, choosing a financial services partner, creating a strong business plan and establishing your bookkeeping.
Our manual combines the best material from Overdrive magazine with the expertise of the consultants at ATBS, the nation’s largest owner-operator financial services provider.
To buy the manual, visit the eTrucker.com store. You can read a free sample chapter on developing an owner-operator business plan.
