Characteristics of a
Successful Owner Operator.

  Trucks transport 94 percent of all consumer, 77 percent of all industrial, and 68 percent of all farm goods in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Annually, the value of all goods shipped exceeds $6 trillion.
You are excited about your career decision, but please proceed with caution and prudence. Owning and operating an 18-wheeler requires research and planning.
As an owner-operator, you make sacrifices because your business requires you to work nights, on weekends and even holidays, often away from your family.
Good preparation and careful consideration of what makes an owner-operator successful will help you avoid costly mistakes that can set you back or even destroy your dream.
Such a major decision affects you, your spouse and your family. Include them in your decision-making process, since your family's support will contribute to your success.
Begin with a thorough self-assessment of your skills and experience. Then list your strengths and weaknesses. This exercise will improve your self-awareness and decision making.

The man or woman who owns and operates an 18-wheeler must have multiple talents. In addition to excellent driving and road skills, the successful owner-operator's qualities include:

Communication skills. In the course of a day, the owner-operator may speak with dispatchers, shippers, DOT inspectors and the highway patrol. To succeed, (s)he must think, speak and act like a business owner, choosing an appropriate communication style to fit the occasion.

Business skills. The owner-operator works hard and uses many resources to succeed. (S)he applies sound business principles and keeps accurate records. (S)he uses the Internet in the day-to-day management of the business to find loads, obtain licensing/toll information, directions, the best routes and road conditions, to ensure the load gets to the destination on time.

Solid decision-making skills. The owner-operator knows the operating costs and uses the cost-per-mile calculation to decide what loads to accept and which routes to travel.

Mechanical aptitude. Down times and expensive truck repairs eat into the profit margin. The owner-operator must have an understanding of the truck's systems and components and how they work together so (s)he can perform small repairs and deal with emergency situations on the road.

Please do not feel discouraged if you fall short on the list of skills and experience. You have one important skill: the capacity to learn. Take the time now, before you start driving your big rig, to acquire and develop the skills that will contribute to your success!