Owner-Operator Facts

 

Owner-Operators are those individuals that own and operate their own trucking business.  They may lease on to a carrier or they may operate under their own authority.  If they operate under their own authority they will have a D.O.T. and M.C. number identifying them as a registered carrier.  There are approximately 350,000 owner-operators registered in the U.S. most lease on to larger carriers and operate under that carriers D.O.T. number.

 

Some facts about Owner-operators:

• Usually are Truck load carriers (TL)
• Get paid by a percentage of the line haul pay if leased to a carrier
• Average over 107,000 miles driving per year
• Been in trucking for over 22 years
• Average age of becoming an owner-operator is 35 years old
• Most own 1-1.5 trucks and 1-1.7 trailers
• Average age is 51.9 years old
• Very stable in their habitat as most have lived in the same area for 11+ years
• Over 50% have their trucks paid off
• 92% run solo
• Majority are away from home 151+ nights per year
• 98% use cell phones as part of their business
• Freightliner and Peterbilt are the trucks most likely owned
• Caterpillar engines are the most popular
• 65% have 450 horsepower engines or greater
• 13 speed transmissions are the most common followed by 18 speed
• 63% do their own preventive maintenance
• Flatbed and reefer trailers are the most common trailer owned
• 37% have served in the military
• 85% are registered voters
• 75% voted in the last election

For a narrative summary of the owner-operators members of OOIDA click on the Owner-Operators Independent Drivers Profile 2008.