Being a commercial truck driver can be an excellent way to get to travel across the country while also making a comfortable living. Being an owner operator can provide you with sizable benefits, but this is an option that many people may find intimidating to pursue. Much of this intimidation may stem from a lack of understanding about becoming an owner operator, but if you have the follow two questions addressed, you may find it easier to understand what pursuing this option will entail and provide. 

Are There Benefits To Leasing Versus Owning Your Truck?

Many people may be under the impression that outright buying their own truck is the best option for becoming an owner operator. Yet, this is often not the case because leasing can provide you with important benefits that will help to reduce the costs of owning your truck. 

One of the most important protections that leasing offers is that your maintenance needs may be handled by the leasing provider. There are many commercial truck leasing companies that provide some maintenance services as a part of the cost of the lease, and opting for leasing companies that provide this type of benefits can drastically help reduce your out of pocket expenses for a variety of routine tasks, such as oil changes, tire rotations and other basic services. 

How Are Owner Operators Paid?

Another key benefit to opting for this business model is that you may be able to take advantage of revenue sharing arrangement. Under this type of payment plan, you will receive a percentage of revenue that the shipping company was paid for the cargo. The exact percentage will vary greatly from one company to another, and this means that you will need to carefully review each contract to make sure that you are entering into the best deal available for you. 

Also, it should be noted that you will need to consider how the fuel costs are handled. These costs can quickly amount to a small fortune for long trips, and owner-operators often have the ability to negotiate compensation for these expenses. If you are able to negotiate for your fuel to be covered, you should expect to receive this money at the end of your trip. It will be included in your final paycheck for the haul.

Owning your commercial truck can be a great way to ensure you have the most freedom with the highest pay during your career as a truck driver. However, if you have only recently started considering the idea of owning your own truck, understanding these two routine questions should help you to better appreciate this career path. Contact Voyager Nation for more information.