Truck driving is a growing field with excellent drivers in demand across the country. You may have begun to consider buying your own rig and opening your own trucking business. Before you quit your job with a trucking company, carefully consider the extra burdens you might be taking on as an owner operator.

Paperwork

Paperwork is no joke when it comes to trucking. There are all sorts of records that need to be kept and organized including your commercial driver’s license and qualifications, insurance, dot safety compliance Dallas, maintenance and inspection, accidents and financial information. If you are not a meticulous record keeper, this may be an added burden to driving.

Hours

You may feel like you work long hours for a trucking company, but those hours are only likely to increase when you work for yourself. Although you will have more control over your schedule, if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. There are no paid vacation days or sick leave when you’re an owner operator.

Expenses

Buying your own truck and starting your own trucking company are expensive undertakings. Just paying off your start-up costs may put a heavy financial toll on you and your family. In addition, all maintenance costs for your truck will fall on you. Gone will be your meal and overnight per diems for longer trips. Don’t forget to factor in company and personal driving insurance.

Headaches

Owning a trucking business comes with all sorts of stress and headaches including bad weather, late shipments, unpaid bills and unforeseen expenditures. In addition, you must be constantly on the lookout for connections in the industry to build your company up. The stress of being a business owner is real and it rarely lets up, no matter what business you’re in.

There are great rewards to being your own boss. Just make sure you explore the downside too before making this leap.