Company Driver vs. Owner-Operator: Is the Headache Worth the Paycheck?

Every company driver eventually looks at their settlement check and thinks, "If I owned the truck, I'd make double." Maybe. But you'd also inherit 100% of the risk.

Being an Owner-Operator isn't a driving job; it's a business management job. You need to understand your Cost Per Mile (CPM) down to the penny. If a tire blows, that's your money. If the engine derates, that's your downtime.

Before you sign a lease-purchase agreement, ask yourself: Do you have $15,000 in a maintenance account? Do you understand fuel surcharges and IFTA taxes? If you just want to drive and go home, stay company. If you want to build an asset and can handle the stress of fluctuating freight rates, make the jump—but do it with your eyes open.