One of the most frequent questions we’re asked by trucker, concerns the owner operator vs company driver dilemma.
Drivers ask “Which is better, working at a company driving job or becoming an owner operator?
The driving and knowledge skill set is the same for each job.
However, there are dramatic differences between these two types of truck driving careers.
OWNER OPERATOR VS COMPANY DRIVER — JOB DIFFERENCES
COMPANY DRIVER JOB – THE PERKS
You get to leave the job and worries behind when you take the key out.
One of the best things about being a company drivers, is leaving the job at the terminal when you are done working. There’s no worries to take home with you.
Your free time is all yours.
Your time off is your own. You aren’t spending your time off fixing the truck. No need to worry about company equipment, maintenance, paperwork, bookkeeping tasks, or cleaning your truck.
Money earned is all yours.
The paycheck you take home is your own. No truck payments, repair bills, oil changes, buy down deductible insurance, maintenance costs.
Easy to change jobs.
If you don’t like the trucking company you are working for or the type of trucking jobs, you can simply walk away without the worry of breaking any contractual agreements or losing money.
It’s simply a matter of finding another driving job, more to your liking. I think this is a HUGE perk for being a company driver.
Job security.
With the driver shortage in full swing, company truck driving jobs are plentiful.
No start up costs.
Other than your CDL driver training, there’s no upfront cash outlay. Just jump in the truck and go and earn your pay.
Overall, a company driving job is much less stressful than that of the owner operator.
Well trained, diligent truck drivers are in the position to seek out the type of trucking job they like and settle into a job with a company who treats them well and pays them fairly.
OWNER OPERATOR JOB – THE PERKS
Higher Pay.
The owner operator has the potential to earn more money than a company driver, if he’s running his business efficiently.
Usually, the owner operator gets paid for many of the extras, due to his contractual agreement where a company driver doesn’t.
There can be significant tax advantages, lower tax rates, especially when incorporated, if the company is properly managed.
Choose your own equipment.
The owner operator doesn’t need to deal with slip seating and other drivers messing with his equipment and changing settings in the truck.
The truck owner has equipment that is best suited for his needs and comfort. It’s great to be able to personalize the equipment to your liking, eg. a particular brand of seat, and set at a preferred seat height.
The comfort level can be tweaked just to your personal liking. However, these comforts come at a high price.
Be your own boss.
Forced dispatch is not so much of a problem for the truck owner.
The owner operator usually has more choice to pick and choose loads, although this depends mostly on the company. The truck owner has more control over his job, in general.
Time off.
Since the O/O is an independent business person, they can have greater flexibility to take time off work.
Maybe a greater element of safety.
If comparing the overall safety of the owner operator vs company driver, the owner operator may very well have an edge.
He can choose a heavier profile, better quality tire with better grip for example.
Companies tend to ‘cheap out’ on certain things like tires, and will buy lower quality rubber in bulk for their fleet trucks.
THE ANSWER TO THE OWNER OPERATOR VS COMPANY DRIVER COMPARISON? WHICH IS BETTER?
- THE REAL answer is one is NOT better than the other.
- Each situation for every trucker is different.
- Each trucker has different expectations of the job and different needs.
Some drivers are completely satisfied with a low stress company driving job.
Others have the need to own their own truck, which comes with a greater element of control, but potentially, with more headaches.
It’s critical that you do the research to understand what you are getting into, whether it be as a company driver or an owner operator because there are some great rewards to be had from a truck driving career.
You must make the decision for yourself what you want from your career as a truck driver.
