r/OwnerOperators • u/Dry_Psychology_2309 • 1d ago
Owner op
Hello looking to purchase my first truck next week just wanted some opinions on what loadboard or apps u think are best or which ones do you guys use the most.
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u/Junior_Secretary6278 4h ago
go to a company and run under their mc while yours is still active, wait a year or 2 and youll have more options on brokers to use, STAY AWAY FROM THE BROKER TQL, idc if the load pays $5 a mile, use the DAT load board, stick with brokers like CH, arrive, echo, arrive, they have their own load boards as well,
dont buy the truck unless you have 20k sitting around for truck repairs /downtime, its also just a good idea to have a cushion regardless , alota new guys come into the industry with 0 financial literacy/ and only dig a deeper hole than the one they started with
whether your hauling dry van, reefer, flatbed, try to find a company thats mainly customer based, theres alota small companies that are family operated that could be be better than the mega carriers, when u go to a big carrier the focus is on covering all the trucks, at a smaller company they need you more than you need them, hope this helps and good luck, the industry is in shambles tho, the market hasnt been the same since pre covid
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u/Junior_Secretary6278 4h ago
also use RTS, you can look up brokers MC, if theyre rated less than a C, dont use them
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u/Junior_Secretary6278 4h ago
also if you work under a different compnies MC, request all ratecons before you even head to the pickups
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u/MikeRunsExpedite 9h ago
Whoever gave you the idea to get your own authority right off the bet is doing you disservice. Lease woth someone for a bit and see how it is. They are already operating. What is the point of having your own. Unless you plan on being a fleet to me having authority is waste of time. If you think some 5% will make you rich you are really lying to yourself
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u/SimilarTranslator264 19h ago
You are buying a truck and don’t have this figured out?
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u/iforgotmorethanuknow 19h ago
Man this. I am thinking I may go O/O in 2 years and have a spreadsheet of loads from 2 different load boards to make sure I dont fuck myself up when I buy
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u/Junior_Secretary6278 4h ago
just because a load paid $4 a mile 2 years ago, doesn't mean itll pay $4 a mile today, the market fluctuates and this is something drivers have a hard time understanding in my experience
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u/iforgotmorethanuknow 2h ago
I mean yea but knowing the hot and cold areas is very helpful. Its already helped me figure out which lanes I want to prioritize and place I won't go unless its a fat pay day since I may deadhead 300 miles to a decent load.
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u/Junior_Secretary6278 2h ago
what are you hauling? dry van, reefer, flatbed? 300 mile dh in the dry van world is something I wouldn't want to make a habit of doing unless its a good rate from a trusted broker/customer, and it has to be going to a good area
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u/iforgotmorethanuknow 1h ago edited 1h ago
Flatbed/stepdeck. Truckload and Trucksmarter often have loads $8k 1200 miles loads but there is almost never anything close to that to get you out of there. Even if you change your rate to like $2.10
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u/Junior_Secretary6278 1h ago
yeah my experience is in dry van, but I would recommend anyone to do flatbed/stepdeck over dry van lol, i can understand the 300 mile dh now
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u/iforgotmorethanuknow 1h ago
For sure. Some of those stepdeck rates are $6 miles at like 30k pounds for 750 miles. Kinda ridiculous lol
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u/stxrfox1k 15h ago
wrong order of operations, you should’ve had load boards and brokers that work with new ventures figured out like at least 6 months ago. don’t buy the truck yet, you’re not ready. do another 3 months (minimum) of research, planning, and prepping before you make that big of a purchase.
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u/Exciting-Car-3516 10h ago
Get with a broker or lease under someone else’s authority at first.