Status Transportation Truckers Report Making Good Choice to Lease On

The rate of growth in the ground transportation industry is at levels not seen before. Many corporations desire the shipment of items throughout the United States quickly, and with few complications impacting the cargo safety or expected arrival. The web has no doubt led the list of influences resulting in this substantial growth. Because of these factors, Status Transportation truckers report this year has demonstrated a consistently increasing demand for freight services.

This is not to say the condition is identical at all trucking businesses. Some employ drivers to maximize the productivity of their present fleet, while others work with unrestricted owner operators who possess their own trucks or trucks and trailers. Status Transportation Corp is a logistics agent that efficiently matches owner operators with freight that needs to move from point A to point B.

By supporting the independence of our roster of owner operators, we maintain your ability to have the freedom to pick which shipments are optimal for your business and schedule. We understand the locations you prefer, what your driving capacity is, how long you have been on the road, and how regularly you need to be on the road.

Why lease-on with Status Transportation?

Status trucking is not identical to other ground shipping companies. Although there is much that is the same, we believe we are different in some important ways. First, we were formed from the perspective of an owner operator. Our founder was in the driver’s seat for years and realized there should be opportunities for owner operators to maximize their business without losing their independence. In our unique approach, we work carefully with all our operators to generate maximum income and return on investment. Whether you own your truck outright or finance, you’ll be capable of generating a secure living if working with us.

Status Transportation is a logistics industry leader due to these important reasons:

• Small company scale allows for more devoted assistance to owner operators

As a smaller firm, we are better equipped to give personalized attention to owner operators. We are different than large trucking companies who may be more apt to view their drivers as a tiny factor in an immense web of identical working units. Status Transportation Corporation retains a smaller population of owner operators to lease on with us.

This results in the need for our team to dedicate their equipment for the purpose of moving freight for us. Their trucks, trailers, and flatbeds are the tools they bring to the job in order to transport cargo. In return, we enable them to enjoy a more fruitful environment due to the logistic support that results in better efficiency and income. As a side benefit, many Status Transportation truckers report that the job is simpler than it would be strictly on their own.

At Status Transportation, each driver has a committed freight coordinator. This individual works with the driver to maximize a weekly working schedule and route that make the best use of the time and resources (and loads) available. This feature translates into higher profits. Each load of freight and its final destination is chosen to maximize margin. Because of the robust relationships generated between dispatchers and drivers, the results are easily enhanced over a large company. We also invest in our owner operators, offering non-stop employee education opportunities, and benefits like pay advances and fuel cards.

• You decide your own work schedule

If you have purchased your own truck, you most likely wouldn’t desire to be in a forced dispatch situation. Many trucking operations will demand a minimum of working hours and will require their drivers to be on the road to fulfill that. They may also require them to drive to places that they may not prefer.

Status Transportation truckers report their desire to make these decisions on their own is high. The expectation of independence comes with the owner operator experience and is respected at Status Transportation. Of course, it is in all parties' best interest to maintain enough activity to earn a living—and pay one's expenses—and Status Transportation understands that, too. 

Nevertheless, you’ll have more freedom to work in the way you wish than you would at a large, impersonal trucking company. Additionally, your devoted freight coordinator will assist your routing plan to maximize your efforts while on the road.

• Availability of repair and maintenance services 

Eventually, your truck’s maintenance and repair schedule will become a reality. What you don’t want to do at that moment is wonder where you can have the work done. Time looking for the right repair and maintenance facility is more time spent off the road. Status Transportation is proud to say it is one of only a few transportation companies to offer a fully-equipped tractor trailer repair and maintenance facility to its team members.

Located just outside Atlanta, GA, our facility provides fast and affordable work on semis, trailers, and Power Modules. Our purpose is to get you returned to safe driving as rapidly as possible. We are also equipped to offer roadside assistance for trucks, buses, and trailers. If you’re concerned about the repair rates, we are comparably priced and can even offer financing options that will help you stay on budget with your weekly income to obligations.

• Flexible route selection

As an owner operator, the choice of how you get to a destination is yours, so long as it arrives on schedule. Naturally, maximizing your profit is a goal for you and Status Transportation, and as such, we would not recommend taking inefficient routes as a routine practice.

Whether you drive regional or distant cargos runs, our well-trained dispatchers will work carefully with you, optimizing your time spent on the road. Status Transportation Corp. focuses its efforts on customized scheduling for each driver, primarily based on the current freight that is in need of transport.

The benefit of working with Status Trucks

As a transportation company, Status Transportation wouldn’t be as successful as it has been without the dedicated group of owner operators we have. We recognize the work they do, the product volume they move and their daily commitment to safety.

For these reasons, we devote a good deal of our resources towards assisting owner operators and their goals. Because you purchased your own truck and equipment, we aspire to be a supporter of successful business operations—like yours!

It appears clear that Status Transportation truckers report a favorable opinion of the added benefits we offer when leasing-on here.

• Financing options

If you are in need of new equipment or expensive replacement parts, we are there to support you. We provide a one hundred percent tax-deductible financing alternative that allows you to buy a new trailer, tractor, or parts. By offering this, we help our team of owner operators become fully independent and most importantly, profitable. When your equipment is fully operational, freight is moved on time to its destination. We label this a win-win situation.

• Freight that is easy to work with

After hours of driving, the least enjoyable task one can imagine doing is detailed reporting, paperwork, scheduling of inspections and other minutiae. Status Transportation handles many business tasks for you, permitting you to focus on tomorrow’s load. The time you save by having us do that work can translate into one extra trip or a more favorable destination that matches your needs better.

• Sustainable profits

Owner operators who work with us can enjoy regular profits due to our generous rates. If you have your own tractor, our pay-out is 75% of gross ($50 per week for the trailer). Tractor and trailer owners get 85% of gross income (all at no insurance cost).

Our owner operators earn a good living. As much as $7500 per week doing both regional and long runs. Those who work fewer hours make roughly an average of $4000 a week. 

To assist you further in keeping costs under control, we issue gasoline cards that insulate you from varying fuel prices on the road.

What else do Status Transportation truckers report on favorably?

Our truckers report that they enjoy several other perks as owner operators with Status Transportation Corporation. In addition to no forced dispatch, agreeable working hours, no forced dispatch, and exceptional pay, we simply make the job easier. Our owner operators enjoy almost exclusively no-touch freight hauls. We negotiate great rates for both regional and long runs, and our weekly settlements are instrumental in making private budgeting easier.

Given all these positive characteristics, our loyal Status Transportation truckers report their enthusiasm daily to our dispatchers and management. It is encouraging to hear back positive reports from those who have entrusted their careers to our company, and it is our privilege to reflect that same attitude back to the team on the road.

Status Transportation Corp Recruits for Owner Operator Jobs

Status Transportation Corp is a professional trucking company that prioritizes the needs of owner-operators. The company was founded in 2009 by a group of industry specialists. Their goal was to improve the industry. Status Transportation tries to provide you with reliable transportation solutions. We have enough experience to deliver good results.

Status Transportation Corp is one of the top owner operator trucking companies in Orlando. It recruits owner operators. Our company has both OTR and regional jobs. Our owner-operators can enjoy long-distance hauls at the best rates.

We offer two leasing options - OTR and Regional

We offer the following services:

• Direct deposit
• Reliable weekly settlements
• Our dry van trailers
• Trailer maintenance for our trailer
• No-touch freight
• A repair facility for tractor and trailer
• No-forced dispatch
• Fuel cards

Our programs come with plenty of benefits for owner operators and make it easy for you to make profits and run your business efficiently. Some advantages that come with our programs include:

• $1000 Sign-On Bonus
• Cash advances
• Rewards for referrals
• Fuel discount programs
• No-touch freight
• IFTA calculation
• No-forced dispatch

Our Owner Operators

Status transportation Corp makes it possible for owner-operators to enjoy big profits. We assign a freight coordinator to every one of them. We have a team of professional and experienced coordinators. They will not provide you with any solutions before understanding the needs and nature of your business.

The best thing about working with Status Transportation Corp is that we help you without taking your independence away. Each one of our owner operators works with a 100% non-forced dispatch.

If you have any questions or concerns, our professional dispatch will always be there to resolve them. They will provide you with a business strategy, consistent loads and current market insight. We are always willing to go the extra mile to meet and exceed your expectations.

We allow you to stay in charge of your load. Status Transportation Corp allows you to run your business with no inhibitions. You can operate in whatever region you see fit. If you wish, you can decline an offer if you don’t think you can complete it on time. This gives you the chance to make decisions that meet the needs of your business.

Our company allows you to take a break and get back on the road when you are ready. Whether you choose our regional or OTR jobs. If you choose regional jobs, you can access at least 10 states around your state. Our OTR option requires you to be on the road for at least three weeks.

Owner operators that work with us know they can rely on us because of our weekly payments, constant communication, and consistent miles.

We are glad to provide a trailer for you. The cost of renting is fair and we provide you with new, well-maintained trailers. None of them is older than 2013. We do not hire out any of our trailers before they are inspected by professional mechanics.

Status Transportation Corp may help you with your plates too. We have a Plate Program to take care of your plate needs. We also help you obtain your bobtail insurance if you need it.

Our fuel cards make it possible for you to get fuel when you need it. Our fuel cards are accepted in most stations. With our fuel cards, you can get discounts when buying fuel and save hundreds of dollars every week.

Market Rates

Our team of dispatchers is experienced and informed. All members of the team have experience in the current market trends. They can, therefore, help you keep up with the times and get the best rates for your haul.

Our dispatchers use different approaches to deal with different problems. We can assure you of stable profits even during slow seasons. We conduct regular market researches to identify the best paying options in your area. Our solutions are effective and successful.

We are Busy All-Year Long

We are always busy regardless of the time of the year you choose to work with us. We are currently working with over 4, 500 shippers and brokers. We expect our database to keep growing. We are equipped to arrange loads whenever the need arises. You can rely on our trucks every day of the year. Most of our loads include, paper products, non-perishable food and beverages, and other general freight. If you are looking for a partner that will assure you of profits all-year round, consider working with Status transportation Corp.

Trailer and Semi-Truck Repair Services

We offer repair services for your trailers and semi-trucks. You can access our repair services in Atlanta GA and all the surrounding areas. You can rely on our repair and maintenance services as they are conducted by professionals. All our technicians are experienced and trained for the job. They will help you get the best services at affordable rates. Status Transport offers roadside assistance for buses, trucks, and trailers.

Constant Support and Communication

We provide you with constant support. Every member of our team is committed to providing you with the best service possible. They have been in the industry for a long time so they know how to navigate the challenges which may arise. All members of staff will respect your time and your needs. If you have any questions or concerns, our dispatchers are happy to provide you with solutions. They will help you with your issues regardless of how simple they may seem.

Reviews

We value the owner-operators that work with Status Transport Corp and we always go out of our way to give you the best results. There is no better way to determine the reputation of a business than through their reviews.

Status Transport Corp may be a great choice for you if you are looking for independence, good profits, and convenience. Our experience and passion make it possible for us to help you deal with seasonal surges. Our freight coordinators aim to be your partners. They come up with a unique strategy for every owner operator to address different needs. With our resources, you can enjoy good profits and continued support.

Contact Status Transportation Corp. today for your owner operator trucking jobs. Whether you reach us through our mobile phone, email address or visit our location, we are always happy to provide you with the solutions you need.

The Status Transportation Corporation Advantage

Who Is Status Transportation?

Status Transportation, Winter Garden, FL, is a professional trucking company that was established in 2009. The company was founded by a team of industry specialists who were committed to making a difference in the industry. Members of the team are professional, friendly, and hard working.

About Us

At Status Transportation, our goal is to provide you with reliable transportation solutions. We work with most of the common equipment including flatbeds, reefers, and dry vans. Our company has acquired the experience that is necessary to deliver excellent results. The company was founded with the primary purpose of making a positive change in the industry.

Status Transportation has obtained common carrier and broker authorities allowing it to operate in Canada and the United States. We are equipped to meet all seasonal surges and demands. If you choose to work with our company, we will assign you a freight coordinator. The coordinator will work with you to come up with a strategy for optimal results. Our goal is to ensure that all our partnerships are profitable. We provide you with the support and resources you need to get your job done. Some of our resources include; fuel cards, advances, and dedicated dispatchers.

All our members of staff are trained to help you achieve your goals. We respect your time and our dispatchers will always provide you with the answers you need to succeed. We help you come up with a strategic business plan, truck maintenance, and fuel miles. Every member of our team is prepared to go the extra mile to help you meet and surpass your expectations.

What Makes Us Special?

• Status Transportation Reviews

There is no better way to determine the worth of a company than through the reviews of previous customers. Looking at the Status Transportation reviews, you will realize that most owner-operators appreciate the relationship they have with the company. The company prioritizes customer satisfaction and good quality work. This is a primary reason, along with Status Transportation pay, our driver retention is quite high.

• Equal Employment Opportunities

We do not discriminate against anyone when offering employment opportunities. We are always looking for new owner operators to join our team. Our company is always looking for honest, hardworking, and ethical professionals to join the team. The division will hire qualified candidates with a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in experience. You may also work for us as a CDL class A driver if you ate a customer-oriented, professional and experienced owner-operator.

• Our Dispatchers

We have a team of professional and experienced dispatchers who are always willing to work with you to meet the objectives of your business. In our company, no one qualifies to be a dispatcher if they lack the passion, enthusiasm, and skills that the job requires. All Status Transportation Winter Garden, FL based dispatchers are multi-lingual, efficient, and able to meet and surpass the expectations of our clients.

• Operational Support

The trucking industry can be difficult to navigate without the help of a good partner. We are a non-forced dispatch company that will provide you with the operational support you need. Every member of the team is trained to provide you with the operational support you need. We are happy to help you plan out your stay on the road based on your home time. If you have any trouble planning out your strategy, our dispatchers are happy to provide you with answers regarding your fuel miles, business strategy and truck maintenance.

• Best Rates

Status Transportation pay rates are very competitive. Our Winter Garden, FL team is familiar with the latest market changes, so we can get you the best rates for your haul. We employ various approaches to help you get maximum profits even during low seasons. Our team is always conducting market research that helps us come up with efficient solutions to promote profitability. This, as shown in Status Transportation reviews, is a good reason we enjoy a stable group of drivers.

• Experience

Status Transportation Corporation has been in the industry for 10 years and our company has worked with more than 4,500 shippers and brokers across the nation. We are always busy trying to provide you with the solutions you need. Our database continues to grow as our trucks run 365 days a year. Our loads include foods and beverages, metal products, and auto parts. We have strategies to help you achieve maximum profits regardless of the seasonal surges.

Owner Operators

If you choose to work with Status Transportation Corporation, we will assign you to our freight coordinator to help with your owner-operator needs. All our coordinators are always willing to understand the needs and nature of your business before providing you with any solutions.

Even though we are glad to work with you, we understand that owner-operators need some independence. Our clients enjoy the benefit of working with a non-forced dispatch. You are completely in charge of your load as you can always choose the loads to take. There are no inhibitions to how you can run your business.

Our operators do not restrict the region from which you can operate. We even give you the option of declining an offering if you can’t complete it on time. You, therefore, have the independence of making decisions that are good for your business.

One of the things that make Status Transport Corp. different from other companies is that we are willing to help you without interfering with your independence. You can decline a load if it does not help you earn enough to cover your region’s average pay per mile. If you wish to take a break from driving, we allow you to recharge and get back on the road at a later date. Our owner operator jobs are available in two options; OTR and regional. For the regional option, our regional area has at least 10 states surrounding your state. For the OTR option, we require you to be on the road for three or more weeks.

Repair Services for Trailers and Semi-Trucks

Status Transportation Corporation has a repair shop to help you repair your semi-trucks and trailers. Our repair services are available in Atlanta GA and the surrounding areas. All our repair and maintenance technicians are professional, passionate, and experienced in the job. We can take care of all your repairs fast and thoroughly. We know all the right measures to take to ensure that you get good results at affordable costs.

Status Transportation Corp. technicians are trained to perform a variety of repairs regardless of your trailer or semi-truck. We help you keep your fleet in good condition to avoid running into trouble while on the road. If you are away from your hometown, we can always provide you with a second opinion. We also provide roadside assistance for motor homes, commercial trucks, trailers, and buses.

Our shop is equipped with modern equipment. This equipment makes it possible to correctly identify and address issues. Our reliable suppliers make it possible for us to get the parts you need to be delivered fast and at a reasonable cost.

Status Transportation maintenance services are available for both fleets and individual trucks. We service most of the common brands including:

• Utility
• Mac
• Volvo
• Wabash
• International
• Trailer King
• Vanguard
• Freightliner
• Great Dane
• Stoughton

We work in partnership with a tow truck company to help you get your truck off the road in case of a breakdown. Status Transportation mechanics have a variety of certifications including ASE.

Contact us at 770-755-1516 or take a tour of our virtual shop to see what we have to offer.

What can an owner operator claim on taxes?

This topic is very important for every Owner operator like us because we understand that we are running a business now, and like every other business we must file and pay our taxes. Which means our profit will be impacted if we miss out on a legit tax deduction that is under our nose, just because we are not well informed or confused and we end up overpaying the IRS.

You want to succeed as an owner operator and earn the money you expect, it is imperative that you educate yourself on how to manage effectively your business money. You will be very happy with how much cash you keep when you have a plan for taxes deduction. We always recommend finding an expert on the subject that will help you clarify what can an owner operator claim on taxes, at least for the first years until you get comfortable and maybe do it yourself.

Every self-employed situation is unique, but in the following overview, we will list the most common deductions for tax purposes that will help you avoid pitfalls on the Tax Code and will help you save some money during tax season, making your trucking business life so much easier all over the year as well.

What can an Owner Operator claim on taxes by category

The most important thing, to begin with, is to remember to keep a record of all of your expenses, write down the type of expense, date and amount in your logbook. Save the receipts in a binder and recording them later into your bookkeeping program. Paying with a credit card can be helpful too to validate the expense.

Capital Expenses

As part of what owner operators can claim on taxes, the IRS recommends that you capitalize instead of just claiming costs. They encourage you to invest in your business to make it grow. Expenses on business start-ups, improvements or purchasing business assets add value to your trucking business increasing your net worth like the following examples:

The Tractor.- You have a few options to write off the cost of your truck, like these 3; 1)during the year the vehicle is put into service depreciating it by 50% of the cost, 2) immediate expensing and 3) normal depreciation for a recovery period of three or five years. But it can also be used as a combination of all 3 if it applies to you.
Tractor Lease.- Having a lease-purchase agreement can help you deduct the expense. Just don’t forget that the down payment is not part of a lease agreement and you won’t be able to deduct it.
Personal Expenses

It can be confusing to know what owner operators are allowed to claim on taxes, but one thing is for sure you won’t be allowed to deduct personal expenses, you need to find a way to make this expense as if is part of your company expenses. For example having some expenses that your company and your living expenses, try to divide the total cost and deduct a percentage of that cost. You most likely use your home for your living but also for your trucking business, right? Then you might choose a room and the garage as part of the business facilities deducting the home repairs, mortgage, utilities, etc. Check with your accountant for your specific situation.

Business Expenses

Take a look at the Deducting Business Expenses from the IRS webpage, you will see that they define business expenses the following way: “the cost of carrying on a trade or business. These expenses are usually deductible if the business operates to make a profit”. Keeping this mind let's look at the following examples that can be deducted as business expenses:

Operating Expenses.- Obviously this is part of what an owner operator can claim on taxes this is the most common expenses in the business and of course, they are deductible. Fuel, maintenance for your truck, insurance plans, permits, government fees, along with the self-employment tax and any other fee you get to pay to continue running your company.
Food and Meals.- Having meals away from your home, metro area or municipality, you may definitely deduct up to $63 per day. This will only apply if you need to stop for a meal in order to rest to continue performing well while driving. Just never forget to keep your receipt as we mentioned before

Lodging.- Yes, you can deduct lodging, and just like on meals don't forget to save your receipt. And one other important thing; in order to claim this expense you are required to have a residence, being an itinerant it could not be possible for you to claim lodging, even meals can be affected by this situation, because they will consider that you are never away from home if you don't have any.
Expenses you have on the road.- You are allowed to include in this type of expenses your personal laundry, maps, safety gear, your logbooks, office supplies, cleaning supplies, tools, cargo straps and any other related expense that you consider necessary to perform your job well.

Communication Expenses.- You are able to deduct the cost of your cell phone, cell phone accessories, phone cards, pager, your cell phone plan, internet, satellite radios, CB radio, and subscription are deductibles with their proper receipt. All these items are part of what you as an owner operator can claim on your taxes.

Other Expenses.- Is possible to deduct also some of the following: computer and software that you use for your trucking business, business-related subscriptions, medical exams like drug testing, DOT physical, eye exam, glasses, apnea studies and any other medical exams related to your trucking compliance. You can also deduct retirement and insurance plans for your spouse and for yourself. Per diem, if you are away from home overnight, accounting services, bank fees,

Expenses that are Not Deductible

You can easily get confused, especially filing your own taxes or if someone told you what can an owner operator claim on taxes and then you try to claim some of those expenses that are definitely not deductible. You might give the IRS a reason to audit your owner operator business. So be very careful when you are not paying the services of an expert.

You cannot deduct the following: Street clothing, your time performing maintenance for your truck, dog as security, deadhead and unpaid miles and income lost for downtime.

Now you know what can an owner operator claim on taxes, but remember that you need to keep your records of every expense for you to claim it. We believe that is a smart idea to find help from a tax preparer whom can help you keep the most money and that it will keep you informed on any changes in the law that could affect your owner operator business.

4 Things To Consider Before Switching Owner Operator Trucking Companies

It appears like there's a never-ending look for the very best owner operator trucking company When you check out the posts, the story is usually the very same, so-and-so went over to this carrier and they claim they're simply doing so better or you know someone over here is doing this over at this carrier.

The question is, Is the grass really greener on the other side? In some cases when you go on Facebook or an online forum you see a long thread, specifically owner operators talking about changing carriers, and the same thing is applicable whether you're an owner operator or a company driver. Well there's a couple things that you need to consider before you jump ship and go to another carrier.

Expenses Related To Changing Carriers

With some exceptions, you are going to find truly bad and very good owner operator trucking companies out there, however, actually that's just the 10% on top and 10% at the bottom. The other 80% in the middle is going to have the very same issues whether you are with carrier A, B, or C. It does not matter since they're all doing the exact same job they're all going to have the similar situations.

If you’ve been an owner operator for a few years, you know it's an expense to go to another carrier. You're going to forego your owner operator pay for a couple of weeks due to the fact that when you quit one carrier you're going to have to go through orientation at the next one.

They might pay you a little bit in orientation however it's not going to be much. If you're actually sure that you want to change owner operator jobs, you need to have about a month's worth of expenditures in the bank prior to you even consider it since you're going to go at least 2 to 3 weeks without a check.

Moving Up The Ladder And Not Just Sideways

If you're simply moving laterally, a lot of times there is no factor to go to another carrier. You're going to have the exact same problems over there.

All trucking companies operate in the very same market for the exact same clients. Cancellations, sluggish freight seasons, low seasons, that's all part of the game. That's another thing to think about prior to switching owner operator trucking jobs.

Every Time You Switch Owner Operator Trucking Jobs You Have To Start All Over Again

Another thing to think about is you need to begin all over again. We're not just talking about perks, but also access to special programs like direct lanes, and building rapport with your dispatcher. A lot of carriers work the exact same method, there is constantly a learning curve on new owner operator jobs on how to submit a bill of lading, safety department requirements, talking to your dispatcher, in general learning how the new owner operator trucking company runs.

The typical driver they're going to make about 40k to 50k a year. Then the typical driver has actually been around for a while makes you understand 50k to 60k a year, and you get a few of the higher end companies where you can make 70k to 75k a year. To get there you have actually got to remain there a while and kind of pay your dues before you get to that.

If you stick with one owner operator trucking company for awhile you know you can resolve whatever issues and what have you and make a good living.

Owner Operator Trucking Company Track Record vs Owner Operator Reputation

It’s true that there's some companies out there that work on their procedures, but there’s also owner operators who develop a "boomerang" reputation. These drivers switch owner operator jobs every few months thinking they'll get much better loads at a different company when in reality is a low season for everybody. They go over a prolonged and costly procedure just to come back to their initial carrier.

You cannot simply keep bouncing. Eventually, you’ll recognize, OK I'm having the very same problems no matter where I go, perhaps the issue is me. Perhaps I have to adjust the things I'm doing.

At this moment you have to stop and think about if switching carriers is the best call if the move is going to allow you not just with your short-term objectives, but likewise on the long term, or if it's perhaps you who has to change what you are doing. The latter is the hardest thing to do, however, an excellent mindset and good interaction can go a long way. One way you'll identify the best owner operator companies is by the way they interact with their owner operators and their willingness to listen to them and work out a situation.

How Can You Find The Best Owner Operator Companies?

If after thinking about the last 2 points you are still thinking about changing carriers, then the procedure is relatively easy. But first there’s something you need to know, and that is that the best owner operator trucking jobs might vary for each driver.  This is why you need to search for the highest paying owner operator jobs instead of best owner operator companies because that will vary depending on the person.

Try to talk to other owner operators who are currently working for the company, however, do not rely exclusively on other individuals' opinions. Use your critical thinking and do your own research.  

Make sure you are prepared to make the move. No matter where you go the very first 2 or 3 weeks are going to be the hardest ones, so be financially prepared for it.  More than not the first weeks you’ll incur multiple expenses like having to pay for insurance, plates, maybe some truck maintenance depending on your rig, etc.  Typically, it takes around 90 days to really evaluate if an owner operator trucking company is a good fit.  Anything less than that is not enough time to have an informed opinion about a company.  Don’t go out thinking the company is not doing its job.

To get recommendations and pointers on how to prosper as an owner operator or to find out more about Status Transportation please sign up for our blog.

Owner Operator Trucking Expenses

At Status Transportation, we want you to succeed in your goal of becoming an owner operator.  For this reason, we think is important for you to consider the following expenses associated with the process of being your own boss.

When you go from company driver to owner operator trucking, whether it be leasing or just flat-out buying a truck, there are going to be some expenses that you may have not even thought about as a company driver.  

If you have ever been to the Great American Trucking Show or follow some of the speakers from the show you are probably already familiar with Kevin Rutherford.  He is a great advocate educating yourself as an owner operator in order to be more successful.  Part of that education is to learn how to calculate your cost to run your truck per mile.  That way you’ll be able to identify where your money is going and control the costs of running your business. Having a clear understanding of these topics will be of great benefit in planning for the future so you can achieve your both your personal and professional goals in owner operator trucking.

Not to oversimplify the equation, but calculating your cost per mile is subtracting your costs from your income and dividing it by the number of miles you ran during a particular period.  Experts recommend doing this by the month.

COST PER MILE = (Income - Costs)/Miles

But in order to get a clear idea of what your cost per mile is, first you have to identify what your expenses are.  The following is a list of the most common owner operator expenses, the list is divided into fixed costs and variable costs.

Fixed Costs

• Truck Payment
• Trailer Payment
• Liability Insurance
• Bobtail Insurance
• Cargo Insurance
• Health Insurance
• Licenses
• Permits
• Accounting
• Cell Phone Service

Variable Costs

• Fuel
• Tractor/Trailer Tires
• Maintenance
• Repair
• Truck Wash
• Telephone
• Lodging
• Meals
• Tolls
• Taxes
• Miscellaneous Expenses

Owner Operator Tags, Permits, Taxes, and Insurance.

When you become an owner operator, you are going to be paying not only for your truck, but owning a truck means that you're also going to be paying for bobtail insurance, tractor insurance, and possibly trailer insurance if have your own trailer or if you are renting a trailer. You'll also be buying base plates or license plates, and paying your 2290, which is a heavy road use tax.  Your 2290 will be around $550 a year per vehicle.

As an owner operator truck driver you will have to start paying a fuel tax. That can be offset by buying fuel in the states that you travel through.  If you buy fuel in just about every state you go through you usually don't have to pay a whole lot of taxes, it can be just a few dollars depending on how you run.   

Now there are some owner operator jobs where they pay for such things as your base plates or your permits. Each company is different so you're going to have to ask a lot of questions if you're interested in hiring on to the company.

Owner Operator Trucking Qualcomm and E-Log Fees

In some cases depending on the company you lease on to you may have to pay for a Qualcomm, which is where you e-logs are on.  There could be a satellite fee also associated with that.  Although nowadays you can use e-logs apps directly on your phone.  

Payment Card Fees

If the company you lease to uses comdata, there is going to be comdata fees. There's going to be fees whenever you take money off the comdata card.  Whenever the owner operator trucking company loads money onto your comdata card, they may charge you what's called a wire fee for putting money on your card. There are several fees associated with Comdata and probably also with the other payment cards that are out there.

If you use Transflo or TripPak services to send in your bills or scan them in you'll be paying for that TripPak or Transflo now because you're an owner operator.  This is another fee that you have to pay for not to mention such things as scale tickets if you weigh your loads, you are going to be paying for those now and the company does not have to reimburse you anymore.  

Keeping Track of Expenses while on the Road

Handling receipts in owner operator trucking can be a daunting task if you don’t have a strategy. Using a 21 pocket expanding folder and labeling it can help you to keep track of all those fuel, toll, and scale receipts.  You can get the folder at Walmart, Office Depot or any major office supply store. The next step is to label each one of the pockets with the expense categories listed above.  

Every time you get a receipt file it in the correct category and make sure to keep the white copy.  White copies usually last longer than any other type and only one copy of each receipt.  You’ll easily be able to keep a year’s worth of paperwork that will make it easier for you to file your taxes at the end of the year.  Your accountant will love you for it.

Also, very important, don’t forget to write down your odometer reading at the beginning of the month.  Send yourself a reminder, or set an alarm on your phone so you won’t forget.  This way you’ll be able to calculate your cost per mile during the month and at the end of the year.  

As you can see owner operator trucking jobs require more than just to hop on the truck and start driving.  You need to be on top of your game by being organized and keeping track not only of your owner operator pay but also tracking your expenses.  The flipside of doing this is that you will have better control of your money and reap the benefits of doing so.

For more tips on how to succeed in owner operator trucking and everything related to owner operator jobs, subscribe to the Status Transportation blog today!

Owner Operator Trucking: Qualities You Must Have To Be Successful

The owner operator trucking business is a gratifying endeavor, but managing a trucking business is not an easy deal.  There are many things to do and not everyone can handle them but if you do then you will be well-rewarded.  Years of working with owner operators at Status Transportation allow us to identify the traits and qualities that successful truckers possess.  Do you have these qualities?

Top-notch communication skills

If you want to be successful in being an owner operator trucking, then you need to have top of the line communication skills. If you can’t communicate well, then you will have a very hard time making this work for you. You will have to deal with dispatchers and other stakeholders frequently, therefore, you need to learn how to communicate with them. Do you have trouble making it on time to your appointment? Do you have enough hours to make the delivery?

These are the kind of situations you will have to face and handle every now and then, and hence, you need to be ready to communicate effectively so you can plan an alternative course of action. This will help you to create strong bonds with your dispatcher and everyone in your team. Needless to say, this is pure gold for the success of your trucking business.

Successful owner operators have great focus

If you want to make it big in an owner operator job, then you need to learn how to focus. And in this competitive business, it is crucial to your success. That’s why you need to set goals, and more importantly, have a plan that you can follow. Regarding this part, just like an accountant will help you with your finances, you can hire a business coach or consultant to help you craft a suitable business plan.

Drivers with the highest paying owner operator jobs are the ones who don’t allow shiny things on the road to distract them from achieving their goals. If you want to make your business big and important, then you need to be the owner of a great focus.

Commitment to your business

This industry can be quite competitive, but it’s also very profitable. Although, if you want to make your business big, then you need to be committed to it and invest your time as much as needed. The first 18 months of your business are critical to your success, and yes, they will require plenty of time. In order to make this sail, you will have to be in the game and committed with your business, your dispatcher, and your leasing company.

You need to commit to building great relationships and be always willing to walk the extra mile. Launching your own trucking business is not easy, but if you get totally dedicated to it, then the odds will turn in your favor.

The Best Owner Operator Truckers Are Disciplined

Like we mentioned before, owner operator trucking can be very rewarding and provide opportunities to grow. One quality that will help you to make it in this business is discipline.

Being an owner operator will give you more freedom, but it’s a double-edged sword. Because if you don’t commit to your business and have the discipline to follow through, then you won’t be able to manage your business properly.

You already have the driving skills, which is one of the most important elements in owner operator trucking, yet there are certain qualities that can make a huge difference between failure and success. Now you know what they are. Do you have them? If so, then congratulations, chances are your trucking business will grow non-stop! You don’t have them? No problem, start working on your weaknesses and integrate these necessary qualities to your life.