3 Ways Owner Operators Can Make More Money

Being an owner operator is awesome because you get to call the shots when it comes to the jobs you want and how you arrange your schedule. One small drawback though, is keeping a consistent amount of money coming in each month to meet your budget needs. 

How can you use every resource available to you as an owner operator in order to make more money? Here are 3 of our biggest tips to give you ideas.

It starts with reputation

No matter what line of work you’re in, getting the best paying jobs starts with proving your worth. For an owner operator, this goes beyond the ability to pick up loads and deliver them on time. You need to be reliable, communicate with customers quickly and maintain positive relationships with fleet managers. Take your time, put in the effort to network and produce exceptional results and in the end, you’ll have constant loads and more money, because you’ll be the first one that managers call due to trust.

Start budgeting

The less you spend while traveling over the road, the more money stays in your pocket (obviously). If you take the time to make a budget, observe how you spend and then cut unnecessary costs, it’ll be worth it in the long run. Fuel is a huge area where you can save. Sign up for fuel card programs and use e-discounts. Some programs offer discounts on a variety of services besides fuel,such as discounts on tires and parts for your truck.

Say no to deadhead miles

Deadheading is when you drive your truck with an empty trailer. This is a huge waste of gas, not to mention it only increases wear and tear on your truck for no reason. You want to maximize your earnings as much as possible, and one way to do that is by taking on backhauls. If you’ve made a delivery across the country and it’s time to drive back home, you can find loads that need to be delivered where you’re going. Usually backhauls garner less pay, but it’s still better than going back home empty-handed.