The ONLY Trucking Company I Recommend for Owner Operators
After trucking for 30 years, and being an owner operator for the last 7, I have come to one conclusion: There is only one way to go, and that is- be an owner operator.
And there’s only one company I will stand by and say, they were a pleasure to work for, and I made more money than any other, and that is- Sammons Trucking Co. (STC), out of Missoula, MT, their Heavy Haul Division.
I worked my way up at Sammons quickly. I started out in their flatbed division, leasing their trailer for $165 a week. I averaged about $2 a mile, and about $4,000 a week average gross.
After only one month, I bought a step-deck trailer for $8000 and stepped up to their step-deck division. The trailer lease went away, and the average pay per mile went up to about $3 a mile, with a few less miles. I worked less and made more. I liked it, for about two months.
I knew all along that it was their heavy-haul division that I wanted to get into, but when they hired me they didn’t have any heavy-haul trailers for rent, and I couldn’t afford one. Well, one day they got a three-axle trailer (one flip-axle), that stretched from 29 feet in the well, to a whopping 50 feet in the well.
The weekly lease was around $340 a week. But it was well worth it. Now, I was working way less, and making way more money. I averaged about $5,000 a week gross when I wanted to, and had a few really good weeks in the $10,000+ area (gross). And of course, weeks of zero-dollars when they were slow. I liked the money, and I really liked the pace.
Sammons always let you choose your loads. There was never any pressure to take any load, it was completely up to you. And you could take as much time off as you wanted to. They never minded, they just tried to help you do whatever it is you want to do.
When you needed money, you could stay out a few weeks, take the highest paying freight wherever that leads. Or, take shorter runs and stay home a lot when you wanted to.
Now I could afford to do just one run a week if I wanted to, and deadhead home from it. There were many weeks I would get a short load, say 500 miles, that paid $4 a mile ($2000 gross), and after spending only two days on the road, I’d shoot back home and enjoy five days off for the rest of the week, and still cleared more money than most owner operators do who run 3000 miles a week.
Some drivers would rather run 3000 miles than make $3000.
If you have flatbed, step-deck, or heavy haul experience, and you own your own truck, you can contact Sammons right here.
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I called STC 6 years go For leased on to with a 2000 Western Star and 2013 50′ step deck I just bought couple months before.My truck had set up for heavy haul wit 600 Cat and overall in very solid shape. That time I had 19 years flatbed/ step deck and 5 years RGN 2 millions no accident miles under my belt. When asked me the year of my truck and I told them 2000 built in mid 99 they just told me that truck will not be ELD compliment, to old, we do not have work for You. week later Mercer hired me with my old truck and I made decent money with them till 2016 July ELD mandate.after got my Authority and now the last tree years I haul all the major Logistics loads with more money for me.
Hi all!
My dad passed away recently and was an owner operator for the past 20 years. My mother is now the proud owner of a PAID IN FULL Peterbilt flat bed truck. She is looking for buyers. Thought I would try my luck here. If interested I have LOTS of details. He was leased out to Landstar!
Hello I’m interested
hi I’m located 50 miles south of Helena I own my own truck n stepdeck I’m looking for any kind of ag work been hauling hay now its really slowed down Thanks
do you deliver in the sacramento area?
Ken,
First of all, thanks for this service.
I retired 3 years ago from 30 years of driving, mostly hazmat tankers. Clean record in every which way. I am now in SE NC and would like to get back into driving, but believe getting a company driver job at my age would be tough. So how about regional tanker opportunities for a L-P or O-O driver? (Have hauled LNG, propane, gasoline & oil, Hold TWIC & Hazmat endorsement). Any ideas?
What’s a good company for owner just starting out with dry van
Am out of ky
Owner operating sucks ! Just buying a job with lots of headaches. ..
How about landstar anyone work there or have info on them. Thanks
Very low percentage pay at landstar
back in the day.. 92/94 time frame they were not a very nice place. dispatched multiple drivers on the same load with a first come first served mentality. so when I accepted a load I thought I was the only one headed to the pick up.. I was wrong. plus the 7 day orientation (3 days of natl defensive driving course) nah, theres better out there. ) I used to be a trainer and I have just hit my 25 years driving otr .
Landstar actually seems really good. I’ve seen the load board. My husband and I are applying with them. The drivers there love them. Check them out and ask questions. We did. Do not do the owner op at Schneider. You work like a dog for minimum pay. My hubby and I are moving from them. We leased to own a truck from Schneider Finance who is a sister company believe it or not. All is well with them and we can take the truck anywhere we want. Just have to have insurance. Mercer is another good opportunity. Good luck!
lease your truck with a small company, , average 2.0 per mile some loads goes 3.0 some goes 1.30 ,at the end its a good average
In your opinion what would be the best company to lease on for dry van and only run in Texas? I am an owner op but my truck plates only allow me to run in Texas and I prefer to be closer to home but still make decent money…thank you in advance for your help
I can’t think of any decent dry-van companies in Texas, but I’m sure they’re out there. I’m sure you can find one if you look around. I would go to my nearest industrial park and try to find some owner operators making deliveries, and talk to them. They could tell you about their company and also about others they know of.
Good luck!
I live in the Portland Vancouver area. I pulled step decks and rgns for years. But bought a truck back in 08. Worked for Buchanan Hauling and Rigging. But had a bad agent. He wouldn’t post me until I had unloaded. I told him I could do that as all I got was bad loads. I spoke with the owner and he son telling them it want working for me to get a load that paid $1.40 a mile only to get $ .90 a mile back haul or dead head 300 miles for another $ 1.40 a mile. And when I stopped working for them both the owner and son called me for over a year wanting me to return. I told them that I had warned them what was up. And that I am a man of my word. So it was to late to go backwards for me.
So I went to pulling a dry van on dedicated furniture. It is not much different. Just pulled a UPS load from Texas to St Louis for .83 a mile. Does Summons do any loads which don’t require tarping? I have all that stuff. But rather just step or chain. I have tarps but don’t want to use them. And I don’t own a trailer. I have put a retainer on that new Tesla One. The electric semi. But need to find a much better paying job. What do you think is best?
Jose dryvans are a losing opportunity at this time. I just finished an article which states, the major trucking companies are parking a lot of their trucks and dryvans because the rates are so cheap. I would suggest that you pull a flatbed or stepdeck in Texas.
You could go to dsv better known as sammons trucking Missoula mt
They have trailer for you to lease… you use there load boards and also find your own loads off of load boards so you get to pick and choose….it is also your choice to trap
I never trap my loads….I pulled a lot of military and rigging but by choosing your loads you have the opportunity to control your money
I’ve been driving for roughly 21 years, I own my own truck but have never run my own authority… I’m not totally against doing that but would prefer just to lease on to someone. I prefer flatbed, wouldn’t mind getting into some heavy haul… I don’t want to run my truck 3000 miles a week and barely make ends meet… I’ve done this too long for that.. any suggestions on a good company? I live in Oklahoma…
Just don’t do business with Jo Ann Gresens of Home Run Trucking, in Miles City.
Very unprofessional.
It’s not the money, it’s her attitude.
Rather do business with someone who KNOWS the business and is ready to work.
I’ll never go back nor would I recommend doing business with her. Working with Jo Ann is a job in itself.
Does this company use side dump trailers? We are looking for work for two side dumps. We’re out of Florida but will relocate anywhere for good paying work.
Ken ~
I am a dock truck owner operator in Minneapolis, MN. I have been in the trucking field for about 8 years. Business has been off to a very slow start of the year for me, so I am considering other options. Do you have any ideas for a dock truck owner operator? Most of my business for the past 5 years has been a regional trucking company with two terminals in the Twin Cities. The issue is I am the only owner operator they have and since their business has slowed down they give me less freight. I know they do not want to lay any of their guys off as they would be then eligible for unemployment. The joys of being the only O/O. I am sure you will just say what the hell are you still doing with that dock truck and just tell me to get my class A sell the dock truck and get a day cab (since I like local work), but you never know maybe you might have something different to say.
Any thoughts and advise would be wonderful.
Thank you,
Scott
Hi Scott,
It sounds like you are a spotter, or yard jockey (moving trailers back and forth from dock to lot, etc.) Do you have your own authority? Maybe you don’t need it- can you find another company nearby to do some yard work for? As with any business, more customers is key. I would pass out some business cards at all the big industrial areas, distribution centers, railyards, etc, where spotters are needed. Try to get some side business going with someone else.
I’m sure you have more options in the Twin Cites area. You could probably sell that truck and get a day cab and find some good paying work for it. There are a lot more options for a day cab. Talk to some other day cab owners around there if you can find them.
Good luck!
Ken
Ken ~
Thanks for helping and giving advise to truckers! It is very nice that you try to help us out!
I am not a spotter or yard guy. A dock truck is half the size of a semi. Mine is a 24′ with a lift gate. They are great for LTL work and doing local work. Many small businesses do not have loading docks and most semis do not have lift gates. Plus in a big city there are many areas that semis are just not suited for going not enough space. I am not good at the sales stuff. My truck is a 26,000 GVW so it only requires a class D (the largest truck you can drive with a class D). I have my class A permit which I got last fall. Many dock trucks are used by courier companies for local work. The ones here in the Twin Cities require the truck to be 5 or in some cases 8 years or newer. Mine is a 2001 but only has 119,000 miles on it. I do not want to upgrade my equipment but I guess it is sort of what I probably need to do to get more work. Many of the trucking companies that uses dock trucks do not use owner operators. The few that do also have typically an 8 year or newer equipment requirement. I am at basically one of the only places I can find to get work from since I have an older truck. The couriers have gone to trying to get their drivers to lease trucks from the courier company directly has the courier companies then get money on the work that the guys do but also on the truck as well. It just seems a little wrong to me. I do have my own authority and DOT number. I do not though have an MC number interstate vs intrastate carrier. In short I can legally work in Minnesota but I am not supposed to cross state lines.
Your unfamiliarity with a dock truck highlights the problem that most work in the trucking field is not done with a dock truck. I do not want to upgrade to a newer dock truck to get work as they are so expensive. New dock trucks go for 60,000 – 90,000 or more. I think it would make better sense to finish my class A and get a day cab semi and start doing class A local work. The only good thing that I can see is that I know trucking in the Twin Cities is a good place to be as rates are good and there is plenty of work here. I would love to do car carrier work transporting new cars to dealerships. I have checked into it and I know the guys make tons of money and there is year round work available. They require three years of class A experience.
Ok, Ken what should I do…..more help please…and thank you!!!!
I wish you would write an article about good paying local owner operator work. I liked your article about good paying local work but most of that from what I can see if off limits for owner operators. To me, I like being an owner operator as I think it just makes more sense to me. I prefer basically running my own little business without having to do the sales and getting new customers thing.
I know side dump trucking companies do use owner operators and I think here in the Twin Cities many of those guys make about $80 – $85 an hour. Most or all even provide the side dump so all you need is a day cab and a duel line wet kit to run the hydraulics on side dump. The problem that I can see with dump truck work is that it is hauling heavy stuff all day long which is very hard on the equipment. You almost need to be a part mechanic to keep the truck going you know.
I guess I should just ask if you have any other ideas for high paying local owner operator work? Maybe I am just going the wrong road here and should sell my truck and work for UPS or a different large union carrier. A friend of mine is has been with UPS for a very long time. She drives dock truck does local work and gets 7 weeks of paid vacation a year. Like who gets 7 weeks of paid vacation in the trucking field? Only at a union house for sure…..
Hi Ken,
I drove truck and was an O/O for about 13 years. For the past 10 years I have been a captain on an oilfield boat in the Gulf of Mexico. Due to the price of oil it looks like my company will be folding in the very near future. The picture you painted of that company has me thinking of buying a truck , and whatever else I may need. I live in Texas. Would it be doable ?
Thanks,
Charles Shields
Captain
Trinity Lifeboats LLC
Hi Chuck,
Texas is a great state for owner operators. There is a lot of work for any kind of truck in Texas. And I wouldn’t worry about the price of gas too much. I know some companies won’t make it, but overall, the country and the state of Texas will survive, and prices will come back up one day- they always do. Hang in there- you have a great job. Mavbe things will turn around soon.
Good luck,
Ken
I Don’t know if this fits this discussion but I own (3) 16ft box trucks does any1 know of any company that I can connect with to run 2000plus mikes @$2/ miles ..I’m in Miss but I’m back in forth to Atlanta think that will be a easier market to break thru..
Just typed a post longer than yours in here to have my internet shutdown on me. Awesome. Anyways, I spoke with you before about six months ago…I went with Schneiders tanker division and ended up landing a local job in Chicago. Well, I’m six months in, feeling miserable because I don’t make enough money and exhaust my clock more often than not and I’m looking for some bit of hope on the horizon. I have a baby coming in March hence the urgency I pressed on Schneider to be local. So, looking ahead, I wanted and experience opinion on where I should look next. Your Heavy Haul stuff intrigues me and I’d like to know if you would suggest someone like me who wants to be home more often than not should pursue such a job. And, at what experience level should I even inquire a company like the one you made mention? Would they laugh at me now with my minimal experience?
Anyway, I’m 22 very ready to get a move on something more entrepreneurial than a company like the one I’m with, I would love knowledge of trucker jobs that are going somewhere, anything unique. I hope I don’t sound pretentious because I realize I’m still fresh off the boat.
Any advice the better, the more specific the better! Even contacts or jobs that are doing well and would be interested in hiring me and people like me. I’m completely willing to relocate for the right job and really interested in what knowledge not just you but anyone else might have on the topic. Thank you so much, its a good thing you have going here.
Hi Jacob,
Almost all of the big OTR companies (like Schneider) don’t pay their local drivers very much. But hey, if you live in Chicago the sky is the limit. There are some excellent paying local driver jobs there.
Since you are only 22, let me ask. Are you strong enough to do some hard work? If so, I suggest applying at all of the pop and beer distributors. They are looking for drivers who can sell, so experience is not key- selling yourself at the interview is- make sure they know you like to sell, and are motivated by money.
You can also try some milk companies (Beckers, Swiss Valley).
It’s tough this time of year though. You may be better off hanging in there for another two months, then try landing a union job, like asphalt, sand and gravel. These are dump trucks, but most of them will hire a young gy with little experience if they like you.
That’s the key for any local job- they have to like you personally. So be your likeable self when you get an interview.
I know Chicago, and it’s big. So, if you tell me what area you live in I may have some more ideas for you.
Ken
I’m 27 years old tanker endorsement 16 months of driving exp an looking make over 1000 a week local
Depending on where you live, you could look into tanker jobs such as dairy, propane. Or you could try running dump trucks. Most of those pay pretty good and are local. If anybody else has any ideas, leave a comment.
Good luck.
If you are looking to stay local and are willing to work. You can easily make 1500 a week. Just do foodservice. Usually in trucking the more willing to get out of your seat you are the more money you make. If you just want to sit behind the wheel and bump a dock the less you make. I have done almost everything in 17 years from bed bugging to car hauling to foodservice to oilfield over size loads. I have never just bumped a dock and I have always averaged around 80 to 100 thousand a year.
That’s some good advice Donald. Thank you for that.
Hi Ken, do you know if Sammons hires owner operators that are on the east coast in the Baltimore Maryland area. I am getting ready to buy my own truck and will buy any trailer that’s needed
I know they hire on the east coast, not exactly sure about Baltimore, but I imagine it would be great hometime there.They run mostly west, but I have been to the port in Baltimore a couple of times with them. (You need a TWIC card in there.) Give them a call, and tell them I sent you.
One more thing Jacob. Check out the new article I just wrote yesterday, it’s right on this topic.
http://bigcitydriver.com/2015/01/how-to-find-a-good-paying-local-truck-driver-job/
get your doubles tankers hazmat endorsement go to old dominion best company i’ve worked for 48cent start base depending on experience
My husband owns his own truck, but has no flatbed trailer. Does this company lease them out still or would he have to have one already to apply?
Over $10 a mile in the trucking industry is almost unheard of unless you are doing crazy over dimensional, extremely heavy hauls on conestoga trailers, and even for conestogas that is a very good rate.
either way, power to you!!
We hauled a load last week to a rig near Shreveport 20 joints of drill pipe 90 miles for $915.00 that`s $10.00 per mileall day long.
Can you send me a #? I am a owner op. But don’t have a trailer
SAMMONS RECRUITING
Phone: (888) 252-2931
Please, tell them Ken Skaggs sent you. Thanks!
Hello there . We are about 1.5hrs from nasville Tn. Do you need any owner operators? I have hauled every kind of trailers, including at this time we are hauling a flatbed.if interested plea see contact me
Thanks
I don’t know about that in 1998 I ran loads for the Union RR and they paid me 17.00 loaded taking there emergency trailer to state to state and 15.00 to bob tail home and then come back to get it when they where done with it.
That was 17.00 a mile and 15.00 a mile bob tail
Sweet!
Can someone please tell me the best company to work for as an owner operator? I have my own truck and my own dry van. My number is 7133013679 thanks.
Sammons Trucking Co. is definitely a good company to work for but how did you get up to $3 a mile, that’s very impressive! what kind of loads did your company provide you with?
…I’ve seen $3/mile before but very rarely and only with very specialized loads.
~Jake Pourshi
Hi Jake,
When I worked for Sammons I did heavy-haul. I hauled loads sometimes over $10 a mile. I had one agent in San Antonio that got these farm-implement loads that went back and forth between Kansas and Texas several times a year that paid that much. They were 16 feet wide! But those backroads in Texas are nice and wide with little traffic, plus I had escorts, so it wasn’t too hard for me. But a lot of their heavy-haul freight was $3 to $5 a mile. That was the norm.
What can a o/o flatbed driver make with Sammons on average month
Can you please provide your source for a minimum $3 to $5 a mile?
I didn’t say $3 to $5 minimum, I said $3 to $5 average. There are loads that pay less and loads that pay more. If you own your own truck, just fill out the form below and I will forward that info to them.
Did you guys do dry van please?
I leased to STC back in the mid 70s for 5 years . Great company even back then. They only ran flat beds. They were good to ya and the money was good. I average over .50 per mile good money back then..
Great Memories.